In what order should you use products for leather, suede, or nubuck?

Almost everyone who starts caring for leather or suede items for the first time makes the same mistake — buying a quality product but using it at the wrong stage.

Some immediately go for paint, even though the item only needed cleaning. Others apply a water-repellent treatment before restoring the color. And some try to soften dried-out leather with an extra layer of cream.

The problem isn’t the quality of the products. The problem is using them in the wrong order. That’s why professional restorers never start by choosing paint or cream. They first assess the condition of the item and then decide which steps are truly necessary.

In this article, we’ll cover a universal care and restoration process for leather, suede, and nubuck items. It works both for home care and preparing for more intensive restoration.

Step 1. Determine what happened to the item

Don’t rush to open the product catalog. First, carefully examine the item. Ask yourself a few questions.

• Is the item just dirty?
• Are there white stains left from winter?
• Has the leather become stiff and dry?
• Has the color faded a bit?
• Are there heavy scuffs?
• Do you need to completely change the color?

Your answers will determine the next steps. For example, if the item is just dirty after a walk, no paint is needed. But if the leather has lost elasticity, coloring without restoring the material first will only provide temporary results.

💡 Expert tip
Professionals identify the problem first and only then select the product. That’s why the same care routine doesn’t fit all items.

Step 2. Start with the right cleaning

Every care routine begins with cleaning. Even if you plan to restore the color or fully repaint the item, the surface must be clean. Dust, street dirt, leftover creams, waxes, and waterproofing products interfere with new treatments and reduce the quality of the result. But not all cleaners are the same.

If the dirt is routine

For regular care, it’s best to use foam cleaners.

Their main advantage isn’t just ease of use. The dense foam holds the cleaning agent on the surface, allowing it to dissolve and lift dirt more effectively. At the same time, the item doesn’t become overly wet, which is especially important for suede and nubuck.

Foam cleaners are suitable for removing:

• dust;
• urban dirt;
• everyday wear marks;
• most common household stains.

Vlotho recommends

LEDERREINIGER — foam cleaner for smooth leather and plastic parts.

VELVETREINIGER — foam cleaner for suede and nubuck.

If deep cleaning is required

Sometimes foam alone isn’t enough. For example, if shoes have been treated regularly for years with creams, waxes, or silicone products, a thick layer of old coatings builds up gradually. Or white stains are left from winter de-icers. Sometimes the issue isn’t dirt but greasy spots. Each of these situations requires a specific solution.

Vlotho recommends

RENOMAX— removing old creams and waxes, and preparing the item for painting.

LPINIO— delicate cleaning of tough stains.

EXTER— activator cleaner before painting.

FETTABSORBER— removing greasy spots.

SALZREINIGER— removing salt stains and de-icer residues.

WEISSREINIGER— cleaning white shoes and light-colored items.

💡 Expert tip
Do not use deep-cleaning products after every walk. They are intended for special tasks — preparing for painting, removing old care products, or tough stains.

Step 3. If the leather is overdried — restore the material first

This is the step most often skipped. Over time, natural leather loses some of its oils. It becomes less elastic, starts to harden, and with severe dryness can develop tiny cracks. Many try to fix this by painting, but paint only changes color. It doesn’t restore softness. That’s why professional restoration often includes the fatliquoring step. Fatliquoring replenishes lost oils, improves elasticity, and helps the leather retain its properties longer.

Vlotho recommends

FRESHOIL— fatliquoring product for suede and nubuck.

SAUERFETT SF10 — professional fat liquoring product for restoring leather structure.

💡 Interesting fact
After deep cleaning, leather and suede especially need restoring their natural balance. That’s why fatliquoring is often used not only for restoration but also after intensive cleaning.

Step 4. Decide if you really need paint

After cleaning, many are surprised to see that the item already looks significantly better. Sometimes the issue isn’t color loss but a thick layer of dirt and old care products. If the color has only slightly faded, a color restorer is often enough. It refreshes the item's appearance, deepens the shade, and helps hide minor scuffs. However, if there are heavy scuffs, fading, or a complete color change is needed, then paint will be necessary.

Vlotho recommends

For light touch-ups — Vlotho color restorers.

For full coloring:

• TIEFEN — for suede and nubuck.
• FARBENFLEX — for smooth leather.
• HERFORD — for automotive steering wheel leather.
• MULTIPLAST — for automotive plastics.
• EDGE HM — for leather edges.

💡 Expert tip
Don’t rush to buy paint. After a thorough cleaning, full coloring is often unnecessary.

Step 5. Protect the result

The final care step is protecting the item. Even the best cleaning or coloring won’t keep shoes or bags looking good for long if the material is regularly exposed to moisture, dirt, and road salts. That’s why protective products are recommended after all work is done. For suede and nubuck, these are usually water- and dirt-repellent impregnations. For smooth leather, impregnations or creams that also nourish the surface and help maintain its flexibility.

Vlotho recommends

LIPPE — water- and dirt-repellent impregnation for leather, suede, and nubuck.

Vlotho creams — for regular care of smooth leather.

Common mistakes

Even quality products can fail to deliver expected results if used incorrectly.

Most frequent mistakes:

• painting the item without prior cleaning;
• using deep-action cleaner for regular care;
• applying paint on overly dry leather;
• using impregnation before coloring;
• buying paint when a color restorer is sufficient;
• using smooth leather products on suede and vice versa.

Avoiding these mistakes will greatly extend the life of your favorite shoes, bags, jackets, and other items.

Quick guides for the most common situations

The item is just dirty

Foam cleaner → Impregnation or cream.

Color has slightly faded

Cleaner → Color restorer → Impregnation.

Complete item restoration

Cleaner → Deep-action cleaner (if needed) → Fatting (if leather is too dry) → Paint → Impregnation or cream.

The main rule of professional care

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for every case. Sometimes a foam cleaner and protective impregnation are enough. Other times deep cleaning, leather structure restoration, coloring, and follow-up protection are required.

The key is not to try to use all products at once. It’s much more important to identify which steps your item actually needs.

The right care sequence not only improves the appearance of leather, suede, or nubuck but also significantly extends their lifespan. This is how professional restorers work, and this approach achieves lasting results.