How do I restore leather shoes after being soaked in a heavy rain?
I have a pair of brown leather loafers that I was wearing when a thunderstorm struck -- they got soaked, and have tightened up considerably, making them uncomfortable to wear for more than 5 minutes. Any suggestions on how to restore them to back to a softer feel?
Bummer, man. Though with a little investment and some patience you should have no problem restoring them to better than before. I'm assuming that they've completely dried out by now.
First, you're going to need some leather conditioner. Kiwi products are carried most everywhere, but various shoemakers (eg. Alden) often carry their own leather-care products. Whether or not they are superior to Kiwi's stuff is debatable, but at least you have options.
Next, you need a good set of cedar shoe trees. The best place to find these is in the Men's section of Macy's or at a Jos. A. Bank. The hardest part of this will be finding the right size. You might take another pair of similar shoes that fit well to try them out before you buy them. Most are adjustable, this is especially suited to your purpose.
Finally, you need some shoe polish. Again, Kiwi makes Brown, Tan, and Neutral, but you might consider going back to the manufacturer to see if they sell a polish that is the exact color of your shoes.
Once you've got the tools, follow these steps, and you'll be good to go:
1- Remove laces and wipe shoes down with a damp cloth. You don't want to soak them again, just remove the dirt and "open" the leather up a bit.
2- Rub leather conditioner into the leather. You're trying to restore the oils back into the leather. It's often easiest to use your hands to massage the conditioner into the leather, but make sure you wipe off all the excess.
3- Put in the shoe-tree. You're not trying to stretch the leather yet, just give the shoe some shape, so don't force it if it won't go in. If that's the case, then shove balled-up newspaper in each shoe, wait a day, and repeat 2 and 3.
4- After the shoe-trees have been in for a day or two, put a little more conditioner on the shoes. Not so much to soak the leather, just enough to keep it pliable. Now you should be able to work the shoes back to their old size, if you need to work out the width any.
5- Give the shoes a few days before you put polish on them. You want the oils to stay in the leather but the excess moisture can weaken the leather and even lead to mildew if you're not careful. They should start to feel more like you remember by this point. Once they feel supple, but not wet, polish them up with a few coats and you're all set.
The best guidance is to say that it's not an exact science, more of a feel thing. Most importantly, don't force them to stretch too quickly, because it can damage the integrity of the shoe. As long as you're careful, they'll be good as new. Good luck!
2 Answers
Bummer, man. Though with a little investment and some patience you should have no problem restoring them to better than before. I'm assuming that they've completely dried out by now.
First, you're going to need some leather conditioner. Kiwi products are carried most everywhere, but various shoemakers (eg. Alden) often carry their own leather-care products. Whether or not they are superior to Kiwi's stuff is debatable, but at least you have options.
Next, you need a good set of cedar shoe trees. The best place to find these is in the Men's section of Macy's or at a Jos. A. Bank. The hardest part of this will be finding the right size. You might take another pair of similar shoes that fit well to try them out before you buy them. Most are adjustable, this is especially suited to your purpose.
Finally, you need some shoe polish. Again, Kiwi makes Brown, Tan, and Neutral, but you might consider going back to the manufacturer to see if they sell a polish that is the exact color of your shoes.
Once you've got the tools, follow these steps, and you'll be good to go:
1- Remove laces and wipe shoes down with a damp cloth. You don't want to soak them again, just remove the dirt and "open" the leather up a bit.
2- Rub leather conditioner into the leather. You're trying to restore the oils back into the leather. It's often easiest to use your hands to massage the conditioner into the leather, but make sure you wipe off all the excess.
3- Put in the shoe-tree. You're not trying to stretch the leather yet, just give the shoe some shape, so don't force it if it won't go in. If that's the case, then shove balled-up newspaper in each shoe, wait a day, and repeat 2 and 3.
4- After the shoe-trees have been in for a day or two, put a little more conditioner on the shoes. Not so much to soak the leather, just enough to keep it pliable. Now you should be able to work the shoes back to their old size, if you need to work out the width any.
5- Give the shoes a few days before you put polish on them. You want the oils to stay in the leather but the excess moisture can weaken the leather and even lead to mildew if you're not careful. They should start to feel more like you remember by this point. Once they feel supple, but not wet, polish them up with a few coats and you're all set.
The best guidance is to say that it's not an exact science, more of a feel thing. Most importantly, don't force them to stretch too quickly, because it can damage the integrity of the shoe. As long as you're careful, they'll be good as new. Good luck!
Answer This Question
Please provide links to products you recommend or your answer will not be accepted.
Use this code to make a link. "Product Name":http://www.example.com (Put product name in quotation marks, followed by a colon, then the URL. No spaces.)
What are the best non-Sperry shoes to wear without socks?
Who makes a stylish water-resistant jacket to wear over a suit?
What exactly is evening casual and business casual?
Is it okay to wear non-prescription glasses?
I've had this happen while traveling in humid, rainy weather in the south and there may be no answer, depending on the quality of the leather. So, I'll cheat and answer twice:
1. Take them to a good cobbler.
2. More time intensive, pickup a good pair of shoe trees one size too large, I suggest the Epic Twin Tube, and some "leather conditioner"https://www.cedarvillestore.com/p-97-conditioner-cleaner.aspx and stretch the shoes over time.