Is your leather footwear looking old and worn? Learn to fix it.
I take real leather with real everyday wear and share with you how to renew it to the best of my ability. The biggest reason people don't take care of their leather is because they're afraid of ruining it due to lack of knowledge. My goal is to give you the knowledge, understanding, and tools to move past your fears so that you can confidently clean, maintain, and even restore your leather. Time is money, and when you spend your money on items but don't take care of them, you're throwing away your time, your most valuable commodity. Let's head on this journey together! And as always, love your leather.
I want to show you guys a few things on this channel:
1. All the ways I clean my leather and how you can to. 2. How to properly steward and care for leather. 3. My thoughts on various leather products. 4.Routines and maintenance to prolong the life of your leather goods. 5. Leathercare tips and tricks.
@@NickHoward-lq5uv Gotcha! Yeah, I know a lot of chefs who love doc martens because of the grippy PVC soles. They're really easy to clean as well. I have a pair of made in england brown 1460's, they're one of my favorite boots to wear.
Exactly what I needed, although the brown orthofeet I want to dye black, that already has a black edged some, and I have plenty of black orthofeet shoestrings, I'm tempted to create a two time, NO, spell check, a two toned black and brown...
@@sclogse1 Ah, got ya! I totally think it's possible. I don't have personally have a video on it, but there's tons out there I'd suggest watching before you try!
this is the spit shine, did this for years and made my leg boots look like glass. But you can do it with water just the same. To make it look like glass you have to continue to do this till its completely smooth. I do recommend parade gloss personally.
Hey friend! Thanks for watching. You probably have more experience than I do! I'll try out the parade gloss some time! Thanks for your input for our community.
@@evumies that was the best part i learn so much about that experience and now make a little hustle money cleaning shoes <3 and thanks for replying btw
Thanks, I was looking for something to repair a pretty significant scuff that was on the toe of one white Jadon Doc Marten so I tried this after researching a bunch of products. The MGK cleaner with brush kit worked amazingly well. I really like the technique with the laces although I would also just through them in the washing machine. Definitely recommend the cleaning kit with brush, it got off all dust and dirt. But the white touch up idk about, I’m still not sure if I just ruined the boots. I was careful like you said not to leave bubbles and to use one coat at a time to build up but the problem is it’s a brighter white than the actual original leather, just by a slight difference. It’s also really rough feeling compared to the rest of the boot which is soft. So I did the whole front piece to make sure it blended in and then I did the other boot so they would match but now I have two boots with their front piece a brighter white and rougher material than the rest of the boot and I can still slightly see the scuff even after idk how many coats, I stopped counting when I realized how WHITE it was getting. I’m not sure I would recommend this for leather you care about or especially Docs. You have to be very careful to get an even coat, especially around the seams, no bubbles, no hair or dirt (this the reason why you mentioned scrubbing off all the dirt is crucial) and not to get any on the sole and that’s not easy so this is a meticulous task, definitely not an easy fix. Positives were it came from Amazon in LESS than 24 hours and each coat dries very fast. And as I said the cleaner and brush kit are great. I forgot to order the microfiber cloth, I assumed it came in the kit with the brush and cleaner and it does not. Make sure you order that if you are trying this. I wouldn’t do it on newer boots. I wish I hadn’t. Idk how I can get it off. 😢
Update: I just tried the boot on and took a few steps (just the one boot) not even laced up and it has set overnight so definitely dry. It formed a large crease/cracks across the toe box and on the side that makes it look like weird really old leather. This did NOT seamlessly blend into the pigment of the boot. Do NOT use this on the Jadon boot. Idk if the Jadon has a different kind of leather coating or what but I’m glad I didn’t paint the entire boot and if you can give me an idea how to remove this stuff I would appreciate it. My boots are ruined. I want to cry I spent so much time on this last night trying to fix a small scuff.
@@jennadarby1 Hey friend! I'm so sorry to hear about how it didn't pan out for you. As mentioned, it works best on bright white colored leather. As for the large crease/crack when you bend down, this is where any and all leather will eventually crack no matter what because it's where we naturally walk and bend. Let's do our best to fix it together. Just note that all the advice I provide is at your own risk. I'd suggest using some isopropyl alcohol with some cotton balls or pads to remove the ShoeMGK White Touch Up. Make sure just to gently wipe off the surface as to only remove the white touch up, not the pigment from your white leather. A little goes a long way. Repeat as necessary. From there, this should completely remove any of the white touch up. If you'd like to try any other white leather dyes, I suggest using fiebing's or angelus. Just note that you will have to color correct to your exact leather color in order to get the desired results. You can achieve this by adding a touch of yellow to your white leather dye. Unfortunately, not all projects are the same, and Dr. Martens offers a wide variety of leathers which can have varied results. You may not be able to get exactly the fix you want, but there are still alternatives. Your efforts aren't wasted! You got this. Let me know if this helps or if you have any questions. I'll try my best.
