Take a look at our collection and you’ll spot them right away: nubuck shoes! Clogs made of nubuck, nubuck sandals, nubuck lace-up shoes, you name it. A beautiful material that perfectly complements our shoes. But of course, you want to keep this material looking nice. In this blog, we’ll give you a step-by-step plan and extra tips for maintaining and cleaning your nubuck shoes. Keep reading to learn more about how you can make your shoes look brand new!
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Nubuck is a beautiful material that gives shoes a soft and luxurious appearance. It’s a type of leather that’s lightly sanded on the top, resulting in a velvety surface. While softer than regular leather, it retains a natural look. These characteristics make nubuck very popular among our Wolky fans!
To keep nubuck shoes in good condition, regular maintenance is essential. This not only helps maintain the natural appearance but also prolongs the shoes’ lifespan. Cleaning nubuck shoes requires careful attention to avoid damaging the material. Below, we’ll explain step by step how to clean nubuck shoes effectively.
Step 1 | Gather all necessary supplies
Before you begin, make sure you have the right cleaning tools and materials on hand. This saves you time during the cleaning process. Here’s what you’ll need:
Handy: you can find many cleaning supplies for your shoes here.
Step 2 | Prepare your shoes
Remove the laces from your shoes so you can access all parts of the shoe better. If there’s visible mud or dirt on the shoes, gently brush it away with a nubuck brush. Avoid applying too much pressure and use circular motions to prevent damaging the nubuck leather.
Step 3 | Use the nubuck eraser
If there are stubborn stains on your shoes, use the nubuck eraser to remove them. Gently rub over the stains until they disappear. It works similar to an eraser on paper! Avoid rubbing too hard as this can damage the leather.
Step 4 | Clean the shoes with nubuck cleaner
If your shoes are still not completely clean, apply a small amount of nubuck cleaner to a clean, dry cloth. Gently rub over the shoes in a circular motion. Avoid getting the material too wet, as nubuck is very sensitive to water. Remember, a little goes a long way.
Step 5 | Let the shoes dry
After cleaning, allow the shoes to dry naturally. Avoid direct sunlight, heaters, and especially the dryer! These methods can dry out and damage the material. You can optionally fill the shoes with paper to help maintain their shape during drying.
Step 6 | Brush the shoes again
Once the shoes are completely dry, use the nubuck brush again to restore the natural texture of the leather. Brush in one direction to give the shoes their original appearance.
Step 7 | Protect your shoes
After cleaning and drying the shoes, it’s important to protect them from future stains and water. Spray a protective spray (preferably one made for nubuck) evenly over the shoes. Note: allow the spray to dry completely before wearing the shoes again!
Bonus tip: Regular maintenance
To keep your nubuck shoes in top condition, it’s recommended to regularly brush and treat them with a protective spray. This helps prevent dirt and stains from penetrating deeply into the material. Over time, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove stains from nubuck. You can find various products for maintaining your nubuck shoes here.
No! Nubuck shoes absolutely should not be washed in the washing machine. The amount of water and friction can damage the material and affect its texture. Cleaning nubuck by hand might not be your favourite activity, but it ensures that your shoes stay beautiful.
Stains on nubuck shoes should be treated as soon as possible. Use a nubuck eraser or special nubuck cleaner to gently remove stains. Dab the stain lightly; rubbing too hard can affect the colour of the material!
This might not fall under ‘nubuck cleaning’, but it certainly falls under ‘maintenance’! Use shoe trees to maintain the shape of your nubuck shoes when you’re not wearing them. Shoe trees help keep your shoes in their original shape, preventing creases or deformations. Another benefit of shoe trees? They absorb moisture! On a warm day, many people quickly get sweaty feet. At the end of the day, it’s nice to put shoe trees in your shoes: they easily draw the moisture that has been absorbed into your shoes.
Another tip from us, which actually applies to every shoe material: spraying nubuck shoes is important to make them water repellent and protect them from stains. Use a special water repellent spray (if possible, specifically for nubuck) and apply it evenly to the shoe. First, read the instructions on the packaging to prevent stains from the spray! Important of this tip: repeat, repeat, repeat! Spray your shoes regularly. Especially after cleaning the nubuck. You actually make it easier for yourself: by spraying, you need to clean less often. After all, dirt penetrates your shoes less quickly. Who wouldn’t want that ?!
If nubuck shoes have lost their color or are damaged, dyeing nubuck can be a solution. After cleaning the nubuck, your shoes are easy to dye. Use a special dye for nubuck and follow the instructions carefully to get the best result. For dyeing, you must be precise. You can, of course, also take your shoes to the shoemaker to give them a new, fresh color!
Have you been known to suffer from that Blue-Monday feeling? Then please read our Anti-Blue-Monday-Blues tips in this blog. Also completely suitable for any other day on which you may be experiencing the ‘blues’!
Anyone who has custom-made soles may find it a challenge to find shoes with interchangeable footbeds. This may be even more challenging during the summer months: many flip-flops and sandals have fixed footbeds, making it impossible to swop for your own soles. Read about Wolky’s solution!
Take a look at our collection and you’ll spot them right away: nubuck shoes! Clogs made of nubuck, nubuck sandals, nubuck lace-up shoes, you name it. Beautiful material that perfectly complements our shoes. But of course, you want to keep this material looking nice. In this blog, we’ll give you a step-by-step plan and extra tips for maintaining and cleaning your nubuck shoes. Keep reading for shoes that look brand new!
These shoes are of excellent quality! And do you want to keep them that way? Then we recommend that you use the following products.
