Polishing your own shoes is a very gratifying experience. It need not be overly complicated and it should not cause you stress, relax and enjoy. Your shoes will mean more to you than ever if you have a little sweat equity invested. Remember how proud you felt after you washed and waxed your car in high school? Polishing your shoes is no different.
This tutorial is a “basic overview” of how to clean and polish your cordovan shoes; we hope you find it helpful. Like everything else there are many variations and everyone has their own personal preferences. It’s kind like asking how you like your steak cooked to each his own. The point is start with the basics; keep working at it and in time you’ll begin to develop your own technique.
16 Comments
good stuff…might have to come by and pick up some of that cleaner.
I don’t know if you remember me Steven, but I’m an art student in Providence and I came in to the store over the Thanksgiving weekend and bought a pair of my first shell Cordovan shoes–the Longwings featured in the video.
I want to say thank you for this great video. Ever since I purchased the shoes, I’ve made an effort of taking care of them, knowing that if I do, they’ll last me forever. They don’t get polished too often, as I enjoy the patina that slowly develops, but I do wipe and brush after each wearing. After a few months, they’re looking great, and my other pair of Aldens, the scratched up boots I was wearing when I came in, are also looking much, much better after cleaning and weekly polishings.
So again, thanks for the informative post, the great blog, and the inspiration to take much better care of my shoes. I hope to visit the store again soon!
I POLISH WITH ALL NAVY, ALL THE TIME!
Steven,
Thanks. This video was helpful.
Steven, great demo for colour 8 but can you suggest the best colour in Saphir polish Medaille D’Or for Cigar Shell?
Mark
Dark brown wax on cigar.
Great video. But why not use Alden’s color 8? Also, what wax should I use for my ravello shell cordovan Alden boots?
If I put too much wax, what should I do? Can I use saddle soap?
Alex,
Don’t use saddle soap. The wax is a thick substance and saddle soap wont do you any good. I recommend wiping as much away with a cloth and then brushing the shoes with a horse brush for several minutes.
Awesome video….certainly one to bookmark for sure.
But why navy? does that help with the patina?
Any what is best Saphir wax color for my Ravello Plain Bluchers I bought from you? Many thanks!
Sean
Some guys polish color 8 with black or navy to keep it dark. I use Saphir light brown wax on Ravello.
If you first clean whiskey colored cordovan shoes with renovateur without first brushing–wouldn’t the dirt stay in the leather and darken the whiskey leather? What polish do you use for whiskey to keep the light color? How much is a jar of the polish? The jar of renovateur? What about shipping costs to NJ? Can I pay by credit card or personal check? Thanks.
After seeing this video I went out and bought the renovateur, wax and saddle soap from Saphir. The products work wonders for my non-cordovans. Shoes look fresh and leather looks healthy. However, I recently got this greasy white:ish substance on my cordovans that does not want to come off. If I run my finger across it it feels grimy. Worth mentioning that I bought them this summer. Anyone had this problem? What is it, and most importantly how do I get rid of it and restore the nice cordovan shine?
Thanks!
I must be a shoe lover!
Seeing the shine develope after the coating of the black wax made me nod and smile with pleasure…and it’s not even my shoes!
I personally just brush my cordovan shoes after each wearing and only wax it (with black Saphir Medaille D’Or) about twice a year.
*Well…they would probably get waxed more often if it gets into the wardrobe rotation more frequently….but I only wear em about once a month…
steven, how do you compare Rénovateur and Medaille D’Or Cordovan?
Hi Steven, great blog/store. A few (quick) Alden cordovan care questions:
1. I recently purchased a lovely pair of cigar chukkas. There doesn’t seem to be a wax to match. Do you recommend the alden paste wax in brown for this color?
2. The aforementioned shoes were worn briefly in light rain and now have faint “dreaded” (per other blogs) water spots. From what I’ve gathered with regular brushing, care and wear these should resolve without too much fuss. Is this your opinion/experience?
Many thanks.
Jonathan