Leather slippers are super pretty but we always have the question of maintenance... We are always a little afraid that it will be difficult to maintain, that this material will mark and deteriorate, especially if it is not not authentic or natural and that it is synthetic. As is often the case, it only takes two or three grandmother's tricks to know for a myth to collapse! Leather really isn't very difficult to maintain as long as you know what type of material it is. For example, you don't put shoe polish on suede. Whether boots for adults or slippers for babies, shoes made from these materials are infinitely more comfortable and durable when cared for properly. To begin, let's take a look at the different types of leather that can be found in our shoes. Next, we will see which interview is most appropriate for each person.
What are the different types of leather?
Leather is basically made from animal skins. Depending on the animal and how the material has been processed, this material will have a very different texture. It may be marked, its defects can come from different sources such as scars, horsefly bites or folds on the animal's skin. Among the most used on a daily basis for shoes, there are several main categories: smooth leathers or suede leathers.
Smooth leathers can be identified by their intact and very fine appearance. By definition, this material is very smooth to the touch. It is the most natural appearance of leather with minimal processing. There are two types of smooth leather: full grain leather and oily leather. The grain of the leather is in fact the structure of the dermis on which the hairs are implanted. The grain of the leather corresponds to the upper part of the skin. Certain leathers are chosen for their absence of defects, a finish is applied to them which reveals the natural characteristics of the leather: this is called aniline leather. It is very renowned for its superior quality and absence of defects.
Oily leathers are much thicker. It is used for thicker shoes. It can be recognized by the fact that fine scratches caused by wear are erased with a slightly damp cloth. In fact, this leather has been “enriched” to at least 10% of its weight in order to strengthen it and make it more resistant to wear.
We often find this type of leather for baby slippers, or even for traditional slippers.
Suede leathers are recognizable by their very soft, fluffy appearance.
Nubuck leather (or suede) is very fine and velvety, almost smooth to the touch. It is obtained by rubbing smooth leather with very fine emery paper.
Velvet leather (or suede) is very similar in appearance but more resistant to stains and light. Unlike nubuck leather which is rubbed on the outside, suede leather is rubbed on the inside of the skin, the flesh side.
Suede leather is often used for shoes or inserts, such as on the elbows of costume jackets à la Ross Geller in Friends. You will find this type of leather in our leather slippers for women and men.
Whatever the type of leather, the fact remains that the primary quality of the material and the treatment will have a decisive impact on its resistance to external aggression (light, stains, scratches, etc.). The original animal also plays a role. For example, the calf or the cow is more resistant than the lamb.
How do I maintain my leather shoes?
Cleaning smooth leather:
To take care of your leather slippers, it's very simple, just wax them at regular intervals. It's important to keep them hydrated so your slippers stay comfortable and healthy. Here are our best maintenance tips:
1- Cleaning: obviously, you must clean the shoes with a clean, dry cloth, preferably microfiber. This way you can remove all the dust and dirt. You can also use a sponge, cotton cloth or small towel. If you need to remove very small mud stains, you can use a little make-up remover milk, without oil so as not to mark the material. Also remember to clean the rubber sole of your slippers.
2- Apply the shoe polish in a generous quantity with small circular movements over the entire surface to be moisturized. Be careful to choose the right shade of shoe polish, if you are hesitating between two shades, choose the lighter one.
3- Remove excess shoe polish by vigorously rubbing the entire shoe until it is very shiny.
4- For a truly optimal result, rub your shoes with a polishing glove.
Cleaning suede leather:
For suede shoes, the difficulty is keeping them delicately hydrated without making them greasy. It is still quite simple to clean them as long as you have adopted a few reflexes and understood what you must avoid at all costs. Here is the best method we have found for cleaning your suede slippers:
1- Brush: as with any cleaning, you must start by removing all dirt and dust. Also remember to wipe the sole of your
2- Moisturize: We advise you to use a suitable cleaning product. A spray is generally used so that the aerosols cover your entire shoe. We sincerely believe that it is worth investing in real quality cleaning products so as not to stain.
3- Eraser: To remove a stain, you can use a suitable eraser. For the most resistant stains, there are also specialized stain removers. Here is the Angarde gum that we offer to take care of our leather slippers.
4- Waterproof: Not necessarily, unless you are really exposed to rain on a daily basis.
Avoid at all costs!
Avoid cleaning nubuck or suede with water. A soft damp cloth with a little Marseille soap, but especially not too much water as this risks soaking the leather and dehydrating it. In short, don't soak your suede shoes in water...
Likewise, there is no point in waxing or staining them to restore the color, as this will ruin the texture.
Above all, no washing machine. So yes, it seems quite obvious for a pair of boots, but if your pair of slippers is mainly made of another material such as cotton or wool, definitely don't machine wash your pair. This is what we recommend for our children's wool slippers with a leather insert.
Finally, as we said, the leather must be protected from dehydration. So, it is not at all a good idea to put your slippers under the radiator to warm them up, because heat sources can deteriorate the color and flexibility of your slipper!
Focus on our Angarde suede leather slippers and mules:
Our suede leather slippers and mules have undergone an aniline treatment of exceptional quality made in Spain. We have designed this collection to be easy to maintain with a cleaning eraser also available on our site, as well as an anti-stain product and a waterproofing product. These slippers and mules for both men and women are available in different color ranges. These colors are soft and elegant. For the lighter shades of the women's collection, don't worry, the leather is just as easy to maintain!
The soles are injected rubber for longer life and greater comfort. You can wear your slippers and mules both outdoors and indoors, but consider waterproofing your pair of slippers with a product intended for this purpose beforehand. To clean the soles, you can use a sponge with a little soap and water or a cleansing lotion. These products are available for purchase in store or on our website. Free delivery from 90€.
