How to take care of minimalist footwear?

Before we move on to tips for caring for minimalist shoes, we need to ask ourselves a question: Does this care differ significantly from the care of regular shoes?

Well, not really! Minimalist shoes are made from natural materials such as genuine leather, suede, linen, wool, or synthetic vegan leather. As you can see, this is not much different from high-quality non-minimalist shoes that you would find in stores.

However, we decided to write this article and share with you a few key pieces of information that will help you care for your shoes and enjoy them for many seasons.

Polishing and cleaning minimalist shoes

If we want our minimalist shoes to be cleaned and polished to a shine, it’s important to prepare properly – depending on the materials of the shoes. For full-grain leather, we’ll use different products than for suede shoes – as the latter could be damaged.

To polish full-grain leather shoes or vegan synthetic leather shoes, you’ll need a few accessories and products:

A shoe brush to remove dust, dirt, sand, etc.
A soft cloth
A cleaning foam or gel, such as Footwear Cleaning Gel™ NIKWAX, to remove deeper dirt
A waterproofing spray or wax to protect the shoes for a longer time

Choosing the right products for the material type will not only help you get rid of stains, dirt, and unsightly smudges, but also protect your shoes for many years to come. Well-maintained leather shoes can last for many years.

How to use NikWax?

Wipe the shoes with a damp cloth and moisten the surface
Shake before use
Hold the bottle about 15cm away from the surface
Apply generously to the cleaned surface
Use a brush to remove stubborn dirt
Rinse with clean water
Apply the appropriate waterproofing or conditioning product from NikWax while the shoes are still damp

Shoe waterproofing

Waterproofing shoes, or securing the outer surface of the shoe, is just as important a step. It doesn’t matter if your shoes are made of the highest quality leather or very durable synthetic leather. If you don’t use the right product, over time, the elements will defeat even the best footwear. After all, if water can erode a mountain, why not shoes, right?

You also need to choose the right product for waterproofing – we’ll use one for nubuck and suede, and another for leather.

Examples of waterproofing products that work well for different materials:

Nikwax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofing Spray 125 ml
NIKWAX Leather Waterproofing Wax™ (liquid)
Xnano PRO Strong Nano Waterproofing for Shoes and Clothing 250 ml
Kaps Pure Protector Eco-Friendly Shoe Waterproofing 200 ml

Using waterproofing products is just as simple as cleaning:

Remove dirt using a brush or damp cloth, then clean the shoes with a cleaning gel, as described earlier.
Evenly spray the waterproofing product on the outer surface of the shoes.
After 2-3 minutes, wipe off any excess waterproofing product with a clean cloth and allow the shoes to dry before wearing them.

Minimalist shoes in winter and summer

Depending on the season, your minimalist shoes are exposed to different external factors.
In winter, these include: frost, ice, snow, mud, road salt, surprises under the snow (stones or presents from neighbors’ dogs), hard and slippery surfaces. During this period, it is even more important to focus on thorough waterproofing and repeat it occasionally. This will protect your shoes from moisture and external factors. Leather shoes in winter can quickly become damaged if not properly cared for.

In winter, these include: frost, ice, snow, mud, road salt, surprises under the snow (stones or presents from neighbors’ dogs), hard and slippery surfaces. During this period, it is even more important to focus on thorough waterproofing and repeat it occasionally, to protect your shoes from moisture and external factors. Leather shoes in winter can quickly become damaged if not properly cared for.

In summer, our minimalist shoes are more exposed to mechanical and internal factors. On the outside, they are attacked by high temperatures, sand, dust, etc. On the inside, your feet sweat. On a warm day, you’ll truly appreciate shoes made from natural leather or vegan leather. These materials allow for excellent air circulation, reducing foot sweating. As for external dirt, it’s enough to clean and shake them regularly so that dust or sand doesn’t get deeply embedded into the shoe material.

If we were to summarize shoe care, we can do it in three points:

Clean the shoes.
Waterproof the shoes.
Repeat.
Simple, right?