Need help with dirty shoes!

I have sold and cleaned numerous shoes (including bowling shoes) in my lifetime, but I have not heard of "Nubuck." Cleaning depends on the material you want to clean. For example, bowling shoe cleaning involves the sole (leather), heel (rubber), laces (cotton) and leather parts.

-------------- It's like suede, only with a rougher texture. About.com defines it as "Leather that is buffed on the grain (hair) side of the grain to produce a velvety fine nap."

Eva

I got curious and looked it up. It may be difficult or impossible to clean. There are special sponges, cloths, and cleaners. The general approach is to apply cleaner with a sponge to make a foam on the surface, then wipe with terrycloth.

I had some white nubuck shoes years ago. At that time, there was a type of dry cleaner available -- it was like a little fabric bag with some type of cleaning powder in it. We would tap it all over the suede-like nubuck, and it did a pretty decent job of absorbing grime. I don't know what it was called, but you might want to ask at a shoe repair to see if they know if it is still available. I think a shoe repair might be a better source of information than a shoe store.

MaryL

--------------- Okay, thanks, I'll try that. I was also thinking there had to be some kind of a powder cleaner, that anything wet might stain them.

Eva

Here are two Nubuck and suede cleaners from amazon.com (but I don't know anything about them -- just something that I saw that is available):

Okay, I see that the less expensive one is made by Kiwi, so hopefully I will be able to find it at a shoe repair shop as you first suggested. Thanks again, Eva

---------------- Update: I did find it. Kiwi Suede & Nubuck Cleaner. It smells horrible, but....it works, by George!

Eva

Great! Thanks for the update.

MaryL