That's a great question. You can try to cover the suede with a towel and gently use a tooth brush, cotton swab, or other small rag to gently wipe or brush the mesh, making sure not to get the suede wet. If it does end up getting wet, it's not the end of the world, you just want to try to avoid it. Repeat the cleaning process as necessary. I'll try to keep this in mind for a next video. Let me know if that works!
Hey there! I'm guessing you want to make it black? I think black would be cooler, too. You can definitely change it. I'm guessing it's an embroidered dragon? You may have to get detailed and dye carefully, but it depends on how much time and effort you want to put into it. All the best!
Hey friend! I've run into this problem tons of times. Depending on what they polished over, it should be easy to remove. Grab yourself a cotton swab or cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol and have at the yellow stitching. Try not to get the leather. This should completely remove that polish. Repeat as necessary. Hope that helps!
Great question. Honestly, if it's scratched up already, it seems like the top layer of the logo print is thinned out. I'm guessing it's some kind of lacquer of patent leather that's worn off. Because I don't know exactly what it looks like, I can't properly give advice. Either way, I'd suggest properly cleaning the shoes and then trying adding a neutral wax coating on your leather to give it a shine and protect the leather. Hope that helps!
Great question. Honestly, if it's scratched up already, it seems like the top layer of the logo print is thinned out. I'm guessing it's some kind of lacquer of patent leather that's worn off. Because I don't know exactly what it looks like, I can't properly give advice. Either way, I'd suggest properly cleaning the shoes and then trying adding a neutral wax coating on your leather to give it a shine and protect the leather. Hope that helps!
I have a pair of vintage 14-eye made in England docs, and while they’re in pretty good shape, I’m having a hard time getting the leather to soften to MY foot shape instead of the original wearer’s. They seem pretty stiff and absurdly painful - so much more than any I’ve had. Will just repeated cleaning/conditioning and wear fix this? Thank you!
Great question. Yeah, it can definitely be hard to re-break footwear. They may be stiff and painful because of the age of the leather. However, there's a few things you may want to try at your own risk. It may not work necessarily or result in the outcome, but you could try. When it comes to the insole, are you having any issues with that or just the foot shape of the toe box? Also, I know some doc's 14-eye are steel toe, do you know if it is or not? You can use a magnet to find out, or just feel that it's rock solid, lol. Anyways, you could try to dampen the leather with water and then wear your boots in order to soften the fibers and allow it to dry into your foot's shape. On top of that, you want to follow up with an oil based conditioner, I'd suggest Leather Honey. Check out resources at kit.co/evumies. Repeated cleaning and conditioning may fix the issues along with prolonged wearing, but using conditioner is going to help the most because it will soften up the leather, especially if it's hard. Let me know how it turns out!
@@evumies No steel toe on this pair. Primarily the issue is the Achilles tendon area, which is a killer on all of them, admittedly, but is particularly nasty with these. I’ll try your suggestions. Appreciate you!
Hey there! The ice cube method is for making boots shine. It doesn't necessary matter what leather. Ice cube produces cold temperatures which harden wax, which gives it the extra shine. It doesn't matter on the leather. If you have virginia leather, it is going to have more grain and texture, so adding shine will make it look like new. However, if you add too much wax, it can cover the texture which may change the look. All the best!
Yess!!! I used to be super cheap, and buy only what was the lowest cost, but since then, I've tried to only invest in high quality materials. I wouldn't even consider buying faux leather anymore, especially on something that's bent and flexed as much as belts.
@@evumies Hey, I'll cover shipping if you'd like to do mine, lol. I have the original catalog from London Fog importers. I thought of emailing you about some green suede shoes I have that got a toe crunched at a show - a Black 47 show, who has the song "Green Suede Shoes."
Hey friend. Thanks for watching. You can fold the sides of the tongue to ensure it fits properly. It's as needed. It'll occur naturally depending on how you lace your boots, but if you fold it yourself, you can control the folds, whereas if it happens naturally, it may be awkward. Hope that answers your question. Let me know!
