If you like your leather, which I do, you need to know how to take care of it. There are obviously a lot of products out there that can keep your suede plush and your leather boots safe from the pitfalls of water, snow and ice, but I got curious to see if I could find a product that was “green” for my leather goods. I’m well aware that some might think using a green product on leather is too little too late – but I still figured it was worth a look.

Home Made Shoe Polish?

The first option I found was pretty interesting. I found this article over on About.com about a homemade shoe polish recipe comprised of olive oil and lemon juice.

This seemed like a pretty interesting option to me but I knew I needed to test the theory. I used a pair of my older and more beat up leather shoes so if they were damaged in some way I wouldn’t be devastated. I admit, I was pretty pleased with the results.

Essentially, you just mix two parts of olive oil with one part of lemon juice. I then whisked them together to form a sort of emulsion. I took a simple rag and rubbed this into my favorite, albeit beat up leather ballet flats.

As you can see, the one on the left has not been polished and the one on the right looks a lot better! Being able to renew a favorite pair of “go to” shoes like these, and for free, is pretty cool! Now we’ll see what the longer term effect is, but this one seems like a pretty easy, simple solution if you need something quick!

Edible Shoe Cream

The next option I found was this edible shoe cream. They call it shoe cream but it’s simply made of 100% organic virgin coconut oil so you can eat it, use it as lip balm or use it as moisturizer. I could see how this simple item would work well on shoes as well as the olive oil idea – and it probably smells even tastier.

Nickwax Nubuck & Suede Proof

After a bit more digging, I came upon Nickwax. I’ve bought three pairs of suede boots this fall and I’m anxious about them going into winter. I’ve been looking for something other than the standard sprays, and this water based, fluorocarbon free treatment might be just the ticket. You can use a spray or a sponge on version and it is biodegradable and non hazardous. I think I’ll be picking this up for my Christmas stocking.

Granger’s G-Wax Nubuck & Suede Waterproofing

Making fewer claims on environmental friendliness, but water based and great for suede and nubuck is Granger’s G-Wax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofing. Granger’s is also known for products like Natural Wash and other camping supplies designed for minimal environmental impact.

No matter which one you choose – remember that taking care of your leather shoes and boots can help them last a lifetime. Using your items until they actually wear out can be one of the best ways to be environmentally conscious – and you’ll find after a few years there will be nothing as comfortable as your well worn and well maintained leather boots or shoes.