The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Loake Shoes
With the correct care and maintenance your Loake shoes will retain their excellent appearance and comfort for years to come. Here are some tips we have drawn up to advise customers on how best to look after their shoes.
How to make your shoes last a lifetime
10 Tips to maintain your Loake shoes
1. Apply Shoe Cream to your Leather Shoes
Leather is a natural product so your shoes will benefit from regular application of a good quality shoe cream. This will help to moisturise the leather, keeping it supple and preventing drying or cracking. The wax polish will also provide some protection from staining and bring a shine to the uppers. Before polishing, make sure to wipe over your shoes with a dry cloth first to remove any surface dirt.
2. Select the Appropriate Wax Polish for your Calf Leather Shoes
Calf leather shoes, in particular, will readily absorb the pigment in shoe cream and wax polish, therefore care should be taken to select the appropriate colour match. Some people deliberately choose a darker polish to give the shoes a more ‘antique’ patina.
3. Use a Oiled Leather Wax for Waxy Leather Uppers
If you have chosen a shoe with Waxy leather uppers, those can be treated with an oiled leather wax or Dubbin to retain the more matt appearance. This will also help provide a degree of water resistance.
4. Alternate your Fine Leather Shoes
Fine leather shoes can require a full day to dry out from natural perspiration. Try to alternate your shoes to give them at least twenty-four hours between wears. This is a good excuse to make sure you have several pairs of Loake shoes in your wardrobe!
5. Try to wear your shoes in dry conditions on the first few occasions
The fine grit picked up by dry leather soles assists water resistance and will help increase the lifespan of the sole.
6. Avoid excessive wetting
Should this occur always let the shoes dry out naturally away from sources of direct heat. Excess heat can cause sole or upper leather to crack. Newspaper stuffed inside the shoes will help to draw out moisture.
7. Always use a shoe horn
The use of shoe horns when putting on your shoes will help to keep the backs strong and sturdy.
8. Use shoe trees when the shoes are not in wear.
These help the shoes to retain their shape. Our Loake cedar wood shoe trees help to draw out moisture also impart a pleasant aroma.
9. Don't attach additional rubber pieces to our Goodyear Welted soles
We do not recommend attaching additional rubber pieces to our Goodyear Welted Soles, as these can affect the comfort and balance of the shoe. They can also put unnecessary strain on the shoe construction.
10. Goodyear Welted shoes are designed to be repairable
We recommend that the shoes are repaired as soon as the outer sole shows signs of wearing through to the cork lining. Irrepairable damage to the insole may occur if you continue to wear the shoes after the outer sole has developed a hole.
In the journey of timeless elegance, your Loake shoes deserve the utmost care. With our expert tips, you can ensure they stand the test of time, maintaining both appearance and comfort. From choosing the right shoe cream to alternating wears for proper drying, each step contributes to the longevity of your prized footwear. Remember to pamper your leather soles with the respect they deserve, avoiding excessive wetting and allowing them to dry naturally. Explore our range of Loake-branded shoe care products to indulge your shoes with the care they need, ensuring they accompany you stylishly through the years ahead.