Caring for leather shoes in Lagos weather

A well made pair of leather shoes is one of the best things you can own. Looked after, it moulds to your feet and only gets better with age. Our weather asks a lot of leather, though: heavy rain and humidity for months, then the dry, dusty harmattan. A simple routine keeps your pair ready for both.

After every wear

• Brush off dust with a soft horsehair brush.
• Put in cedar shoe trees. They hold the shape, stop creases setting and draw out moisture.
• Give the pair a day off. Leather needs about 24 hours to dry out fully, so rotating two pairs makes both last much longer.

When they get wet

Rain will find you eventually. Wipe off the water and any mud straight away, stuff the shoes with paper and leave them to dry slowly at room temperature. Heat from a heater, a hair dryer or the sun cracks leather, so be patient. Once they are dry, condition them, because water draws out the natural oils.

During the harmattan

Dry air and dust pull moisture out of leather and leave it looking dull and thirsty. Brush more often than usual and condition every week or two. Keep the pairs you are not wearing in shoe bags or boxes so dust does not settle into the grain.

Condition and polish

Every few weeks, clean the shoes with a damp cloth, let them dry, then massage in a little leather conditioner with a soft cloth. Follow with a cream polish in a matching colour to feed the leather and cover small scuffs, and finish with a wax polish on the toes and heels if you like a shine.

Look after the soles and heels

A cobbler can replace worn heel tips and resole a good pair long before the uppers wear out. Catch it early and your shoes can last for years.

Ten minutes a week is all it takes, and your shoes will repay you every time you put them on.