Leather care

The art of shoe care

In Corio's shoe care products are far more than just a way to extend the life of your shoes. They represent a true ritual of care, an ode to elegance and respect for fine materials, allowing your footwear to reflect its timeless character and brilliance day after day.

The art of preserving leather’s beauty

Every pair of shoes tells a story, and In Corio's care products are designed to enhance it. Our nourishing creams, polishes, and renovator sprays are specially formulated to maintain the finest leathers. When applied, they restore suppleness and shine while reinforcing the leather’s resistance to daily wear and tear.

A ritual infused with tradition

Taking a moment to polish your shoes allows you to feel the finesse of the leather and admire its restored glow. This practice, passed down through generations, transforms into a sensory experience. Our natural wood and horsehair brushes, tailored to each step, provide unparalleled precision and care for your men's dress shoes and women's footwear.

A range designed for every need

Whether it’s smooth leather, suede, or even your shoe soles, each product in our collection is carefully crafted for a specific purpose. Our renovator sprays protect suede shoes from the elements, while our nourishing colored creams revive their deep tones. Every detail is considered to ensure perfect maintenance, worthy of the most prestigious workshops.

Respecting noble materials

At In Corio, we have the utmost respect for the premium leathers we meticulously select. Our care products, enriched with beeswax, are specially designed to preserve the natural character of leather, maintaining its texture and luster. They extend the elegance and comfort of your shoes while allowing them to age gracefully.

Give your shoes the care they deserve

By incorporating these products into your routine, you do more than just maintain your shoes—you express your passion for craftsmanship and your desire to preserve what truly matters. In Corio’s shoe care products are not just tools; they embody a true commitment to beauty and timeless quality.

Caring for your shoes requires neither special talent nor bulky equipment: a few well-chosen products, one or two brushes and ten minutes from time to time. Here is the method we suggest, for smooth leather as for suede, with the everyday steps and those to keep for special occasions.

Why care for your leather shoes?

Caring for your leather shoes keeps the hide supple, stops it cracking at the creases from wear and noticeably extends the life of the pair.

Everyday steps

The first care needs no product at all. Slip cedar shoe trees into your shoes as soon as you take them off: the wood absorbs the day's moisture and re-stretches the leather. Let each pair rest for at least a day between wears.

Which products to choose to care for leather shoes?

Complete care rests on four products: a milk to clean, a cream to nourish, a polish to protect and shine, and a polishing brush. For suede, a specific brush and a renovator replace the cream and the polish. We have selected each of these products for our own shoes.

How to care for smooth leather shoes, step by step?

Complete care of smooth leather takes about fifteen minutes, drying time included.

1. Remove the laces and insert the shoe trees to stretch the leather.
2. Dust the whole upper with the polishing brush, not forgetting the join between the upper and the sole.
3. Apply the cleaning milk in a thin layer with a cotton cloth, then leave to dry for a few minutes and brush.
4. Spread the nourishing cream in circular movements, working it into the creases from wear, and leave it to soak in for about ten minutes.
5. Brush briskly with the polishing brush to shine.
6. For more shine, add small touches of polish, leave to dry for a few minutes and buff again.

Mirror polishing, a matter of patience

Mirror polishing consists of layering very thin coats of polish, each smoothed with a cloth and a drop of water, until you obtain a surface as smooth as a mirror. Its origin is often attributed to armies, where the shine of boots was part of the inspection.

How to care for suede shoes?

To clean suede shoes, you work dry, with a brush, and without any greasy product: no cream or polish, which would flatten and stain the nap.

1. Let the suede dry completely if it has got wet.
2. Brush it with the suede brush: lightly with the nylon bristles to dust, more firmly with the brass bristles on stains.
3. Spray the renovator evenly from about 15 cm away, then leave to dry for a quarter of an hour.
4. Brush one last time to lift the nap.

How to clean stained leather shoes?

A stain on smooth leather is treated first with the cleaning milk, applied gently with a cloth, before nourishing the area again with a cream in the right shade. For more delicate cases, our article on how to clean leather shoes without damaging them details each situation.

At In Corio, we make our shoes in family-run workshops in the Porto region, in full-grain leather from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group: hides of this quality respond particularly well to cream and develop a patina elegantly.

Not sure about the right shade of cream? Come with your shoes and feel our leathers in our stores in the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Lyon: we will show you the steps. Online, returns and exchanges are free.

Frequently asked questions about leather shoe care

How to care properly for leather shoes?

Good care combines everyday steps and regular treatment. Every day: cedar shoe trees, a day's rest between wears and a quick brush. Every three to four weeks: a cleaning milk, a nourishing cream, then a buff with the horsehair brush.

Are there grandmother's tips for cleaning leather?

A barely damp cloth and a very mild soap can help out to remove light dirt. However, vinegar, alcohol or baking soda dry out the leather and can discolour it.

What is the best product for cleaning leather?

The most suitable product for cleaning smooth leather is a cleaning milk: it removes dirt and excess polish without harming the hide. Suede, on the other hand, is cleaned dry with a nylon and brass bristle brush.

In summary

Caring for leather shoes comes down to three steps: clean with milk, nourish with cream, shine with a brush, with a polish for extra shine. Suede is cared for dry, with a brush and a renovator. Cedar shoe trees and a little rest between wears do the rest. Build your routine from our care products above.