Care and Maintenance

Daily Ritual for Beautiful Shoes

Galo recommends the following "Daily Ritual" for all leather shoes (including nappa, calf, patent, suede, Nubuck, etc...)

• When putting on your shoes, never force your feet into the shoe. If necessary use a shoe horn to prevent the back of the shoe from breaking down.
• Leather shoes should have one full day to dry out from natural foot perspiration so giving your shoes a day's "rest" in between wears will prolong their life.
• Do not store shoes on or near a direct heat source. Heat will inevitable dry out the leather and potentially cause it to crack.
• Always allow your shoes to dry naturally especially if they are exposed to the elements.
• If possible, we recommend storing your shoes with moisture-absorbing cedar shoe trees. This will prevent the leather from cracking and permanently creasing where the toe bends.
• After a wear, we recommend that you gently wipe down your shoes with a dry cloth to remove dirt, dust and other elements before putting them away.

Cleaning Leather Shoes

Daily maintenance consists of simply wiping down your shoes after each wear with a dry cloth to remove dirt and dust.

If shoes become heavily soiled, use a mild application of Ivory soap on a damp cloth, wipe off, and allow to dry naturally (away from a direct heat source). Then apply a shoe cream or polish treatment to restore the original luster without damaging the leather.

Never use any type of cleaner that contains an acid or a strong detergent. Both are damaging to fine leather, and will age the shoe.

Polish your shoes regularly.

Polishing Leather Shoes

When polishing shoes, use only a high quality paste or cream polish and be sure to select a polish that matches your shoe color. Cream or paste polish will help moisturize the leather and keep it from drying out. Polishes that contain dyes, pigments, wax and conditioning agents keep footwear looking fresh, add shine and cover scuffs.

Although polishes are also available as liquids which are easier to work with, we do not recommend them as they can dry out shoe leather and cause cracking. Shoe repair experts recommend the protection and conditioning offered by creams and pastes.

6 Easy Steps:

1. Remove the laces, if any.
2. Use a brush or mildly dampened cloth to clean dust and dirt from your shoe, heel and sole.
3. With a soft clean cloth, apply a small amount of polish in a circular pattern. An old toothbrush is useful for getting polish into small or tight areas.
4. Place your polished shoes on newspaper or an old sheet to dry.
5. When your shoe is dry, usually after about 15 minutes, brush with a natural bristle brush, then buff to a shine with a clean rag.
6. If you are polishing several pairs of shoes, be sure to use a different brush and rag for each different color of shoe polish.

Caring for Patent Leather

Patent leather is normal leather with a high gloss finish. This durable, glossy finish is obtained by applying a special varnish, or lacquer, during the final phases of the leather tanning process.

Because of its glossy finishes, patent leather is very popular for ballerinas, loafers, pumps, dance shoes and dress shoes. It is also used for hand bags, purses, and, even for some interesting clothing or garments...

Maintenance is very easy, simply clean with a wet sponge (or if you prefer even Windex or Armor All) and wipe dry.

Caring for Suede and Nubuck

Preventive maintenance is the key to keeping suede and nubuck in top shape. Before you wear your new shoes, protect them with a water and stain repellent designed specifically for suede and nubuck. As soon as you notice that water is no longer beading up, spray them again.

Use a plastic or rubber-tipped brush regularly to restore the nap and remove surface dirt before it sets in. The nap is the "velvety surface" and porous texture that makes suede softer and suppler than regular leather.

Nubuck is softer and more delicate than suede, so be particularly careful when brushing. Your oiled nubuck shoes, however, will require a nubuck conditioning treatment on a regular basis in order to replenish the original oils.

Stain Removal for Suede + Nubuck

Solvent based cleaners are available specifically for suede and for nubuck. If you get a stain, attempt to remove it immediately with a solvent-based cleaner made specifically for the material of your shoe. Oil absorbing blocks which abrade the leather to bring back the nap and remove stains, are also available. A less aggressive block is recommended for nubuck because of its more delicate nature.

If you have a serious stain, or feel uncomfortable with utilizing solvent based cleaners or absorbing blocks, we recommend you bring your shoes to your trusted shoe repair professional.

Spot Cleaning Microfiber

Before applying any cleaner, remove excess wet stain by absorbing with a wet sponge.

The Benefits of Shoe Trees

A shoe tree is placed inside your shoe to preserve it's shape, preventing the development of creases thus extending the life of your shoe. Shoe Trees will also help maintain the appearance of your shoes by smoothing out creases and wrinkles that prematurely age leather. They also help smooth out linings and insoles, making shoes more comfortable to wear.

Galo recommends a high quality shoe tree made of wood, specifically cedar. The Highest quality shoe tree however is made of 100% aromatic red cedar. Cedar's unique wicking action quickly absorbs moisture, acid and salts, thereby reducing cracking, odor and deterioration. Cedar protects the leather, fabric, stitching and soles from moisture damage, adding to the life of your shoes.

Caring for Aquatalia Weatherproof Boots and Shoes

Aquatalia's Fall-winter footwear collection provides you with beautiful soft leathers and materials which are both weatherproof and stain resistant.

Stains can be classified and treated as follows:

• Watery stains including coffee, milk, soft drinks, wine and alcoholic beverages can be wiped off using a soft cloth moistened with water. With more tenacious stains, wipe off with a soft cloth moistened in a solution of water and neutral soap or a solution of 5% ammonia in water.
• If the outer surface of your footwear gets wet, do not place on or near any direct heat. This will negatively affect the weatherproof sealant of your product. It is important to allow your footwear to dry naturally.

To restore original texture and beauty of the materials, use the following methods:

• For suede, brush gently with a soft suede brush. For leather, polish with a quality wax and buff using a cloth or brush.
• Store your Aquatalia footwear in a cool, dry environment, away from direct heat.

Caring for La Canadienne Weatherproof Shoes and Boots

All La Canadienne products can be cleaned easily by using a soft damp cloth and mild detergent. When wearing our boots/shoes in snowy conditions it is essential that proper care be taken to ensure their longevity. Our product is not stain resistant, and cleaning them after wear is the only way to keep salt stains from penetrating the material. Never place your La Canadienne footwear near direct heat, wipe with a dry cloth and let them dry naturally.

Caring for Pertti Palmroth Weatherproof Boots and Shoes

All materials used in Pertti Palmroth products are carefully selected for their quality. The majority of our materials are produced in Italy, known for the finest leather and manmade materials employed in the manufacture of footwear and handbags.

Many of our products are made of leather, but Pertti Palmroth is especially well known for two special materials designed for the demanding, cold and slushy weather conditions of the North: All-Weather material and Waterproof-suede.

Pertti Palmroth's all-weather material is a result of years of development and testing. It has been designed to be an ideal footwear and bag material for demanding weather conditions. It is a synthetic material (coagulated polyurethane). It is lightweight, water repellent, dirt repellent, and easy to maintain. Simply wipe with a damp towel and allow to dry naturally, away from direct heat. No shoe polish necessary.