*It's amazing how you made the wallet look brand new! Well done!* *I love your videos and you always do an awesome job restoring all sorts of boots and other leather items! I was wondering if you can try restoring a pair of nubuck Blundstone chelsea boots? I own a pair of **#1630** women's high top boots in rustic black, with the rubber outsole and heel (they look like they're a cement glue construction). Rustic is their nubuck line of boots. It can be any of their rustic boots and it doesn't have to be the women's boots like mine. It also doesn't have to be my exact model. I wrote that so you can go see what they look like 😊 I have been disappointed seeing a lot of people on RU-vid, with how they clean nubuck chelsea Blundstone boots. They never used a spray conditioner and go straight for the mink oil, creams, stuff like that. They'll rub it into the nubuck, and it totally changes the texture completely by flattening the fibers lol 😅! In many of the videos, I see how it darkens the nubuck too. I know Blundstone sells a "rustic cream" made for their rustic boots, but I know that will totally change the texture of my rustic boots. People can use whatever they want though lol 😅! I don't want to alter the nubuck. Anywho, I use my boots for horse riding. So they do get dirty every week. I clean them every week, so I can have my boots for a long time and not let them go bad.* *I wanted to see how the products you use will turn out with the boots. I currently use Saphir Omnidaim for cleaning them, after I dry brush them off. That is safe for nubuck, and it's used by mixing it with a little water. After I let them dry, I use a suede/nubuck brush to bring back the nap. I finally used a spray conditioner by Saphir too, and finished it off by brushing my boots with the same suede/nubuck brush after the conditioner dried. I only got those products to trial them lol 😅! I was gifted a gift card. I see how MGK is a lot cheaper. So basically I want to see how the product goes, before I make a decision to purchase it sometime!*
Hey friend! Thank you so much for watching. I loved your long message and appreciate your kind words. I'll keep it in mind to restore some nubuck shoes, though getting my hands on exactly your boots will be more difficult. I'll try my best. I was disappointed by a lot of people on youtube who seemed professional but never actually properly treated leather or were able to keep the look of the leather. That's one reason why I started my channel and I hope it's helped many people. When it comes to restoring nubuck, you almost have to treat it like suede because it allows conditioners to penetrate it more deeply because it's essentially sanded down smooth leather. It can be tricky to treat it depending on what you want it to look like, but definitely don't use something like a mink oil. That's going to darken it quite a bit. Have you ever heard of Bick 4? You're not necessarily supposed to use it on napped leather, which I guess would be nubuck, however, I've used it on nubuck and it hydrates and conditions it well. ****Something I think you should try (if possible) is to use a conditioner on the INSIDE of the leather (if your boots are unlined) in order to hydrate the leather without ruining the OUTSIDE texture of the nubuck. If you think about it, it doesn't necessarily matter which side you put the conditioner on as long as it gently penetrates it enough to keep it malleable.**** The reason I suggest Bick 4 is because it claims not to darken leather, which in my experience is true. Check it out here: kit.co/evumies But it all just depends on what you're going for. Disclaimer: using any type of hydrater or conditioner is going to "re-color" or change the appearance to some degree the look of your nubuck. For example, if you want to keep that "patchy" rugged patina, you man not want to put any conditioner whatsoever, because it will in effect, "reset" the look. However, then you have to face that the leather will not last as long because it needs to be cared for with conditioner. Saphir is definitely top of the line, and you'd be wise to use it over other products, however, like you said, top of the line is also top dollar, which can add up. I just recently got some new cleaner by Leather Honey, and it has worked amazingly. I think I prefer it over ShoeMGK, and it's very affordable and lasts a long time, but I need more time to test it. It's Amazon's #1 seller, and I'm in the process of talking to the CEO to get you guys a discount code. I'd suggest checking that out as well here: kit.co/evumies It sounds like you're doing an excellent job of caring for your boots. I was horse riding a few weeks ago and my favorite boots got pretty dirty in the stables, so I know what you mean. Let me know what you think about what I said, and we'll go from there. If I were you, I would try to use a combo of Leather Honey Cleaner (to clean) and Bick 4 conditioner (to condition the INSIDE) kit.co/evumies. Again, just note that Bick 4 doesn't recommend using it on napped leathers because it may alter the texture, but worth a try. Of course, everything at your own discretion and risk. All the best.
I have new brown boots and I would like for them to be black. Can you send me the products to use or links to the products to use please if you sell the products send those links also please
Hey Will! Awesome that you want to start that adventure! Everything is in the description or you can find it here @ kit.co/evumies Thanks for watching!
I came across your video while trying to find information on refinishing a old pair of riding field boots of mine. They are especially worn on the side which comes in contact with my horse and saddle . I'm curious is it still possible to get a parade polish on the toe cap of the boot after this process?
