The life or death of your favorite shoes depends on how well you care for them! -- To keep your cherished shoes looking beautiful for a long time, we especially recommend watching these videos on different types of shoe care. This time, Keiichi Matsudo, a shoe care planner at COLUMBUS , a long-established manufacturer of shoe creams and shoe care products, will guide you. From basic smooth leather care to the slightly more delicate cordovan care, you'll understand and be convinced that it's easy!

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  The person who will be teaching: Keimei Matsudo
  Columbus Shoe Care Planner

  From Columbus, a world-leading manufacturer of shoe care products, comes the charm and depth of shoe polishing. A true "shoe shiner" who never misses polishing their shoes at home.

Why leather shoes need care

We cleanse our faces to remove dirt from our pores, replenish moisture with toner, nourish with serum or beauty product, and finally seal in the effects with cream. The "shoe care" we're introducing here follows exactly the same procedure: remove dirt with brushing and cleaner, nourish with shoe cream, and finish with a waterproofing spray. When you think about it that way, you can't go outside without any "makeup" on your shoes anymore.

Leather is very susceptible to dryness, so it's important to "nourish" it even when it's made into shoes. For leather, that nourishment comes from cream; a lack of nourishment leads to dryness, wrinkles, cracks, and eventually, even tearing. Wearing well-maintained shoes can also be a great way to boost your motivation at work and lift your spirits.

All the shoe care products featured in this article are from COLUMBUS . While they manufacture their products in Japan to suit the Japanese climate, they also tailor their products to the diverse needs and preferences of their customers. In particular, the wide range of colors available for their base creams—which nourish the leather, create a protective film on the surface, and produce a beautiful shine—is truly worth seeing.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Shoe Shining
• Q. Do new shoes need to be polished? 
• A. New shoes require special care before they are worn for the first time.
• Actually, the leather of shoes in their shoebox may be in a "bare" state. If you wear them outside like that, they're more prone to scratches and dryness can cause unsightly creases. To prevent this, it's a good idea to learn some simple care. Applying cream while the shoes are new will nourish the dry leather and replenish its natural oils. This creates a thin protective layer on the surface, keeping your shoes looking nice for longer!
• Q. How often should I clean my shoes?
• A. There are no specific rules, but as a guideline...
• Clean your shoes every 3 to 5 times you wear them. Shoe care starts with brushing off dust as soon as you get home. If you leave them as they are after wearing them, the leather will not only dry out but also become prone to mold.

View a list of related products for "shoe care" at the Mitsukoshi Isetan online store.

1. Caring for glossy leather

Mastering the care of glossy leather is fundamental.

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Regardless of whether the shoes are made of glossy leather (smooth leather), when cleaning lace-up shoes, first remove the shoelaces. Then, insert shoe trees and begin the cleaning process. When applying cream, apply it evenly to the leather.

To briefly explain the procedure, the key points are: ① thoroughly remove dust and dirt, ② apply a nourishing cream, and ③ polish. Carefully remove dirt from the gaps in the welt with a brush. Also, be sure to moisturize the creases in glossy leather by applying cream thoroughly. For the toe, which is the face of the shoe, take a generous amount of cream and polish it to give it a nice shine.

• "Caring for Shiny Leather" Procedure
• ① Use a soft horsehair brush to brush the entire surface and remove dust.
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• ② Remove any dirt from the shoes and any old cream applied during the previous cleaning. Wrap a cloth (such as a cotton cloth) around your finger and use a leather cleaner to completely clean the surface of the leather, then apply new cream.
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• ③ Apply an emulsifying shoe cream. It is recommended to use a cream that is the same color as the shoes or one shade lighter. For the leather soles, apply Boot Black 's " Leather Sole Conditioner " to prevent friction and increase durability.
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• ④ Brush the applied cream evenly over the entire shoe to distribute it evenly.
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• ⑤ After brushing, polishing with a cloth will bring out a finer shine. Finally, apply a waterproofing spray.

View related products for "1. Care for Shiny Leather"

2. High-shine finish

Adding a shine to the toe area transforms the shoes into something a step above the rest.

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The shine on the toe of a shoe reveals the wearer's attention to detail. Our high-shine finish is tailored to the customer's preferences. While the basic principle is to add shine to the hard parts of the toe and heel, this polishing also helps prevent scratches.

The maintenance procedure involves following the aforementioned "1. Caring for Shiny Leather" steps, and then using Boot Black 's " High Shine Base ," a special wax that serves as a base for the high-shine finish, to fill in the pores and unevenness of the leather.


After letting it sit for 1-2 minutes, polish the shoes with a cloth using " Polish Water, " a shoe polishing liquid specifically designed to enhance the high-shine effect. Next, using " High Shine Coat ," a wax specifically for high-shine shoes, will give them an even more transparent finish. Finally, gradually spread the High Shine Coat with Polish Water to finish.

