SHOE CARE GUIDE

Our shoes are all about style and comfort and we want them (and you!) to look and feel great every time you wear them.  

To enjoy your Harrys to the utmost, please take a look at our pointers below.  And if you have any queries about shoe care, please feel free to contact us at customerservice@harrysoflondon.com and ask away!

DRESS SHOES

General Care

1. To start, wear your new dress shoes for no more than a few hours a day to allow your feet to gradually become accustomed to them without any discomfort.

2. Dress shoes should always look smart, so use a pair of complementary Harrys’ shoe trees after wear to keep them crease-free and in perfect shape.

3. Once your dress shoes are worn in, try to avoid wearing them for more than a day at time to allow them to breathe and air properly and, with the help your shoe trees, recover their shape.

4. If your dress shoes get caught in the rain, wipe them with a clean, dry cloth, slip some crumpled balls of absorbent cloth or paper inside them, and leave them to dry at room temperature. Any white salt stains can then be removed with a reputable salt stain remover or by dabbing with white vinegar.

5. Re-sole and re-heel your dress shoes as needed when obvious wear appears. We offer a re-soling service at our London and New York stores for our Downing and Basel styles. If you’re having a different style of your dress shoes re-soled or re-heeled, use a reputable shoe repairer. In London we recommend Classic Shoe Repairs and in New York our repairer of choice is Jim’s shoe repair, where you will receive a discount with a Harrys’ purchase receipt.

6. Keep your dress shoes fresh by spritzing the insides with Liquiproof Freshener after each wear.

Cleaning

1. Always make sure your dress shoes are dry before you clean them. Start by using a small brush to remove any dirt from between the welt or sole and uppers. Then remove any dirt and dust from the uppers with a clean dry cloth. If you want to give your dress shoes a really thorough clean, remove the laces before you start.

2. Apply shoe cream or polish to your dress shoes in a circular motion with a clean cloth or shoe brush. If you have time, leave it for thirty minutes so it properly moisturises and nourishes the leather, keeps it soft, and prevents it from cracking.

3. Buff your dress shoes with a shoe brush or clean cloth to get the required shine. We recommend using a Liquiproof Microfible cloth.

SUEDE SHOES

General Care

1. Wear your new suede shoes for no more than a few hours a day to start with to allow them to stretch naturally while your feet gradually become accustomed to them.

2. When you’re not wearing them, keep your suede shoes in shape with a pair of Harrys’ especially-made shoe trees.

3. Our cowhide suede shoes are made from select Go-Rain suede which is treated in the tanning process to give it a water-resistant finish. If you do get caught in a downpour, just let your suede shoes dry naturally and then give them a brush with a light suede brush to restore the plushness of the nap. 

Our suede Basel loafers are made from Kudu antelope suede, which is known for its softness and durability. We recommend that you protect your Kudu suede shoes from rain and stains before wearing them with Liquiproof protector, which is available at London, New York, and online store. If you do get your Kudu shoes wet, leave them to dry naturally before refreshing the nap with a soft suede brush.

4. Keep your suede shoes fresh by spritzing the insides with Liquiproof Freshener after each wear.

Cleaning

1. Start by removing any dirt or dust from between the uppers and the welt or sole of your suede shoes with a small brush. Then, remove any dirt or marks from the uppers and restore the plushness of the suede by brushing briskly in both directions with a specialist suede brush. End by brushing in the direction of the nap for a smooth finish. The general rule with regards to selecting a suede brush is, the longer the nap of the suede the softer the brush. Remove any laces before cleaning to get the best results.

2. Remove any tough stains or marks with a reputable suede stain eraser or cleaner. 

SNEAKERS

General Care

1. Try and avoid wearing your sneakers for more than one day at a time to help them keep their shape and stay fresh and odour-free.

2. If your sneakers are caught in the rain, quickly soak up any excess moisture with a clean cloth and leave them to dry at room temperature. Our suede sneakers are made from select Go-Rain suede which is treated in the tanning process to give it a water-resistant finish. Just give them a brush with a light suede brush when they are dry to restore the plushness of the nap. Any white salt stains can be removed from our leather sneakers with a reputable salt stain remover or by dabbing with white vinegar.

3. Keep your suede shoes fresh by spritzing the insides with Liquiproof Freshener after each wear.

Cleaning

1. Clean any dirt or dust from the uppers of your sneakers with a Liquiproof hog hair brush or clean cloth. A soft bristle brush works very well with our perforated and mesh uppers.

2. Clean any marks from the uppers of your leather and tech leather sneakers with a Liquiproof Microfibre cloth and Liquiproof Eco-Cleaner. Remove any dirt or marks from the uppers of your suede sneakers and restore the plushness of the suede by brushing briskly in both directions with a specialist suede brush. End by brushing in the direction of the nap for a smooth finish. The general rule with regards to selecting a suede brush is, the longer the nap of the suede the softer the brush. Remove any laces before cleaning to get the best results.