Hey friend. Thanks so much for watching. I love leather riding boots. I wish just horse riding last week. It's definitely possible to still get that glossy parade polish even after dyeing or if the boots have scuffs and marks. How? Because parade polish is wax and it can cover all of those blemishes. You will need to slowly but surely create thin layers of wax polish on your boots (maybe even up to 50-100 layers in order to get the best shine like the military does for that parade polish. There's tons of videos out there as well explaining how to do it if you're unfamiliar. Either way, it's possible. Let me know if that answers your question!
@@evumies great to know I ride Hunter jumpers and I'm one of those crazy people that think the polish of your boot is just as important as the cut of your jacket when competing 🙂
@@ld3640 I love it! And I'm right along side of you. I don't ride horses often, but I love them. So great to meet you on the youtubes. I hope your boots turn out the way you want them to look. I'm here every step of the way. Cheers.
I bought a pair of suede cowboy boots online that came with the shiny parts. I thought the suede had been scuffed off. I was ready to return them, but I will try to fix them first. Thank you!
@evumies I just scratched at it a little with a flat tool and it worked! 🥳 I just need to buy the brush and it'll be perfect. I appreciate your help so much! 🙌🏽💯
@@yvetteleon135 Right on! SO happy it worked out for you. Now you know how to care for your suede as you wear them. I'd do a light brushing of your suede with every to every other wear, just to keep it free of debris and looking good. Please share the channel with your friends! All the best. - Evan
What if you want to buff in a darker color so that some of the old lighter color comes through? Sort of like buffed glaze look? I don’t know what that’s called but that’s the look I want.
I think you're referring to like an ombre effect or gradient type of look? This can be accomplished by taking some darker polish, like black polish and applying it over a lighter brown leather. I should make a video on how to properly accomplish that. What do you think?
@@evumies I would love that! My old red doc martins came with that sort of look and I’d like to try and do that to these new light tan leather boots. I don’t like how light they are but I also don’t want them to be black.
Hm. Not sure. Do you have Amazon? If not, you can go to a cobbler or leather craft store and they should have the erasers there. If you can't find them, you can use neutral colored generic erasers, but they just won't be as effective. All the best.
Ooo. That's tricky. First of all, it wasn't the best idea to soak them in water, but yeah, we already know that at this point. You still may be able to save your suede shoes. We need some more information to take the best route. #1, why did you soak them in water? Due to mark or stain? Did you get that out? #2, if you used any type of cleaner or soap, you need to make sure that you thoroughly rinse the leather as much as possible before drying. #3, once you take the shoes out of the water, you should use a towel to pat dry as much excess water from the suede, making sure that the leather doesn't remain wet. If it does, it may begin to decompose or mold. Do your best to get as MUCH water out as you can WITHOUT using any heat or hair dryer. #4, don't put them in direct sunlight to dry. I'd suggest using a fan (no heat whatsoever) or putting them outside in indirect light to air dry (again, after removing as much excess moisture as possible). #5, make sure to put either paper (no newspaper because ink can transfer onto the leather), or some rags or small towels that will absorb the water out of the shoes as it air dries. From there, you'll want to remove those rags or paper insert periodically so that you can continue to drain out the moisture. After it's fully dry, (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART), you need to rehydrate your leather. If it's suede, you should use a suede conditioner or conditioning spray like mink oil. You will then need to brush the suede nap back to it's texture with a suede brush. This is what I'd suggest. No guarantees, but it should help. I hope for the best! Let me know if it helps!
@@evumies it worked❗🙈 I had the adidas campus 00s in tan and they look brand new , I did put them in direct sunlight tho after I had soaked them in water 😔 (which I won't do again) they were grey or brown at first but then I bought the eraser thing for suede and it worked next time I prob wont start by putting them in water, since I didn't have a suede brush thingy I used a hair brush🧍to bring the suede texture back
I feel you. That's the whole reason why I started the channel because I binge watched like 100 shoe cleaning videos that got me obsessed. Thanks for watching!
Dude, no way! That's awesome! I had no idea that putting this video out would inspire people like you to be so creative. I dye all kinds of stuff, but look at you! Great job. Feel free to send me some photos of before and after in the email on my bio! Cheers!
Thanks so much for watching. Regular erasers are made for things like graphite pencils, not suede fibers. Colored erasers like the famous pink eraser will often rub off its color onto your suede and potentially ruin the color. It's not that they don't "work" eventually, but they're not effective because they're not abrasive enough. To me, it's not worth it. Suede erasers often have more grit and are able to remove deep marks and dirt. I hope that helps!
can I tumble dry my Nike Cortez after they've been wet from the rain (they have suede on just the tip and the heel part of the shoe, rest all is nylon I guess) ?
