Saphir Shoe Care Guide: How to Care for Leather, Suede & Nubuck

Opening image: AI-created editorial illustration. Individual product photographs are shown below.

The Farley footwear care edit

Care for the pairs you love.

By A Farley Country Attire · Kibworth, Leicestershire · Updated 10 October 2026

Your favourite boots. The shoes you wear to every wedding. The suede pair that makes an ordinary outfit feel a little better. Good footwear deserves a care routine that keeps you reaching for it.

At A Farley Country Attire, we sell premium footwear and Saphir shoe care online from the UK, with a shop in Kibworth, Leicestershire. This guide brings the two together: practical advice on cleaning leather shoes, caring for suede and nubuck, choosing polish colours and building a useful kit from our Saphir range.

You do not need a cupboard full of products. Choose the treatment for your footwear’s finish, use it properly and let the results guide the next step. We’ll show you where a cream earns its place, when wax adds something extra and why suede needs a different approach.

Which Saphir products do you need?

Check the product description or care label for your shoes before choosing a treatment. “Leather” alone is not enough: the finish determines whether a cream, spray or specialist dressing is suitable.

Saphir Médaille d’Or or Beauté du Cuir?

Saphir Médaille d’Or is the premium specialist range, including Renovateur, Crème 1925 Pommadier and Pâte de Luxe. Beauté du Cuir offers a broad choice for everyday care, including Crème Surfine shoe cream.

Choose by task rather than by collecting every product. For a straightforward smooth-leather routine, a suitable cream, brush and cloth are a useful starting point. Add a cleaner, conditioner or finishing wax when your shoes need that extra step.

01 · Leather that looks loved

How to clean and polish leather shoes with Saphir

This routine suits leather that the footwear maker recommends conditioning and polishing. Work on dry shoes, remove the laces where practical and protect your work surface. Keep applicators for different polish colours separate.

1. Brush away loose dirt

Use a clean shoe brush to remove dust and dried surface dirt, including around the welt and stitching. If the shoes are wet, allow them to dry naturally before applying care products. This first step often does more for day-to-day appearance than another coat of polish.

2. Clean when the leather needs it

Visible grime or a build-up of old wax calls for cleaning before you add more product. Saphir Médaille d’Or Leather Cleanser is a gentle option for suitable smooth leather. Shake the bottle, put a small amount on a clean cloth and work in circular movements. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes, then buff with a cotton cloth.

A stronger stripping cleaner is a different treatment. Do not make deep stripping part of every polish, particularly on unfamiliar or delicate finishes.

3. Condition if the leather is dry

Saphir Médaille d’Or Renovateur cream cleans gently and nourishes suitable smooth leather. Apply sparingly with a clean cotton cloth, allow three minutes to dry, then buff. Use it as a preparation step when nourishment is needed before coloured cream or wax.

Saphir Médaille d’Or Smooth Leather Lotion is another conditioning option for compatible smooth leather. Choose the conditioner that suits your footwear; you do not need to layer both products in the same session.

Important distinction: Renovateur cream for smooth leather is different from a suede renovator spray. Similar names do not mean the products are interchangeable.

4. Refresh the colour with shoe cream

For suitable smooth leather, Crème 1925 Pommadier provides nourishment, colour and a polished finish. Apply a thin layer with a cloth or appropriate applicator, working it evenly over the leather. Let it dry for the time specified on your jar, then buff with a clean polishing brush.

Use a shade chosen for your shoes. Black cream is for black footwear, not a universal starting product. For everyday care, a matching Beauté du Cuir Crème Surfine can also be an appropriate choice.

5. Add wax for extra shine

Saphir Pâte de Luxe is a finishing wax. Apply one or two thin coats to suitable smooth leather, allowing around five minutes between coats before buffing. Extra thin layers on a firm toe cap or heel can build a higher shine.

Keep heavier wax layers away from areas that bend as you walk: built-up wax can crack along the creases. A clean, even cream polish is enough when you want a natural finish rather than a high gloss.