When doing a high-shine finish, I pay attention to polishing up to the seam for straight-tip shoes and up to the creases for plain-toe shoes, making sure to give a good shine to the part that touches the edge. I also try to create a nice gradient on the heel.

View related products for "2. High-Shine Finish"

3. Care for napped leather

Groom the nap and enjoy the suede.

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Even napped leather (nubuck, suede) is constantly drying out, so proper care is essential. The procedure is the same as for glossy leather: after removing dirt, use a nourishing spray. However, black suede is prone to color fading, so use a color-restoring spray. For lighter colors like beige, the trick is to thoroughly remove dirt and then apply a generous amount of waterproof spray to prevent staining.

• "Care Instructions for Suede Leather"
• ① Use COLUMBUS suede brush, specifically designed for suede, to carefully remove dust and dirt from within the fibers.
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• ② For overall dirt, use the mist-type Boot Black " Suede Cleaner ," and for localized stains, carefully remove them with the solid-type " Cleaning Bar White " or " Cleaning Bar Natural ."
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• ③ Use Boot Black "Suede Rich Moisture" to nourish the napped leather and maintain its vibrant color, then brush after drying to smooth the nap.
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• ④ When the color fades, use COLUMBUS " Suede Color " and brush after drying to restore the nap.
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• ⑤ Protect the nap of the suede leather not only from moisture like rain, but also from oil by applying COLUMBUS "Suede Spray Neutral" waterproof spray. It also has the effect of making it harder for dirt to stick, making future maintenance easier.

View related products for "3. Care for napped leather"

4. Care for Cordovan Leather

Care with a "specialized cream" that contains plenty of wax.

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Cordovan leather is made from the napped part of a horse's hindquarters, which is then treated with wax to maintain its texture. Therefore, it's essential to use a special cordovan cream to preserve it. First, remove any surface dirt with a cleaner, then apply a special cream that contains a generous amount of wax to help flatten the nap. You can also use COLUMBUS "German Brush Horsehair" when applying the cream.

Also, since the creases in cordovan leather tend to become napped, it's important to rub the cream in vigorously.


Another characteristic of cordovan leather is its vulnerability to rain (water). When I take care of it, I apply extra cream to help it withstand sudden rain showers.

For black, burgundy, and brown leather, use a cream of the same color. For neutral (colorless) leather, use a cream of the same color on light brown leather. Using a cream of the same color will also help prevent fading. Cordovan leather is attractive for its unique luster, so maintenance is essential to maintain that shine.

See related products for "4. Care for Cordovan Leather"

5. Care on rainy days

Since rain can accelerate the drying of leather, aftercare is important.

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If your shoes get wet in the rain, immediately wipe off the moisture with a cloth upon returning home, insert a desiccant ("Fresh Insert") to absorb the water, insert moisture-absorbing red cedar shoe trees, and let them dry in a well-ventilated, shady place. Once dry, clean them in the following order: cleaner, cream, and waterproofing spray.

Leather shoes that get wet in the rain are prone to losing their shape, and if left wet, the leather will harden and damage the shoes. Once they are dry, use Boot Black " Leather Lotion " or " Two Face Plus Lotion " to remove dirt that can cause mold and other problems.


Next, apply shoe cream to restore lost shine and nourish the leather. Don't forget to finish with a waterproof spray such as " Waterproof Spray ." After it has dried completely, lightly polish it with a cloth and you're done. Additionally, applying Boot Black " Leather Sole Conditioner " to the leather sole will prevent moisture from seeping in from the ground.


Many people have probably experienced finding a white, powdery substance on their shoes after they've gotten soaked and dried. This phenomenon is called "salt staining," and it's caused by salt and oil contained in the leather dissolving due to rainwater. Carefully remove the salt and oil with Boot Black " Leather Lotion " or " Two Face Plus Lotion ."

See the article "5. Items and care products that can be worn comfortably even on rainy days".

6. A shoe polishing specialist will teach you helpful techniques.

I found a leather cream for people who hate taking care of their leather !

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Many shoe polishing beginners probably love shoes but find maintenance troublesome and avoid it. In such cases, I recommend Boot Black 's " Rich Moisture ," which nourishes and adds shine to glossy leather shoes.

This "Rich Moisture" leather cream is formulated with "organic argan oil," a precious oil extracted from the kernels of the fruit seeds of the argan tree, which grows in Morocco, Africa. It is a gentle, neutral formula that can be used on any color of leather and is rich in nutrients.

Simply apply the cream to a cloth, spread it thinly and evenly, and once the cream is dry, polish it with a soft cloth. The plant-based ingredients nourish and soften the leather, keeping it smooth to the touch, so please give it a try.


View a list of related products for "shoe care" at the Mitsukoshi Isetan online store.