Hey friend. My opinion, never use a dryer. Tumble drying your shoes can ruin the suede because the heat can warp and shrink the fabric and suede. If anything, tumble dry with NO or LOW heat only. But highly suggest just air dry in not direct sunlight. All the best.
Thanks so much for watching. This is definitely a great method to do so. I've already had tons of viewers try it and send me their success stories. You can do it!
You may definitely run into that scenario. I have many times. Personally, I use ShoeMGK cleaner & conditioner. You're more than welcome to try reshoevn8r, but feel free to use a coupon I got from them. CODE: EVUMIES at shoemgk.com for 20% off + free shipping. I've heard reshoven8r can be good on the suede panels. All the best.
Thanks so much for watching! It really depends on what type of leather your docs are. If they are smooth leather, this should work well. Just make sure to use the rubbing alcohol or leather deglazer to get off any top coat. From there, your leather should dye properly. However, if it is a patent leather or other, you may run into problems as leather like patent is essentially coated plastic. Feel free to send a pic of your docs to my email in my bio and I can help you identify the leather. Cheers.
What do you mean exactly? Once the leather cream is applied, the leather will darken but eventually become lighter. The more oil or cream you use, the darker your leather will become. Let me know if that answered your question! Thanks so much for watching!
Great question. Sorry I didn't mention it sooner. This is a foam applicator that comes with the ShoeMGK leather cream. However, you can use a lint free cotton cloth or microfiber cloth to apply the cream. Finish off with a horse hair brush or clean cotton cloth. Hope that helps!
I came across your video a while ago and was really impressed by your thorough explanation as well as the results. A couple days ago I got my hands on some cheap second hand leather boots which had an amazing style but a not so amazing color. I remembered your video and figured I could try to dye them. Honestly. You did such a good job with explaining every step. It was my first time working with leather, and therefore obviously also with dyeing it. I followed your instructions and the results are so amazing I'm in awe! The entire process took me quite a while but it was so worth it! Thank you for teaching me another skillset! <3 I really want to get my hands on more old and worn second hand shoes now and restore them. :)
That's such a huge compliment. I don't know what to say! Haha. This is exactly why I started my channel and my dream of helping others has come alive through your story. I'm so grateful that you watched the video and took action. I'd love to see how your boots turned out! Please send over some photos on the email in my bio. Honestly, before I started a few years ago, I knew completely nothing, but it was through other videos that I learned myself. I'm glad we can all share the benefit of these skills. I'm proud to say that I work with leather today, and I hope that you can too! There's such pride that comes with doing so, and it's a great skill that transcends more than leather. Working with your hands is a lost art. If I could ask you one favor it would be to please share my channel with your friends and family. Thanks again and let me know if you have any questions! Cheers.
@@evumies Oh, your comment makes me happy too! :) I'll happily send some photos of the results. I was so thrilled yesterday that I ended up re-dyeing another pair of shoes as well. They too turned out great :) And now I'm seriously hooked. And, of course I will (and already do) share your channel :) I really think your work here deserves way more views and appreciation!
obenaufs inc.LP is the only oil I use on all PNW never use Snow seal it contains petroleum products its seals so the leather can't breath the way it should
Hey friend! Thanks so much for watching. We were all leather newbies at one time. Great question! You can over-condition pisa leather, but not in a bad way that would damage the leather. The only "bad" thing that would happen is that the leather would create a white film or excess conditioner layer over the top. Best practice is to wipe off your leather with a damp cloth to get any residue or debris before adding new conditioner. Each conditioner is different. I'd suggest something like Bick 4 for a newbie leather enthusiast because you it doesn't darken your leather. For black leather, you can get away with a lot more than colored leathers. Let me know if that helped or if you have any follow up questions! Thanks again for being apart of the community.
Yeah, check out the description! Thanks so much for watching! or watch the video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wdJBYxSzErE.html
Hey Braeden. Glad you found this video. It really depends. What's the sauce made from? Like a tomato sauce? Red? Do this at your own risk. I'd first let the sauce dry, the take a knife or razor blade edge and scrape off as much of the excess sauce or debris off of the suede. From there, I'd first try using a suede eraser to see if you can remove more dried sauce from the suede. If that still doesn't work, I'd purchase a proper suede cleaner and follow the instructions. You may have to clean the entire panel of leather otherwise you may have moisture spots. If you need to clean the area more than once, go for it. After this dries, your suede will probably be stiff, so brush it off good with a suede brush. If it's still stiff, you may need to rinse it again to get any excess cleaner off. Let dry and then brush it again. If it's still not the same texture, you may want to spray it with some mink oil spray and then brush it again. All the best. Check out my suggestions from here: kit.co/evumies
