Shoe care
Cleaning brings blessings
Let's be honest: cleaning is no fun - not even when it is delicately presented to us as the Zen art of relaxation or as a perfect gymnastic exercise. On the other hand ... not everything in life is fun. The best thing to do is to take a tip of the knife to Immanuel Kant, who, as a cunning enlightener, let us know that true freedom is insight into necessity.
So let's be free enough to reach for the brush, cloth and shoe polish to face up to what is necessary. After all, there is no doubt about the satisfying result of the exercise.
Why care for leather? Leather is alive - and therefore also suffers from mechanical stress, damp weather and similar strains. The good news is that it also recovers excellently with the right care. If treated well, our welted and double-stitched shoes can therefore remain beautiful and efficient for an above-average length of time and, with a few wrinkles from age, also acquire an interesting look. That should be worth a little effort.
Cleaning
We first carefully remove dust and dirt from the fine calfskin of our lászló Budapest shoes with a not-too-rough brush and then go over them with a damp cloth until all visible dirt has been removed. Then leave the shoes to dry at room temperature - never near a heat source. Then we can start with the care.
Nourishing
Leather is tanned skin and therefore needs nourishment to keep its structure fresh and elastic. Shoe creams and emulsions are absorbed particularly easily into the leather, similar to a moisturizing cream, and refresh it from the inside. This is particularly recommended when signs of dryness are visible.
Shoe waxes from the tin, on the other hand, particularly protect the "grain" (top layer of the former hair side of the leather) and support the leather's natural resistance to mechanical stress. This protection - if carefully applied - generally lasts somewhat longer than the effect of emulsions. Finally, waxes also produce a more intensive shine.
Wellness for your shoes
We start by using a small brush or cloth to apply the care product to the cleaned leather with light pressure until the leather is saturated. The frame and the inseam should also be treated. This is because creams and waxes help moisture to penetrate this sensitive joint.
Emulsion from the tube is automatically absorbed into the leather. Wax cream is better absorbed by the leather if the cloth is moistened. Then leave the light emulsions to soak in for approx. 30 to 60 minutes; wax-based canned creams should be left to work for several hours before brushing.
Brush or terry towel
Using a soft brush or cloth (terry towel), we work the shoe for one to two minutes in generous movements without applying pressure until it shines. Shine is not only beautiful, but a sign that the leather surface is coated with a light finish that allows dust and moisture to roll off. Needless to say, dense brush hairs with less force produce a more beautiful shine. Mission accomplished.
Wearing well-groomed shoes on your feet is a great feeling. Performance must be worthwhile again? This one is worth it!
Footnote sole care
The pit-tanned cowhide leather we use for our soles has an exceptionally firm structure, making it extremely hard-wearing and abrasion-resistant. The leather also thickens when worn, making it naturally water-repellent. If you want to improve this protection even further, you can use an impregnation and coat the leather sole with silicone oil at regular intervals. However, you should consider this decision carefully. After all, a weatherproof rubber half-sole, which provides the most reliable protection against moisture, is no longer an option after silicone treatment, as glue does not adhere to greased and treated leather.