Looking after brown shoes or boots? Crème 1925 Pommadier in Medium Brown is one option, not a match for every brown leather. Compare the other cream and wax shades, then test your choice on a hidden area. The black products above are examples for black footwear only.

02 · A different texture, a different routine

How to clean and protect suede and nubuck

The aim is to clean the surface while keeping its texture. Suede and nubuck need their own products and tools; ordinary smooth-leather cream or wax can change the appearance of the nap.

1. Brush gently while dry

Remove loose dust with a suitable brush. The Saphir Médaille d’Or Crepe Brush is a useful tool for suede care. Use light pressure and avoid repeatedly scrubbing one spot. Nubuck can need a softer approach; follow the finish-specific advice and choose an appropriate brush.

2. Treat an isolated mark

For a small surface mark, try the Saphir Super Gommadin suede and nubuck eraser. Work gently and brush away the residue. An eraser is a targeted tool, not a reason to rub the whole shoe aggressively.

3. Deep-clean only when necessary

For widespread dirt that gentle brushing and a mark eraser cannot remove, Saphir Médaille d’Or Omni’Nettoyant & Brush is an optional deeper-cleaning treatment for suitable suede and nubuck. It lifts dirt and stains; it does not polish the surface or provide the protection of a repellent spray.

Check the footwear maker’s advice and test on a hidden area first. Brush off loose dirt, then dilute Omni’Nettoyant with water as directed on your bottle and clean with the supplied brush. Rinse the brush with clean water and brush the surface again. Treat the whole item to help avoid an obvious clean patch.

Leave to dry naturally for at least six hours and until fully dry. Saphir recommends a crepe brush to restore suede and a natural silk-bristle brush for nubuck after cleaning. For persistent stains or an unfamiliar finish, ask for advice before attempting a stronger treatment.

Use the instructions for your exact bottle. Different Saphir cleaners and ranges can require different dilution and drying methods.

4. Refresh the colour only if needed

A compatible suede renovator spray is a separate colour-refreshing treatment. Choose a matching shade or suitable neutral version, check the product instructions and test first. It is optional; clean suede with good colour does not need a tinted treatment simply because you are caring for it.

5. Protect clean, dry footwear

Our preferred Saphir protector: Saphir Médaille d’Or Supér Invulner helps repel water and dirt on compatible materials. Shake the can and spray evenly from approximately 20cm in a well-ventilated area, without saturating the footwear. Allow at least 30 minutes to dry, following the label’s precautions.

Reapply when protection needs renewing, particularly after cleaning or repeated exposure to wet conditions. A repellent helps with surface protection; it does not make every shoe waterproof or repair a damaged waterproof membrane.

Saphir conditioner, cream and wax: what is the difference?

For your first purchase, decide whether you need nourishment, colour or shine. A dry shoe needs the right care beneath the shine; a tidy shoe with good colour may simply need brushing and buffing.

Choose care for the problem, not just the shoe

How to choose the right Saphir polish colour

Choose a cream close to the leather’s existing colour. If you are between shades, a slightly lighter option is generally the safer starting point than a darker one, but the dried patch test matters more than the name on the jar.

Neutral cream can maintain a finish without adding the same coloured pigment as a tinted cream. It will not restore lost colour in the same way, and “neutral” is not a guarantee that every leather will remain exactly the same shade. Treat burnished, two-tone and unusual finishes with particular care.

If you are unsure, send us the footwear make and model, a clear photo in natural light and the issue you want to address. That is more useful than guessing between two browns from a screen.

What to do with wet or muddy country boots

Begin with the boot maker’s care instructions. Remove loose mud with an appropriate brush or cloth and clean the upper as directed. If the boots are soaked, remove removable insoles where the maker permits, use absorbent paper or cloth if suitable and let them dry naturally.

Keep footwear away from radiators, fires and other direct heat. Wait until the upper is dry before conditioning or polishing. Once clean and dry, select care for the actual finish: a suede panel, waxed leather upper and smooth leather section can require different treatment.

For brand-specific help, see our R.M.Williams boot care guide and guide to cleaning Ariat boots. Check the maker’s current advice for your exact model, particularly for oiled, distressed, burnished or waterproof constructions.

