Waterproofing leather shoes: This keeps the leather beautiful and your feet dry!
It doesn't matter whether you're treating new leather shoes or want to pamper shoes you've already worn. With the right care and the right tools, they're ready for any weather and will look as if you've just bought them, even after years. We've taken a closer look at this topic so that you don't make any mistakes when caring for your shoes and better understand why waterproofing your leather shoes is so important.
That’s why leather is water-attracting!
Hydrophilic, i.e. water-attracting, natural materials are generally used in the manufacture of shoes. An exception is oiled leather, on whose surface, as the name suggests, a layer containing fat or wax is applied during further processing.
Oiled leather is a robust type of leather such as smooth or nubuck leather. Due to the waxy surface, which gives the material its soft feel, it is less sensitive to moisture and wetness than other types of leather. Since the closed pores of oiled leather would provoke an unhealthy shoe climate, open-pored types of leather are preferred despite the positive water-repellent properties of oiled leather. During the tanning process, particular attention is paid to ensuring that the leather's breathability is maintained.
In fact, the water-attracting properties of leather have far more advantages than disadvantages. Natural leather is able to absorb, store and release moisture, which has a positive effect on the regulation of sweat inside the shoes. It is precisely this characteristic that makes leather a perfect material for all types of footwear.
As already mentioned, these positive properties also have a disadvantage, which is particularly noticeable in wet or damp, cold weather. Fortunately, we can balance out this negative consequence with the right care.
Why is waterproofing leather shoes so important?
Leather shoes are made inimpregnationmade hydrophobic on the outside of the shoe. This is ensured by a special layer that is applied to the outside of the shoe during the impregnation process and acts as a water-repellent protective layer.
The cohesive forces of the material, which decrease when the impregnation is applied, and the cohesive forces of the water, which increase, ensure that no moisture can penetrate the material. The result: droplets form, the so-called lotus effect. This ensures that liquids simply roll off and therefore have no chance of penetrating the leather. You might think that the leather impregnation clogs the pores of the material and reduces breathability. This is not the case. With the help of a high-quality product, this is retained despite the water-repellent properties and thus ensures a comfortable wearing experience.
How do you properly waterproof your shoes?
To waterproof your leather shoes, we recommend that you use asustainable waterproofing sprayto use one that is free of harmful ingredients and aerosols. This is the only way to be sure that your favorite shoes are optimally protected from dirt, moisture and various environmental influences without losing their breathability. With the environmentally friendly alternatives, you are not a burden on the environment and you do not have to worry about health consequences for you, your loved ones and your pets. As you will soon see, the application is child's play and is easy to use.
- First of all, you should prepare your leather shoes for waterproofing. To do this, you must remove all dirt from the surface. Depending on the type of leather, the following products are suitable for this process:Natural brushesor soft sponges.
- After you have fitted your shoes with a suitableLeather cleanerOnce you have cleaned the leather, it's time to waterproof it. To ensure that the product is evenly distributed over the surface, we recommend that you apply the spray to the leather from a distance of around twenty to thirty centimeters. Be extremely meticulous and remember to waterproof all seams, laces and edges. You should repeat this process two or three times. Make sure that the material can dry between each layer of product. Because several thin layers protect your shoes better from the attacks of everyday life than one thick one!
- So, now your shoes need to dry completely. Warning: A warm spot under or on the heater is not the right place for this! A shady and dry place in the fresh air is more suitable.
How often should you waterproof leather shoes?
When waterproofing, you should remember the following rule of thumb: Often a lot helps! A lot doesn't help a lot. If you've just treated yourself to a new pair of shoes, they've usually already been waterproofed by the manufacturer. However, you should renew this protection regularly. This is because the protective layer wears off over time when you walk or have minor collisions, which means that the leather in these areas is vulnerable to external influences again. This is precisely why it's important to refresh the waterproofing at regular intervals. That's why it's particularly advisable to waterproof your shoes again after wearing them ten times in autumn and winter. If you were caught in the rain or your shoes had to carry you through puddles and slush, then the protective layer should be cared for immediately after your shoes are dry again and protected from the next bad weather by waterproofing them.
Waterproofing leather shoes: harmful or harmless for the environment?
Impregnation sprays were pilloried for a long time and did not have a particularly good reputation when it came to environmental protection. This is more than understandable given the questionable ingredients such as PFAS and aerosols that are listed on the labeling table of many manufacturers. The fact is: If chemicals enter the environment via groundwater, they cause irreversible damage. This does not have to be the case!
You now have the choice of opting for environmentally friendly alternatives. They protect your leather shoes and sneakers perfectly from dirt and external influences. They do not require any ingredients that require labeling. You will also not find any harmful aerosols in them. They work on the basis of various household remedies such as sugar acid and do an incredibly good job.
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