How to Clean & Polish Brogues: Step-by-Step Care

Step by Step Guide to Achieve Best Results

• Remove the laces so you can reach all parts of the shoe 
• Using a damp cloth or brush, clean the shoes, paying particular attention to removing dirt and salt from within the lace holes and indentations (use a toothpick if necessary)
• Once dry, use shoe trees to hold shape and offer support (or alternatively use dry newspaper.

Handy tips:

• Use an old toothbrush to clean around the welts (strip of leather/rubber that runs along the perimeter of the outer sole)
• If the shoes are damp, place newspaper in to draw moisture out.

• Ensure shoes are completely dry before treating them
• Apply leather conditioner to the shoes – use circular motions to work into the leather
• Allow the conditioner to work into the leather for approximately 30 minutes
• Remove any excess product with a dry cloth.

Handy tips:

• Leather conditioners are great for softening stiff shoes (usually a result of leather drying out)
• Applying conditioner to the leather should not change the appearance of the shoes (although a test on an inconspicuous area should be carried out first) 
• Don’t worry if some of the product goes into the holes – this can be removed later on

• Apply wax polish to the shoes to ‘revive’ the leather – wax acts as a water repellent to protect the shoes
• Apply in circular motions, ensuring you do not use too much product as it will not sink in and will go to waste
• Allow wax polish to seep into the leather for at least a couple of hours, before ‘buffing up’.

Handy tips:

•  Wax may discolour the shoes as it seeps into the leather so always test a small unobtrusive area first
• Concentrate on the front and back of the shoes, as these areas get the most wear
•  If you find conditioner and wax has got into the holes, remove with a toothpick.

• Once the Wax or Polish has worked into the leather (approx. 2 hours minimum or over night if more convenient), buff to a shine using a soft shoe brush or cotton cloth 
• Polish briskly to get a glossy shine!

Handy tips:

• Always allow the shoes to dry fully before wearing (use the newspaper in the shoe trick if in doubt!).

The key factors to remember are:

• Allow your brogue shoes to dry out fully before cleaning and protecting them
• Try not to wear the same pair of shoes day in, day out 
• Test a small section before applying wax to check for colour change
• Clean the brogue’s leather holes and indentations with a toothpick
• Buff with a clean cloth to achieve a glossy shine.

Look and feel stylish and comfortable in your brogues – look after them and they’ll certainly look after you. Enjoy!