MAINTENANCE

Protection, Maintenance & Cleaning

New shoes and boots should always be impregnated before putting them into use. Unless this is not recommended due to the materials of the shoe.

An impregnation spray makes the shoe water and dirt repellent, so they are protected against bad weather conditions such as rain, snow, water puddles, and other stains. NUBIKK recommends repeating this procedure once every two months. Especially during the winter months, it is important to keep the shoes extra water and dirt repellent to extend the lifetime. Hence, we recommend repeating it once a month. It is very important that the upper side of the shoes is fully and carefully impregnated to get the best results.

Always make sure that the shoes are dry and clean before they are treated with an impregnation spray. This prevents stains and color differences. The type of impregnation spray that can be used depends on the material of the shoes. Likewise, the cleaning method depends on the type of material of the shoe.

The cleaning and maintenance instructions are described below for each type of material used by NUBIKK.

Click here for a selection of shoe care products selected by NUBIKK.

(Calf)leather / tumbled leather

Leather is a natural and durable product that can dry out over time and become stiff. Hence, to preserve leather we recommend regularly clean the shoes with a cleaning cloth, leather wash, or a shoe cleaner and rub them with shoe polish.

Leather wash is a concentrated special detergent for leather, suede, nubuck, wool, and combinations of these materials. Besides cleaning, it has also a greasy and nourishing effect on the material, plus it restores the original color of the shoes.

If the shoes are completely clean and dry, they can be treated with shoe polish. Make sure you match the color of the polish to the color of your shoes. Once you think you have good color, apply a little polish in an inconspicuous place to see if it matches. The shoe polish nourishes the shoes and prevents them from dehydration. This keeps the shoes smooth and extends their lifetime. After applying the shoe polish, let the shoes dry for a few hours before polishing them off with a polishing brush.

It is important that not too much shoe polish is applied, otherwise, the leather can no longer breathe.

Damaged leather can be restored with a wax-color (a color-restoring cream that attaches more to leather than regular shoe polish). Leave the wax on for fifteen minutes before wiping it off with a clean dry cloth. Then spray the shoes with a water- and dirt-repellent impregnation spray.

Patent leather

Patent leather is very fragile and therefore requires special attention in maintenance. Patent leather oil prevents cracks and peeling of the paint layer. You can also use a special cream for patent leather that protects the shoes, keeps its reflective gloss, and prevents cracking.

Apply a special patent leather oil or cream after the shoes have been cleaned with a damp cloth and the shoes are completely dry. Patent leather can also be cleaned with a patent leather mousse.

NUBIKK recommends that no ordinary shoe polish, spray, or salad oil should be used since these products leave traces on the paint layer. Shoes made of patent leather don’t need to be treated with an impregnation spray, because the shoes already have a protective lacquer coating.

Suede and Nubuck

Suede and nubuck is a type of leather with a napped finish and can best be protected by spraying it with an impregnating spray suitable for suede shoes.

The cleaning of suede and nubuck shoes starts with the removal of the stains. This is done with a special suede brush. The use of dry or wet cloth is not recommended, because rubbing with a cloth can make the stain worst.

The rubber side of the brush is used to remove dirt and the copper side for roughening the leather. If the stains are not completely gone, the shoes can be washed with a leather wash or with a shoe cleaner. It is also possible to use a suede eraser for less stubborn stains.

After that, the shoes are treated with a maintenance cream. Note that this is not a regular shoe cream that is used to remove stubborn stains from leather shoes. Regular shoe cream hardens suede, makes it lose its shininess, and creates spots.

Due to the vulnerability of suede and nubuck, the impregnation of these materials remains necessary, especially when the shoes are often worn. Use an impregnation spray once a month, to make them dirt and water-repellent, and restores the original color of the shoes.

Gomma

Gomma is a leather type with a rubber coating. This material should not be treated with a regular spray.

A ‘syncare spray’ is used to protect rubberized leather shoes. This spray has been developed specifically for synthetic materials. Stains can be easily removed with a damp cloth, dry the shoes immediately after that with a dry cloth to avoid new stains.

Soles

There are different ways to clean soles. This depends on the type of material used for the soles. Nubikk recommends always first wipe the soles with a soft brush, then clean the soles with a damp cloth and dry them with a dry cloth. For the bottom part, a brush can be used.

The soles of our sneakers can also be cleaned together with the upper part with a leather wash or a shoe cleaner. It is recommended to clean the sides of the soles with a toothbrush so that the upper is not damaged. The bottom could possibly be cleaned with a larger brush. Lastly, dry the entire shoe with a dry cloth.

Attention! This does not count for heels and crepe soles. NUBIKK recommends cleaning heels and crepe soles with a damp cloth. Crepe is a natural type of rubber and therefore requires more cleaning than an average sole.

Grease Stains

Besides the many possibilities mentioned above to remove stains, Nubikk also has good advice for grease stains. Grease stains can be removed with talcum powder, because it absorbs fat, hence, making grease stains disappear from suede/nubuck shoes.

First, sprinkle talcum powder on the stain and let it dry. Once dry, the talcum powder can be shaken off, if necessary, the shoe can be brushed with a suede brush.

Dents and creases

Wearing and walking leaves traces such as dents and creases in the spots that bend. In order to stretch it back and ensure that the shoes take on their original shape, Nubikk recommends putting special shoe trees inside the shoes. Shoe trees are available in different materials. It is recommended to use (cedar) wooden shoe trees, which help control odor and absorb moisture.