What is this text about? In this text we will answer the following questions: how to clean yellow nubuck shoes how to restore the color of nubuck shoes how to clean suede and nubuck shoes 5 rules for caring for nubuck shoes
Natural materials used for the production of clothing and shoes have always been of the greatest value. Nubuck is considered the standard for such a comfortable and beautiful material for luxury shoes.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the important rules for the use and care of nubuck shoes so that your favorite boots or shoes will serve you faithfully and for a long time.
Short description
Most people purchase various wardrobe items from this material. These include: belts, bags and shoes. Hairy leather is high quality nubuck leather that has undergone the best degree of processing. Most often, natural raw materials are used. Cattle leather is the main material for making nubuck.
As a result of polishing, the skin becomes velvety. The pile is very small and can only be felt, but it is quite difficult to see. This kind of material is durable and practical. The natural origin of the raw material allows the feet to breathe, which is why shoes are often made from nubuck.
It is necessary to understand that boots made of such material can only be worn in dry weather, since the water-repellent properties leave much to be desired. If such shoes get wet, they will quickly lose their original appearance.
Most people purchase various wardrobe items from this material.
How to restore pile?
A regular eraser is a great helper in caring for suede shoes.
After cleaning, you should renew your suede shoes and restore the lint. This can be done in several ways:
- A school eraser will help lift the worn suede fibers - it will not spoil the surface.
- Steam baths have a good effect. You need to hold the boots over steam and then lightly rub the surface with a dry cloth or a special brush.
- If abrasions have formed in the area of the boot, you can iron them from the wrong side and then “comb” the pile.
- If you don’t trust traditional methods for restoring suede shoes, you can use special chemicals that you can find in stores.
After cleaning and restoring the suede, it is advisable to treat the surface with a special water-repellent agent. Do not put on boots immediately after treatment. They should dry completely at room temperature.
Knowing how to tidy up suede shoes, you can maintain their attractive appearance for a long time.
Characteristics of nubuck
To increase the water-repellent effect of this material, it is impregnated with special fatty solutions. Oiled nubuck changes its characteristics. If before this it looked like suede, now the leather becomes heavier. It feels wet to the touch. This material is called nubuck oil. This option is suitable for constant and long-term wear.
Oiling also changes the appearance of the shoes. Artificial nubuck is one of the varieties of such raw materials. However, in this case, it is not genuine leather that is used, but its substitute. This material is more economical. Econubuk is more preferable.
Grease-coated material has excellent hydrophobic properties, which is why many people prefer to purchase shoes from it. At the same time, shoes or boots will repel moisture and dirt and will retain their aesthetic properties for a long time.
Such shoes are resistant to chemical components that are added to reagents in winter weather and sprinkled on asphalt. Differences from suede in appearance. Nubuck feels heavier and damper, which can also be felt when you touch the shoe.
To increase the water-repellent effect of this material, it is impregnated with special fatty solutions
Reviews about this material are positive. However, many argue that it is better to wear boots in the off-season. If you do this at sub-zero temperatures, your feet will freeze. When there are puddles outside, it is better to leave nubuck boots at home.
Caring for white shoes at home
White leather shoes require special attention because they undergo additional processing during the bleaching process, which makes them flexible and soft, but also more susceptible to dirt. When buying a pair of white shoes or boots, it is best to immediately purchase cream, paint and other care products and tools in the store.
However, sometimes for cleaning you have to turn to improvised folk remedies.
Toothpaste
To clean white leather shoes with toothpaste, apply it to the surface using a special shoe brush, rubbing in with light movements. The dried paste is removed with a damp cloth.
Baking soda
Baking soda works well to remove dirt from fair skin, but it is not recommended to use the product more than once a month, as yellow spots may appear. To clean white boots, prepare a solution from a glass of water and one tablespoon of soda, apply it to the surface and wait until it dries, after which the residue is removed with a soft brush.
A mixture of milk and raw egg
To clean light leather shoes, beat the white of one egg and half a glass of milk. The mixture is applied to the skin and left to dry. Dried residues are brushed off.
Table vinegar
It is not recommended to use vinegar in its pure form, since the product is quite strong. To clean, mix 1 part vinegar with 10 parts water, wipe the contaminated areas with the solution, then rinse with water and wipe dry.
