can you wash nubuck shoes?

No, you should not wash nubuck leather shoes with water as water will leave stains on nubuck leather. You should also not put your nubuck shoes in the washing machine. Instead of washing them you can clean them easily by using some simple methods we will later discuss in this article.

Suppose you are out with your friends on the weekend and you accidentally spill your cola drink on your nice nubuck shoes or you are working late at night and you spill a cup of coffee on your costly nubuck boots. Maybe one of your jealous colleagues intentionally throws some drops of ink from a fountain pen, anything can happen.

Or imagine your lovely pair of nubuck shoes has deposited some dust and stains from rainwater. There are two types of stains mild stains and tough stains, both types of stains need different types of treatment. Anything can happen and you may have to clean your shoes on your own. In this article we will discuss some easy methods and provide a solution to the age-old question “How to clean nubuck shoes?” but before that, you should know about the nubuck leather and what exactly you are dealing with.

What is nubuck leather?

Nubuck is a type of leather that has a smooth and velvety finish. It is very much similar to suede and some people even confuse it with suede. However, they are both very different kinds of leather as nubuck is very much superior to suede. Unlike suede nubuck is the outer part of the skin. Nubuck is a full grain leather that has been sanded and buffed to get that velvet-like finish. Nubuck is much stronger and more durable. There are some similarities between nubuck and suede like they need some extra care as compared to any other type of leather. Nubuck is quite water resilient but due to its porous nature, it can easily get stained just like suede. But worry not as we are going to share some amazing ways to take care of your beloved nubuck shoes.

How to remove mild stains?

Mild stains are very easy to remove and one can use common household supplies to remove them. You should consider cleaning these types of stains on a periodic basis as they get tougher with time. Some of the mild stains and their cleaning solutions are listed below:

Dirt and mud

You should avoid wearing nubuck and suede shoes when it’s raining or wet outside but we know sometimes it gets really difficult to do so and we end up getting mud and grime on our soft nubuck leather shoes.

But don’t worry it’s very easy to clean them up. The first thing you have to do is to leave them to dry fully in a ventilated place without direct sunlight as wet stains can penetrate further in when you try to clean them.

Now, take a clean microfiber cloth and gently rub it over the mud stain and it will remove the dirt. You can also use a soft paper towel but I personally like cleaning with microfiber and it works like magic. Some people even suggest using a hair dryer to dry them up but I won’t suggest that as it can damage the leather.

You can also use a nubuck brush to clean the dirt and grime. I sometimes use an old toothbrush with soft bristles or a cloth brush brush, both of them work very well. Just keep in mind that you have to do it gently.

Light stains

Light stains like when someone steps on your nubuck shoe or your shoes got brushed with a car tire, or your toddler draws something on your shoes, all can be fixed by using a very effective product called a nubuck eraser. You can find very good nubuck erasers online or you can also use a normal pencil eraser which you can get from a nearby stationary store. It also works very well for nubuck and suede.

One more thing you should be careful about is that don’t use suede block on nubuck leather. Many people confuse suede block as a suede eraser but they are different, suede block is a sandstone block and it can leave scratches on nubuck leather so avoid using it.

Water stains

Water is not good for nubuck as it can create ugly stains on nubuck. It often happens that our shoes partially get wet in water and it leaves water stains on them.

To clean that you can get the whole shoe wet and then get it dry to recover the uniform appearance of the nubuck leather back. You can use a spray bottle and dampen the whole shoe and leave it to dry naturally and you will get the shoes free of water stains.

Salt stains

Grime and water on the streets often carry several salts in them. When salty water comes in contact with the nubuck leather it leaves nasty white scars behind. Leather sometimes also has chromium salts in it (if it’s chrome-tanned leather) which will interact with the salt from outside and crystallize on the leather making it stiffer. So, it is really important to remove any salt stains from leather as soon as possible.

One of the best ways to clean salt is to use white vinegar. Mix 1 tbsp of white vinegar in 1 cup of clean water and dip a soft cloth in it. Now work the cloth over the stain gently removing it. Now wipe off the access solution with a microfiber cloth.

For tougher salt stains you can also use soap and water. Just put a couple of drops of mild soap in the water and dip a piece of cloth. Clean the stain and then wipe it off with a clean cloth.

How to remove tough stains?

The second category of stains is tough stains in which stubborn stains like oil and ink come. They are usually difficult to remove at home but don’t worry it’s not impossible.

Oil and grease

One of the oldest and most trusted methods to remove oil from leather is to use cornflour or baby powder. Just put some cornflower on the oiled portion and let it sit there for a couple of hours so that it can soak the oil. Now wipe it off with a soft bristle brush or a microfiber cloth.

Now take a soft cloth dipped in white vinegar and apply it over the affected portion. Vinegar will break down the oil and it will come off. Repeat the process till you get the desired results.

Other tough stains

Some other tough stains like ink or curry can be tackled by using the following method. Take some white vinegar and dip a cloth in it. Work the damped cloth around the stain in a circular motion. Repeat the process if stains do not go away.

You can also try dishwashing liquid and water. Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid in water and apply It on the stain using a cloth then wipe it away with a clean cloth.

Conclusion

Although other mentioned methods to clean nubuck shoes are quite effective when things really seem to be going out of hand then you should consider getting professional help. You can find leather care services online or offline, just contact the reputed one and hand over your nubuck leather shoes to them to get them cleaned in a proper way.