Maintenance of leather (outdoor) shoes

To start, remove the laces from your shoes. This allows you to access every part easily and prevents the laces from getting covered in the cleaning and maintenance wax. Also, take out the insoles from the shoes.

Then, remove as much mud and dirt as possible.

Use a stiff brush for the sole and a slightly softer brush for the upper part of your shoes. If your shoes are very dirty, you can rinse them with lukewarm water.

To get your leather shoes really clean, use Nikwax Cleaning Gel. Shake the bottle well before use. Then, squeeze the bottle firmly, letting the gel flow over the shoe.

With the brush on the bottle, you can quickly and effectively clean the shoes.

Rinse the shoe under the tap with lukewarm water until all foam and gel residues are gone.

Afterward, let the shoes air-dry. Do not place them on a heater, near another heat source, or in direct sunlight to dry, as this can dry out the leather and sole.

Only when the shoes are dry can you apply the Granger G-Wax to make your shoes waterproof again. Apply the wax sparingly and not too thick. Ensure that you also treat the tongue and all seams and stitches. The best results are achieved by applying two to three thin layers of wax, letting the wax dry in between. Again, let the wax dry in the air and not near a heat source.

Grangers G-Wax is suitable for smooth leather and oiled nubuck. Note that after applying the wax to nubuck, the matte appearance of the leather will disappear. This doesn't harm the leather; it just looks a bit different. So, be prepared for a somewhat altered 'look' of your shoes.

Your shoes are clean again, protected against dirt, water-resistant, and completely ready for the next outdoor adventure.