Onion juice
To prepare the juice, grate the onion on a medium grater and squeeze. The resulting composition will perfectly cope with any stubborn stains and polish the surface. A cotton pad is moistened with onion juice and lubricated with shoes, especially carefully treating scuffed and contaminated areas, after which they are wiped dry with a napkin. Shoes cleaned with onions are left to air for several days so that the onion smell goes away.
Talc and turpentine paste
By adding turpentine to talc or baby powder, you get a paste that can be used to clean white shoes. The composition is applied to the stains and pressed with glass to penetrate deeply into the material, where the mixture absorbs grease and dirt. After cleaning, the product is carefully removed with a brush.
How to restore shoes from this material
Natural and artificial fabrics practically do not differ in external characteristics. However, in the second case, the legs do not breathe at all, which is not an advantage. Natural material gets wet quickly, so it needs to be periodically soaked and cared for properly.
There is a special solution on sale that needs to be used to oil shoes. If you take care of your boots or shoes in this way, they will last for more than one season. However, most people wonder how to restore nubuck shoes if they begin to lose their external qualities.
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It is better, of course, to use professional products (impregnation, liquid creams, sprays, etc.). However, you can also use improvised ones. Nubuck shoes require special care. But you can easily refresh the appearance of the product yourself at home using simple means. For this you need a small container of water. The liquid should be warm. You need to take a cotton cloth, which should be soaked in water and lightly rubbed with baby soap.
Then you should carefully clean the shoes and, after rinsing the rags, walk over the shoes again, removing any remaining soap. After this procedure, the appearance of the product changes. Proper care of nubuck requires steam. Since this material is similar in appearance to suede, the restoration methods are the same in some respects.
There is a special solution on sale that needs to be used to oil shoes.
It makes no difference what to use - a kettle or a saucepan. However, the second option will be more convenient. It is necessary to boil a pan of water and hold the shoe over the steam for 5-7 minutes. Then let it dry, comb it properly with a brush and apply a special paint to the surface that best suits the color.
Another method of restoration is water with ammonia. This method should be used with caution and not overdo it. First of all, you need to pour warm water into the basin. For 5 liters, just a couple of drops of ammonia are enough. Then you should soak the cloth in the solution and gently wipe the nubuck. It must be remembered that this type of shoe is different from others and should not be wetted too much.
In order to maintain the appearance of the product for many years, you should take care of it regularly. You should not rely on home remedies. You need to constantly use impregnation and special bristles, otherwise very soon the pile will fall off and look careless.
Products for nubuck shoes and tools that we will use
- cedar shoe lasts MAVI STEP;
- suede brush with brass bristles MAVI STEP Brass Alani;
- Double-sided brush for suede MAVI STEP Small Dark;
- eraser for suede and nubuck MAVI STEP;
- balm for suede and nubuck MAVI STEP Multi Oil Balm;
- restorative spray for suede and nubuck MAVI STEP Nubuck & Suede Spray.
You can buy shoe care products, shoe tools and accessories described in this article in the Pro Boot Black Shop online store or from our partners, in the Shoe Care online store.
Additional recovery methods
If the pile is matted and the areas on the boot are different, then you can use a regular knife. The work is, of course, painstaking, but it will yield results. To do this, you will have to carefully scrape the material with a knife. The matted fibers will change their position.
When scuffs appear on the nubuck, it is best to use a clean white eraser, which will perfectly erase all dirt. You just need to follow the trail lightly and the boot will look like new. If you don’t have an eraser at hand, you can use a pumice stone, but be very careful. A toothbrush will also do the job perfectly.
As a preventative measure, you can wipe the product with a special solution, which is easy to prepare at home. You will need 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 liter of warm water. The resulting liquid should be used to wipe nubuck boots at the first signs of wear.
You can also use coffee grounds, which only apply to dark shoes. Apply a small amount of pulp to the problem area, such as a stain or abrasion, and leave for a few minutes. Then you need to properly clean the shoes with a brush.
Is it worth contacting the workshop?
The most reliable and safe method is professional shoe stretching in a workshop.
A qualified specialist can quickly adjust to the required size:
- Winter with fur;
- Leather;
- Made from leatherette;
- From crocodile;
- Textile, including denim;
- Made from nubuck;
- And so on.
How much could it cost
The direct cost, as well as the duration of stretching in the workshop, depends on the material, the amount of work and the region in which you live. You can view the current price list on the website of the selected shoe workshop, or by scheduling a consultation using contact phone numbers.
