The Care and Feeding of Your Leather and Suede Items?

I recently acquired these suede shoes in my size, and I am infatuated! They were waiting for me when I got home late last night, and I cannot wait to wear them. But of course, there is rain in the forecast for the next several days, 20-100% depending on the day and time. It means I probably won't be wearing these shoes before Wednesday, nor will I be wearing my gray Danier leather moto.

That got me thinking... when I bought my moto, I bought and used the Danier Skincare for Leather and Suede, which seems to have worked very well on the occasional few raindrops or hand-washing sink splash.

So here are my questions for the leather & suede aficionados:

1. It has been 15 months since I used the Danier Skincare on my moto. Do you generally re-apply this product at some point? If so, do you have your leather professionally cleaned first? Or use a leather cleaning product at home?

2. Has anyone tried the Danier Skincare on suede? Did it truly protect your suede from water, snow, salt, etc?

3. What other products do you use to clean, moisturize, and waterproof your bag, with excellent results?

I've used a Coach moisturizer on leather bags and shoes in the past, and they always came out fine. I currently use Weiman leather wipes to lightly wipe down leather shoes, my Cole Haan leather coat, and older leather pieces. But these products don't waterproof or protect from anything other than drying out.

ETA: I bought Lexxol Cleaner and Conditioner after reading recommendations online from professional saddler/leather restorers, and they did a nice job on a vintage leather skirt that was looking a little dry. It didn't really do anything for my leather shoes that have a sort of waxy-looking coating, and I haven't tried these products on newer leather clothing pieces.

11 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I use Danier products on my leather jackets and purses. I have sprayed suede with the general waterproofing/protective sprays, but generally avoid wearing them in rainy weather. I will brush the nap of the suede when it starts to show wear or 'shine', and so far the shoes respond by looking like new!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Thanks, RC! Do you re-apply Danier products after a certain time, or does it seem to work? For some reason I have it in my head that reapplication might darken or change the color of the leather, even though it's a Danier product on a Danier garment.

I have an annual care ritual. Especially for the cold weather/winter items. In the spring I clean jackets and shoes with the leather cleaning clothes, treat with the renewal lotion, and then spray treat everything over a couple days to allow for good drying between repeat procedures. I also use Tana all protector (spray pump.) it can be pretty scary the first time on light leathers (all my cognac stuff) but I believe it helps repel water to some extent. In between, I wipe down items with the clothes.

Jenava

I use a spray specifically for suede waterproofing on my suede shoes. I give it two good coats and repeat every season. I wear them rain or shine.

Suz

For suede, I have a specific product -- it's sort of like a roll on. It looks scary at first but does help repel to an extent. But I wouldn't wear suede in genuinely wet weather except by accident -- unless it was Aquatalia or La Canadienne. For my La Canadienne suede boots, I just go out in them and there has not been a problem yet.

For leather, I do more or less as Carla does, except I confess that I haven't even done a proper cleaning of my two Danier leather jackets yet -- they are both two years old. I simply reapply the leather conditioner and then spray with protector. I think I will take them in next year for proper cleaning. So far they are holding up well. I have been caught in light rain in both to no ill effect.

By the way, those look like fun shoes -- with legwarmers built in? Perfect for you as a dancer!

This is very helpful, ladies, thank you!

Since the Danier can says it is for suede as well, I am going to brush my shoes, and then treat them. But I am going to wait for sunnier skies before I wear them out. I can't wait to wear them!

And then I'm going to re-condition and respray my Danier jacket, although seriously, I think the leather is even prettier and softer than it was when I got it 15 months ago! I am definitely going to shop there again on our next visit to the Great White North.

Category