On the nubuck leather...

Remember before getting into the matter that nubuck leather is truly beautiful and comfortable when we wear it, especially in footwear. But, at the same time, it is delicate. So you have to be careful with it, pamper it as it deserves and avoid certain environments that can be very harmful.

What does it take to clean nubuck?

Before continuing, make sure you have the necessary tools to clean nubuck. For this type of leather, the ideal is to have brushes with soft bristles or brushes with metal bristles specific for this material, otherwise they could damage it. In addition, you will need soft sponges similar to those used to spread depilatory creams, soft cloths, recycled paper such as newspaper and repair and waterproofing for nubuck, among others.

How to clean nubuck?

Now, once we know the delicacy of this type of leather and the instruments we will use, it is time to learn how to clean nubuck. Take note of the various methods depending on the nature of the dirt.

1. Waterproofers

One of the great enemies of this type of skin is water. Since we cannot prevent it from raining, but it is possible that it catches us outside the house, there is a simple formula, and that is to treat the material with a waterproofing agent.

It is usually easily found in department stores, and its application is very simple. With a simple coat on the day of the premiere, and an occasional souvenir, we will have the material in perfect magazine condition. But it is important not to overdo it so that the skin does not become stiff. At El Rastro de la Piel we have a Neutral Protective Greasing Wax that will protect your clothes so they stay like new.

2. Prevent it from collecting dust

Another of the great enemies of this type of skin, dust. It must be avoided at all costs. To do this, you just have to brush it frequently. If you are going to store the nubuck product, brush it first.

For brushing to be correct, it is important to always do it in the same direction, in this way a neat aesthetic is obtained.

Use of steam

Steam is another of the ideal instruments to clean this type of skin. With a simple spray, but preventing it from getting wet, and letting it dry afterwards to do a pass with the brush, we will always have the nubuck as new.

4. Use newspaper to avoid humidity

Humidity is a great enemy of this material. Therefore, if this is your problem, it would be good to let your skin breathe. To do this, put newspaper around it, this way the water that is staining and stiffening the skin will be absorbed.

5. Even out the wet surface

If the nubuck leather gets wet, you will see traces of quite ugly stains left behind. To solve this, the ideal would be to level the surface. In this case, the best we can do is wipe with a soft cloth always in the same direction so that all the material returns to its original state.

Then, let it dry in the shade, away from heat sources, and brush it following the same instructions. You can also choose to use newspaper to absorb any remaining moisture.

6. Remove dark spots

Dark spots on this type of skin have a very unique way of elimination. If you have specific erasers for shoe repair, you can use them. They are sold in many shoe stores. But if you don't have this product, use a classic eraser. It seems strange, but it is very effective.

7. Remove grease stains

If you need to remove grease stains from nubuck leather, we can use talcum powder or fine salt. If it is still wet, the effect will be much more positive. Otherwise, rub vigorously.

Be careful, there are other remedies for this problem, such as commercial stain removers, but they could destroy the skin color little by little, since they are more aggressive.

8. Remove ink stains

EXTRA: Other types of stains

There are other types of stains that we can find on nubuck leather. For them, there are also various ways to cleanse the skin:

1. Soak a soft sponge in water with a little dishwashing detergent. You apply to the stain, let it dry and then brush the area.
2. You can also follow the previous process, but instead of detergent, try a few drops of ammonia diluted in plenty of water.
3. Again we refer to the previous cases, but this time, use mild laundry or washing machine detergent.
4. If you have really fine sandpaper or file, you can make a few light passes over the area. Then go back to the brush.
5. If the leather is stained with mud, do not wet clean it. Let dry and brush vigorously.

Tips for cleaning nubuck

We say goodbye with a series of tips for cleaning nubuck that will help you in your work. Take note:

1. Whenever you can, clean stains before they dry and become soaked, unless they are mud.
2. Never apply water directly to the skin. The cloths may be damp, but nothing more.
3. If very aggressive products are going to be used, it is better to test them first in areas of the garment where they are not visible, this way we will know if the effect is beneficial or excessive.
4. If the garment has become wet, it is good to take the opportunity to clean it completely, and not just the affected area.
5. Leather protectors and anti-moisture creams are a good idea to waterproof the garment even before the first use.

Do you need skin?

Easier and cheaper than ever.

We say goodbye to this article with one last tip for polishing nubuck.

If you see that the skin is lifeless and dull, hang it in a bathroom and open it to hot water. It will have to be exposed to steam for no more than 5 minutes. Then, we let it dry in a cool, shady place. You will see the success of your mission in a few hours, and your skin will have returned to glowing with life of its own.