How to Care for Tan Leather Shoes

Co-authored by Penny Simmons and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: July 29, 2021 References

You can have your tan leather shoes for many years if you take care of them properly. To keep your shoes in tip-top shape, perform regular maintenance and clean them whenever they get dirty. Also take care to store them in a cool, dry location. With the right products, you can keep your tan leather shoes looking brand new.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Protecting Your Shoes

1
Wipe down your leather shoes with a soft cloth after each wear. Run the cloth over the surface of your shoes each time you take them off for the day. Doing this regularly will prevent dirt and grime from building up on your shoes.
- Think of your shoes like skin. Before you apply anything to them, you need to make sure the surface is clean, so don't forget to clean them before you polish them.^{[1]
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  Expert Source
  
  Penny Simmons
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.}
2
Polish your leather shoes once a month. A regular polishing routine will keep your shoes looking new.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.} Look for a tan polish that matches the color of your shoe so there’s no discoloration. To polish your leather shoes, apply a dime-sized amount of polish to a clean cloth and rub it into your shoes in a circular motion. Cover the entire outer surface of the shoes and then let the polish dry.^{[3]
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3
Treat your shoes with a leather conditioner once per month. Apply a dime-sized amount of a leather conditioner like mink oil or leather honey to your shoes using a cloth. Rub the conditioner into the leather, making sure the entire outer surface of each shoe has been treated.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- Condition your shoes after every monthly polish so you don't forget.
4
Waterproof your leather shoes to protect them from water damage. Look for a spray-on or wax-based waterproof compound designed specifically for leather.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.} Test an inconspicuous spot on your shoes first to see if the compound causes discoloration. If it doesn’t, apply an even coat of the compound to the entire outer surface of your shoes.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Tan Leather Shoes

1
Use a gentle leather cleaner that contains surfactants. Surfactants draw out dirt and other particles from leather. Some common surfactants to look for on the ingredients list are alkyl sulfates, alkylbenzene sulfonate, imidazolines, and betaines.^{[7]
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Research source} Make sure the leather cleaner you use doesn’t have alcohol or abrasives in it; these ingredients can damage leather.
- Always check the ingredients label on a cleaner before you use it.
2
Test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area of your leather shoes. Check to see if the cleaner causes any discoloration. If it does, look for a different cleaner with less harsh ingredients.
3
Wipe off any caked-on dirt on the shoes using a clean cloth. Don’t worry about getting everything off at this stage. The leather cleaner will get off the rest. Just try to get off any large clumps of dirt or mud.
- If your shoes are really dirty, go outside and clap them together a few times before you wipe them off.
4
Scoop up a dime-sized amount of the cleaner with a scrub brush. If you don’t have a scrub brush, use a cloth instead.
5
Scrub the cleaner into the surface using circular motions. Don’t press down too hard on the scrub brush. Use a gentle circular motion to cover the entire surface area of both shoes, taking care to scrub off any dirt or grime stains.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
6
Wipe off the cleaner using a dry rag. Make sure you get off any excess cleaner on your shoes. Set your shoes aside to dry
7
Get rid of tough stains with white vinegar and water. Mix two parts water and one part vinegar in a bowl. Soak the corner of a cloth in the mixture and dab it onto any stains on the leather shoes. If the stain doesn’t lift, gently rub the mixture into the stain with the cloth. Wipe off the vinegar mixture with a different damp cloth and let the shoes dry.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Your Shoes

1
Use shoehorns to preserve the shape of your shoes. Get two shoehorns that match your foot size and put them in your leather shoes whenever you’ll be storing them for over a week.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.} Always let your shoes rest for one day after wearing them before putting the shoehorns in; otherwise you may trap damaging moisture in the shoes.^{[10]
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2
Stuff and wrap your shoes with acid-free paper. Acid-free paper will absorb moisture from your shoes while they’re in storage so they’re not damaged. Fill the inside of your shoes with the paper (be careful not to overstuff them or you could stretch out their shape) and wrap the shoes in the paper so none of the leather is exposed.^{[11]
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- Don't use newspaper. Newspaper contains acids that could damage your shoes.
3
Store your leather shoes in a dark place. Never keep your leather shoes in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. The sun will cause the tan leather to fade and get lighter. A closet in a cool, dry location is an ideal spot to store your shoes when you’re not wearing them.
4
Avoid storing your shoes near a heat source. Heat dries out leather, which leads to cracking. Store your leather shoes in a dry, cool place.^{[12]
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- If your shoes get wet, don’t dry them off next to a fireplace or furnace. Instead, stuff a dry towel into each shoe to absorb the moisture. When the towels get damp, replace them with new towels.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What oils can I use to condition tan leather shoes?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

You can use basically any leather conditioner to soften the material. You can also use a natural oil if you prefer. Jojoba oil is a great option, but something like coconut oil will work as well.
Question

How often should leather be conditioned?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Apply leather conditioner once a month. Used a dime-sized amount to treat the outside of the leather only.