Care between wears

Give shoes time to air between wears and store them somewhere dry and ventilated. Appropriately fitted shoe trees can help maintain their shape; use the support recommended for tall boots. A shoe horn also helps you put footwear on without repeatedly crushing the heel. These small habits support the care you put into the upper.

03 · Choose well, care well

What should go in your Saphir shoe care kit?

You do not need to buy the whole range to look after one pair of shoes. Start with the products you will use, then add a treatment when a particular problem calls for it. Product pages show current prices and availability.

Already have a clean, suitable brush or cloth? Keep using it. Buying the correct cream or treatment is more useful than duplicating tools you already own.

Watch Saphir demonstrate footwear care

These demonstrations are published by Saphir Beauté du Cuir on its official YouTube channel. They are manufacturer videos, not demonstrations filmed by A Farley Country Attire. Use them alongside this guide, checking the material and the instructions on your exact product. Different Saphir ranges can require different application methods.

For more specialist demonstrations, see Saphir’s videos on mixed-material boot care and bulling shoes for a high shine.

Saphir shoe care questions

Where can I buy Saphir shoe care in the UK?

Shop the Saphir range at A Farley Country Attire online, including Médaille d’Or and Beauté du Cuir products. Our retail shop is at 77 Harborough Road, Kibworth, Leicestershire, LE8 0RF. Check product availability online and contact the shop before travelling for a particular item.

Which Saphir products should I buy first?

For suitable smooth leather, start with a matching cream, a polishing brush and a cloth. For suede and nubuck, start with a brush suitable for the surface and add an eraser for marks when needed. Cleaners, conditioners, waxes and protectors have different jobs; choose the extra treatment for the material and the problem.

How often should I care for leather shoes?

Brush off dirt regularly and clean when necessary. Condition according to the leather’s needs and the footwear maker’s guidance rather than adding conditioner after every wear. Polish when the finish needs refreshing. Weather, use and the particular leather all affect the routine.

Should I use shoe cream or wax polish?

Choose cream for colour maintenance and a polished finish on suitable smooth leather. Add wax for more shine. If you are starting from scratch, a matching cream is usually the more useful first polishing product.

Can I use Renovateur on suede?

The Médaille d’Or Renovateur cream described here is for compatible smooth leather. Choose dedicated suede and nubuck care instead, and distinguish it from a suede renovator spray.

Will neutral polish cover scuffs?

It does not replace missing colour the way a suitable tinted cream can. Neither cream nor wax repairs a deep cut. Check the finish and depth of the damage before trying to conceal it with more product.

Does Saphir protector make shoes waterproof?

A suitable repellent adds surface protection. The shoe’s materials and construction still determine its waterproof performance. Follow the footwear maker’s advice for boots with a waterproof membrane.

Can I use Saphir on R.M.Williams, Ariat or premium dress shoes?

Choose by material and finish rather than brand alone. Suitable smooth-leather dress shoes can use a cream-and-polish routine; suede, distressed, oiled and technical constructions need different choices. The maker’s instructions for the model take priority.

How much product should I apply?

Begin with a small amount and a thin, even application. More product does not automatically give a better result. Follow the label, let the treatment dry as directed and assess the finish before adding another layer.

Do I need conditioner, cream, wax and protector every time?

No. Use the steps your footwear needs. Regular brushing, occasional appropriate cleaning and a well-chosen cream or protective treatment make a more manageable routine than applying everything at once.

Online across the UK · In person in Kibworth

Saphir shoe care, with Farley behind it.

Choosing care is easier when you start with the actual shoes. Visit our Leicestershire shop for help with the footwear’s material and finish, or contact us online with the make, model and a clear photograph.

From smart leather shoes to country boots, we’ll help you choose care that fits the pair you own. Check shop availability before travelling for a specific Saphir product.

A Farley Country Attire
77 Harborough Road, Kibworth
Leicestershire, LE8 0RF
On the A6, next to Crouch Recovery

Plan your visitGet directions

Shop enquiries: kibworth@afarley.co.uk
Online product advice: contact our team