If you have finally found the perfect pair of shoes after long trials, you often think about your first outing. Stop! First of all, you must take care of your shoes before their first use. Care products remain ephemeral, so it is important to read the instructions and spray or wipe your shoe before its first use.
Even more important, it is essential to take care of your shoes after each use. We humans take care of our skin: we protect it from the sun, we clean it, and we moisturize it. Leather is also a skin. It is tanned and thus retains its structure completely. So leather needs care!
We advise you to buy a pair of shoes with care products. This will save you time and money, as you will not have to worry about buying a new pair. Well-maintained shoes last longer!

The treatment of your shoes has 3 objectives:

  • WATER: All the components of the shoes are water-repellent from the start, but this hydrophilization decreases with time. It must therefore be renewed.
  • CLIMATE: Today's shoes are permeable to water vapour to ensure good ventilation of the foot. This function must be preserved.
  • THE MATERIAL: Shoes are mainly made of leather. It regularly needs "material" to last and keep its shape.

Our tips for caring for your shoes

:

PREPARATION: You can wash your shoes, but take the time to remove the laces to access certain areas more easily, such as the tongue. Meindl shoes should not be washed in the washing machine. This could damage the materials and destroy the adhesives used. Removethe insole

.

BASIC CLEANING:

After each outing, remove the dirt with a brush soaked in warm water. The soles should also be cleaned to remove dirt and stones.

HYGIENE:

You can clean the inside of your shoe with warm water. This will not damage the lining.

DRYING:

Never dry your shoes in the sun, on a hot surface, or near heat sources (fire, radiator). Wet leather is very sensitive to heat and can "burn". This means that it becomes brittle, hard and may crack. To dry shoes with a wet lining, fill them with newspaper, but remember to remove it after a few hours!

WATERPROOFING: It is best to waterproof your shoes when they are still slightly damp. The pores of the leather are still open, and the waterproofing agent can penetrate more deeply. You can use Meindl's WaterProof®

. Waterproofing usually takes about 24 hours to be really effective. Shoes should be waterproofed regularly so that water and dirt are constantly flushed away.

CIRCULATION:

Leather needs to be regularly nourished. Meindl's Sportwax® is perfect for this. It can also be applied to Gore-Tex® shoes and shoes with fabric edges. Apply the shoe polish with a sponge or cloth. Be careful not to heat the wax, otherwise it will penetrate too deeply and damage the breathability and comfort. The appearance of the leather will change after application. Do not apply oil or grease, as this will damage the shoe, and it will lose strength and stability.

METAL HOOKS AND EYES: HOOKS AND EYES should also be maintained. Sportwax can also be used to protect metal parts from corrosion.


Once clean, dry and cared for, your shoes should be stored in a dry place at room temperature. If you are not going to use them for some time, don't hesitate to fill them with newspaper or wooden shoe trees so that they keep their original shape. Maintaining your shoes is an opportunity for a thorough inspection. This will allow you to anticipate and avoid the unpleasant surprise of a sole that comes unstuck. Check the seams, the condition of the insoles and outsoles, and the laces. A repair that is done while the damage is small will hold up much better over time.

Find all our pairs of MEINDL men's and women's shoes to have a great time this summer. Equip yourself with MEINDL ins oles for extra comfort and MEINDL waterproofing to take care of your shoes!