Just as a bicycle chain craves oil, well-worn leather shoes need nourishment. Whether it's a bicycle or a pair of shoes, consistent maintenance is essential for long-term use. These “quoc pham” shoes are one of the items we carry in our shop that we hope you will enjoy for a long time. Now that we are grateful to see the number of dedicated users growing, I would like to introduce the maintenance method I personally use. Of course, this can be applied to shoes other than quoc pham as well.
First, here is what I always prepare: 1. Remover liquid, 2. Wax, 3. A brush. That’s all. When you untie the laces, you’ll often find your shoes look more tired than you realized. Let’s polish them up.
Start by brushing the entire shoe. A rough brushing is fine to remove surface dirt. Next, take an appropriate amount of "remover liquid" on a tissue or an old handkerchief, and apply it while polishing the entire shoe. The remover liquid thoroughly strips away old dirt and previously applied oils or waxes, restoring the leather’s suppleness.
Before applying new wax, let the leather breathe with this first.
As you can see, even just a little polishing removed quite a bit of dirt. It’s refreshing, haha. Even the surprisingly filthy insoles... It was stubborn, but it became a little cleaner, haha.
Once clean, it's time to apply the wax. I personally use products from the German shoe care manufacturer “TAPIR”. Among their products, I use a type of wax called "Lederfett," which is suitable for hard-wearing shoes like hiking boots and motorcycle boots, and also provides water resistance. TAPIR waxes are made with natural ingredients, so they are very gentle on both the leather and the human body. I highly recommend them. You only need a little bit. Apply a moderate amount of wax and polish it in as you spread it. It's easy to overlook the small details, so make sure to polish every corner.
Finally, the last brushing. Brushing after applying wax ensures that the ingredients thoroughly penetrate into the fine stitching and areas that your hands cannot easily reach. What do you think? It’s a little hard to tell because they are black, but they look very clean. As part of your daily care, it is also great to keep them stored with wooden shoe trees inside. They prevent the shoes from losing their shape and effectively absorb the moisture that builds up after a full day of wear. I especially recommend this if you wear your shoes every day.
If you neglect shoe care, the leather will gradually weaken, and cracking can easily occur after just a few years of wear. By properly maintaining your shoes, you restore the leather's original texture and nourishment. That, in turn, makes you feel all the more attached to them.
Please give it a try. I’m sure they will become shoes you can love for a long time.