One all the time discuss how a lot simpler issues are with good instruments, and this additionally applies to shoe care and the brushes we use. Here’s a complete information on the varied shoe brushes obtainable, learn how to use them and examples of fine options.
Horsehair brush – medium onerous all-round brush
While you discuss shoe brushes, that is what most individuals consider, and just like the shoe cream (extra about this within the huge shoe care information right here), it’s the one product you possibly can’t do with out. It may be used to brush away grime, each from common leather-based and suede footwear, and it’s used to brush up the shoe cream to take away extra and construct shine. The horse bristles comes from each the person and tail (the place tail hair is of barely larger high quality), and is comparatively stiff however nonetheless compliant. The denser the comb is constructed, the higher the perform typically. Keep away from shoe brushes with artificial bristles, they’re tougher to deal with.
Brushes from Saphir with horse bristles. Picture: District Leather-based
It’s usually mentioned whether or not completely different brushes are wanted for various colors of shoe polish and wax. To suggest is to have one brush for darkish colours (black and darkish brown), and one for lighter (different colors), it is because brushes used on darker footwear can coloration off a bit on primarily mild brown footwear, particularly when you miss laying on the skinny advantageous layers there must be. It really works with only one brush as properly, so long as you’re conscious that a barely darker splash can seem on lighter footwear. If this sort of brush is used to take away grime while you come house it’s good whether it is fully separate, so that you don’t work in mud and different grime while you placed on the cream.
Horsehair brushes in two completely different sizes from the comb assortment that I’ve been a part of growing for Skolyx (additionally the highest image). These have the horse’s tail tail, which is of upper high quality and minimizes the danger of launch. Image: Skolyx
Software brush in horsehair – for making use of cream
An software brush is used to use shoe cream (not the wax polish, for this a polish material is way more appropriate), both simply within the space between the sting of the only real and the higher leather-based, or over the whole shoe as an alternative of a sharpening material, it’s a matter of style. Personally, I choose a sharpening material for clean leather-based, however use an software brush on embossed grain leather-based.
A typical variant of software brush from Valentino Garemi. Image: Valentino Garemi
The design on the comb can also be a matter of style, however I believe that a brush with a straight shaft is superior particularly because it’s a lot simpler to get it into the shoe cream can. The comb must be fabricated from horsehair, for finest perform, and right here as properly be a dense as doable. Right here one also needs to actually use one brush for darkish cream, one for mild colored.
Properly designed software brush made by Famaco. Image: Shoepassion
The dried cream causes the comb to grow to be stiff when you’re to make use of it, however when you simply rub it towards any apron or a cleansing material it softens once more, and when it’s so encrusted that it wants a correct cleansing it’s simply executed with dishwashing liquid within the sink.
Goat hair or yak hair brush – tender for ending
Clear good goat hair brush from Bäckman’s Skoservice personal model Brookman. Image: Bäckmans Skoservice
My favorite brush is a tender, pretty brush in goat hair (or yak, extra uncommon and much more costly), I’ve numerous completely different varieties and use them lots. The primary goal is to have a brush to brush up the shine after utilizing wax polish, as the marginally more durable horse hair brush tends to create small scratches within the shiny end. Right here it’s sufficient with one brush for all colors of footwear. That is for the reason that wax (when you do it accurately) is in such skinny, onerous layers that this can be very restricted how a lot that colors off on different footwear.
An excellent ending brush made by hand in Japan for Boot Black. The particular design allows very dense bristles. Image: Leffot
A tender goat hair brush can also be glorious to make use of to brush off grime from the footwear while you get house, particularly if in case you have shine in your footwear, as you don’t threat scratching the end. Nevertheless, this “grime brush” must be completely different from the one used when sharpening the footwear.
Even softer than the goat hairbrush is a yakhår, this unique variant from the Hanger Challenge. Image: Hanger Challenge
Nylon material – for the ultimate end and restoration of gloss
Even if in case you have a goat hair brush for the end, you’re going to get a final little snap on the shine with a nylon stocking. Technically not a brush, clearly, however fits right here anyway. So we discuss odd girls’s pantyhose, finest to purchase brief knee highs, semi shine in about 60 den (comparatively thick). Put the sock over the hand and rub with very quick actions. A nylon material can also be good to make use of to convey out the shine once more earlier than utilizing the footwear, and if in case you have one mendacity within the bag, you possibly can rub off smaller marks that you just prone to happen throughout use.
A nylon stocking is a good way to complete the shine, or restore the luster after use.
Brush with pig bristles or wild boar bristles – onerous brush to work in cream
Brush with shorter, extra inflexible wild boar bristles from Skolyx, made in Black Forest in Germany. Image: Skolyx
A bit overambitious, not a brush that’s essentially wanted, however appreciated by some. Above all it’s to have the ability to work within the shoe cream successfully that this more durable brush is used for, it’s simpler to rise up good warmth with a more durable brush. Can be good for embossed grain leather-based for brushing the cream extra successfully, and a few use it as a suede and nubuck brush.
Traditional wild boar brush from Saphir. Image: The Shine
Suede brush – for lifting suede fibers
As talked about above, each a horsehair brush or a brush with wild boar bristles can be utilized to brush suede footwear clear, however relating to actually lifting the suede’s fibers, which must be executed often to get out of some grime and restore life to the fabric, then a particular suede brush is finest. Right here there are just a few completely different variants, the place I often suggest a brush that has brass bristles within the center and stiff pig bristles or artificial bristles on the outer ends, which makes them a bit extra light than pure brass brushes. Regardless, one ought to use these relativitely rigorously, and solely with tender, advantageous actions work up the suede’s fibers, and nothing that must be used after every use of the footwear (then the horsehair brush works when floor grime is to be eliminated). After washing, a suede brush can also be additional essential.
Suede brush from Crockett & Jones with brass core and nylon brush on the high. Image: Grafford
Different variants are suede brush with phosphor bronze bristles, which is simply completely inflexible and works brilliantly, or rubber crepe brushes in pure rubber which I do know some respect, to me, nevertheless, they’re slightly tough to work with.
Very unique and well-functioning suede brush from Japanese Edoya with bristles in phosphor bronze (assessment obtainable right here).
Suede – clear stains on suede and nubuck
Conventional suede eraser from Collonil. Image: Euroleathers
For extra apparent stains on suede, a suede can usually be a superb answer for shortly and simply eradicating the stain. The commonest variant is made in a form of gritty materials that falls aside while you gently work away the stain, and this free grains are then brushed away with a daily shoe brush. One other usually much more efficient and gentler variant is suede eraser in uncooked rubber which could be surprisingly successfully take away correct stains.
Efficient suede eraser from Skolyx in uncooked rubber, with pure sponge again to take away the final grime of the stain. Image: Skolyx
