How quickly something else is completely new, outlandishand the rare becomes commonplace. For example, twenty years ago, nubuck shoes were a sign of great wealth and great opportunities. In addition, not all wealthy people bought such shoes. Do you know why? Because the impeccable beauty of this material quickly faded, and there were no special products for caring for nubuck shoes. But now such shoes are in almost every home, and they are worn by people of completely different incomes and social status. And there are not so few products for caring for them. However, thanks to the experience of our predecessors, we have not only special products, but are also armed with information on the rules for extending the life and preserving the beauty of these practical and at the same time elegant shoes. In fact, this is exactly what we offer you - to learn how to care for nubuck shoes, how to extend their service life, how to clean them and how to store them properly. And let's still find out what kind of material this is - nubuck?
What is Nubuck?
Real nubuck is a high-quality natural leatherquality. Its main difference from smooth leather is a fine-napped surface. The main difference between nubuck and suede is a polished surface and the use of other types of leather. As a rule, nubuck is made from cattle skin, which is chrome tanned and polished. Nubuck is inferior to smooth leather in many ways in terms of moisture resistance, but is significantly superior to suede in this regard. In a word, nubuck is a specially dressed leather, which is a kind of intermediate material between smooth tanned leather and suede. Today, shoes are made from different types of nubuck:
- Natural Nubuck - a material of animal origin (genuine leather). It is breathable, but demanding in care.
- Artificial nubuck - synthetic materialorigin (artificial leather). Very similar in appearance with a natural nubuck, more wear-resistant, does not absorb moisture, but also does not allow air to pass through.
- Nubuk-oil is a material of natural origin. A natural nubuck that has undergone additional waterproof treatment. It features a damp, touch-resistant surface, high wear resistance and unpretentiousness compared to a natural nubuck.
How to take care of nubuck shoes?
So, no matter which onenubuck is what your shoes are made of, caring for them comes down to a few basic rules. By the way, contrary to popular belief about the capricious nature of nubuck shoes, caring for them is not so much difficult as delicate. First of all, you need to protect such shoes from moisture and dirt. Therefore, try not to wear them in very rainy and dirty weather. Various reagents that are sprinkled on snowy streets also have a negative effect on nubuck. But frosty weather is not terrible for nubuck. However, in the off-season, when there is no heavy rain, you should not give up nubuck shoes either. The most important thing is to start caring for nubuck in time. If you do not do this, this material will finally lose its already not the best moisture-resistant qualities, will begin to get wet and quickly wear out. Traditional shoe creams are not suitable for caring for nubuck shoes - they need special impregnation and aerosols. Therefore, when buying such shoes, be sure to stock up on special care products. When choosing aerosols and cream paints, be sure to check their labeling, which should indicate that the product is suitable for nubuck. In addition to special nubuck care products, you will also need a special brush. Such a brush not only cleans off dirt, but also preserves the special fleecy surface of nubuck. Remember that it can be used for leather-covered parts of shoes. But for cleaning the soles and heels, it is better to buy another additional brush. Newly purchased boots, shoes or other nubuck footwear should be treated with a special impregnation. Moreover, this must be done before the first time you go outside. This procedure will enhance the water-repellent properties of nubuck and extend its life. The first cleaning should be done in several stages, generously wetting the shoes with an impregnating agent. It is advisable to treat new shoes with impregnation three times, allowing the nubuck to dry completely before the next cleaning. If you do not intend to wear nubuck shoes in rainy or slushy weather, then treat them in the same way before going outside.
How to clean a nubuck special means?
Almost all manufacturers of personal care productsshoe care products offer foams, paints and impregnations for cleaning nubuck. Among them are such brands as, for example, Collonil, Salton Professional, All Combi, Kiwi, Sitil, Saphir and Штрих. It is advisable to purchase brushes with sponges of the same brand as the cleaning agent itself. Rest assured that you will not spoil your nubuck shoes with such a special product. First, remove dirt and dust from the shoes with a dry brush. If the brush is special, it will not damage the villi and remove dirt even in the seams. After dry cleaning, a layer of nubuck spray is evenly applied over the entire surface of the shoes. It is important to choose a spray that matches the color of your shoes. This procedure will not only protect the nubuck from getting wet, but also restore its color. If the nubuck shoes are very dirty, then the spray and brush alone will not cope with the dirt. In this case, you can wash the nubuck with a soft sponge, moistened with water with a few drops of ammonia added. After this wet procedure, which returns the nubuck its former attractiveness, the shoes need to be thoroughly dried. And then you can hold the shoes over steam, which will allow the villi to straighten out. And only after this can you clean the nubuck with a spray or cream paint and a brush. In the winter season, any shoes get stains from the salt contained in the reagents. Such white stains and spots are cleaned with a damp sponge, which absorbs dirt and salt. After this, the shoes are also dried and treated with a color-restoring spray.
What is Nubuk afraid of?
Caring for nubuck shoes is delicate.Therefore, it is necessary to take care of it not only correctly, but also carefully. Remember that you cannot clean wet nubuck! Be sure to let the shoes dry naturally or with a special dryer. You also cannot dry nubuck shoes on a central heating battery or near heaters. Nubuck is also afraid of traditional creams for cleaning leather shoes. Such creams, if they do not cause significant damage to the quality of nubuck, will spoil its elegant and noble appearance. Just a regular greasy cream will “kill” the velvety surface of nubuck. This material does not like soap either. And in general, all water procedures with nubuck shoes must be carried out very, very delicately. It should not be washed under any circumstances. It is only permissible to wipe such shoes with a damp sponge. As for seasonal storage, it is not recommended to hide nubuck shoes in plastic bags. They need to be laid in soft paper or wrapped in cotton fabric and put away in a shoe box. That, in fact, is all. If you take care of nubuck shoes properly, use only special products and do not wear them in very wet or dirty weather, then such shoes will serve you no worse than ordinary leather ones. Of course, everything also depends on the initial quality of the shoes, the responsibility for which lies entirely with the conscience of the manufacturers. Do not forget the truism that a miser pays twice. Expensive quality nubuck shoes will not cause you unnecessary troubles, provided that they are properly cared for. So everything is in your hands. Good luck! We recommend reading:
