How to Care for Leather Shoes and Boots

Why leather needs regular care

Leather is skin, and like skin it dries out, cracks, and stains without maintenance. Dust, moisture, and flexing while walking all wear on the surface over time. A few minutes of care every few weeks adds years to a pair of leather shoes or boots, and matters even more in humid or monsoon conditions where leather absorbs moisture faster than it should.

Weekly care

1. Remove loose dust and dirt with a soft, dry cloth or brush.
2. Wipe with a barely damp cloth if there is visible grime, then dry immediately with a separate dry cloth. Never leave leather wet.
3. Let shoes air out overnight after wearing, rather than storing them straight into a closed box while still warm from your feet.

Monthly care

1. Apply a small amount of leather conditioner or cream with a soft cloth in circular motions, working it in evenly.
2. Let it absorb for 10–15 minutes, then buff with a clean cloth.
3. For smooth leather, follow with a light layer of polish matched to the shoe colour if you want a higher shine.
4. For suede, use a suede brush instead of cream or polish, brushing in one direction to lift the nap back up.

Monsoon and humid-weather care

In wet conditions, apply a water-repellent spray designed for leather before the rains start, and reapply every few weeks during the season. If shoes do get wet, stuff them with newspaper or a shoe tree to hold their shape and absorb moisture, then dry them at room temperature away from direct heat or sunlight. Never dry leather shoes on a radiator or in direct sun, since fast drying causes cracking.

Storage

• Use shoe trees or stuff toes with paper to hold shape.
• Store in a cool, dry place with some air circulation, not a sealed plastic bag long-term.
• Rotate pairs rather than wearing the same shoes daily, so leather has time to dry out and recover its shape between wears.

What to avoid

• Machine washing or soaking leather in water.
• Direct heat sources for drying, including hair dryers.
• Silicone-based sprays not formulated for leather, which can seal in moisture rather than repel it.

For fit questions alongside care, see the size guide, or browse the boots collection for styles built for heavier daily wear.