PRODUCT FAQ
PREP
STEP 1
Ensure the leather surface is clean and dry to the touch.
STEP 2
Apply a small amount of The Footwear Care Leather Preparer & Deglazer onto a rag, sponge, applicator pads, cotton balls, or Q-tips.
Wipe down the desired area and allow the product to completely dry. This will remove the factory paint/finish, leaving a clean surface that The Footwear Care Paint will best adhere to. View our tutorial video HERE.
STEP 1
In order to prepare patent leather you will need high grade sandpaper and adhesion promoter. Lightly sand down the patent with the sand paper.
STEP 2
After giving it an even sand, wipe down the areas using The Footwear Care Leather Preparer & Deglazer.
STEP 3
Once dry, apply two to three even coats of adhesion promoter allowing the shoes to dry between coats.
STEP 1
In order to prepare vinyl you will need high grade sandpaper and adhesion promoter. Lightly sand down the vinyl with the sand paper.
STEP 2
After giving it an even sand, wipe down the areas using The Footwear Care Leather Preparer & Deglazer.
STEP 3
Once dry, apply two to three even coats of adhesion promoter allowing the shoes to dry between coats.
STEP 1
In order to prepare Nike Foamposites you will need high grade sandpaper and adhesion promoter. Lightly sand down the surface with the sand paper.
STEP 2
After giving it an even sand, wipe down the areas using The Footwear Care Leather Preparer & Deglazer.
STEP 3
Once dry, apply two to three even coats of adhesion promoter allowing the shoes to dry between coats.
When working on suede or nubuck, leather preparer is not needed nor recommended. Simply ensure the surface is clean, dry, and free from debris.
Adhesion Promoter is a product (usually aerosol) that is used to help paint adhere to non leather surfaces such as rubber, plastics and more.
Although Leather Preparer and Acetone can both be used for the same purpose, Acetone has much stronger chemicals which can harm or burn leather due. Leather Preparer is a safer alternative which will not harm leather when applying.
PAINT
The Footwear Care Paint can be used on any leather surface, as well as many other surfaces as long as they are prepped properly. Some of these other surfaces include: Canvas, Fabrics, Mesh, & more!
The Footwear Care Paint is not recommended for use on the very bottoms of shoes as the paint will wear away as soon as you start walking in them. The Footwear Care Paint also works great on certain Soft Midsoles (Jordan 3's, Jordan 4's), and will not hold up on hard midsoles (Converse, Vans, Jordan 1's, Air Force 1's, etc). We want you to have the best experience possible with realistic goals.
-The Footwear Care Leather Paint
-Paint Brushes
-Leather Preparer & Deglazer
-Masking Tape
The above items are the essentials for applying The Footwear Care Paint properly. Begin by prepping the surface using the Leather Preparer & Deglazer and Applicator Pads, cotton balls, or a rag. We find that our Applicator Pads work well because they do not leave lint or residue behind and they are strong enough to not fall apart during use. This will rid the surface of contaminents and/or the factory finish if there is one. This will allow the The Footwear Care Paint to adhere properly to the leather surface.
Once the surface has been prepped, use The Footwear Care Paintbrush Set to apply multiple thin coats of paint, rather than one or two thick coats. Allow each coat to dry to the touch before applying the next coat. Using the Yellow Pro-Mask Tape to mask off areas you do not want to get paint on.
Save money by getting most of these items in our Starter Kit! Click on the image below.
The Footwear Care Paints utilize a flexible, self leveling, non-cracking formula that adheres to multiple surfaces such as leather, vinyl, patent leather, canvas and more when prepared properly.
The Footwear Care Paints can be used on any type of shoe or leather item from Lebrons, Jordans, KDs and Kobes to all canvas and running shoes. With the proper preparation it can adhere to any surface.
We offer high quality The Footwear Care Paint Brushes that can be found here. Any other high quality synthetic brushes made for acrylic paints will also work great.
Yes, all of our paints are formulated to be mixed very easily. This gives you full control to create thousands of color varieties on your own.
Recommended items include: Mixing Jars & Eye Droppers.
To prevent brush strokes make sure to use a clean quality paintbrush and apply long light coats spreading the applied paint thoroughly along the shoe evenly. A heat gun or blow dryer can be used to actually speed drying and level the paint as well.
Yes, The Footwear Care Paints will work in an airbrush if the airbrush has a needle over .5mm. No thinning is necessary as long as it is the proper size.
If your needle is smaller than 0.5mm (ie 0.35mm or 0.1mm) we recommended mixing our product 2-thin into the paint.
It is also highly recommend to strain your paint mixture before pouring it into your airbrush. Paint that has been sitting out in the air can dry and cause small particles. New paint bottles that are unopened should be able to airbrush right away.
View our Reusable Paint Strainer HERE.
We also have a wide selection of Airbrush Machines and airbrush parts HERE.
If you are looking online for other airbrushes please make sure their nozzle size is 0.5mm or larger for best results. Anything smaller may have issues unless it is thinned with our product The Footwear Care 2-Thin.
Although airbrushing may seem like the best choice to many, paint brushing is a very good option in many circumstances such as minimal areas and detail work. Preference would be solely up to you in this case.
In order to thin The Footwear Care Paints you would need to add The Footwear Care Thinner. Depending on how thin you want the paint determines how much Thinner to add.
To help prevent cracking, ensure the surface has been prepped properly using The Footwear Care Leather Preparer & Deglazer. Aside from proper prep, applying the paint in thin coats will also help to prevent cracking.
To protect from scuffs and scratches be sure to apply finisher to your work when done. Even light coats are preferred. The paint has a natural protectant and will take normal use without issues.
Paint can be tacky if you apply on a surface that isn't prepped correctly or on fake leather. Sanding the area before use will help and also after painting if still tacky or sticky apply a wax such as our shoe wax or a lotion.
In order to dull down paint you need to add The Footwear Care Duller to the paint. Only 5-10% of duller is needed and recommended.
In order to obtain a glossy effect on project you can apply The Footwear Care High Gloss Acrylic Finisher. Apply 2-3 light coats when project is completely dry.
Shop Acrylic Finisher here.
To achieve glow in the dark paint you would mix glow in the dark pigment (we do not carry this product) with The Footwear Care Neutral paint. Once mixed thoroughly apply to prepared surface.
Although The Footwear Care paint can be applied to soles of shoes, it is not guaranteed to hold up. Therefore it is not recommended to paint on soles. If done so, apply some type of Sole-Protector to preserve the painted bottom.
In order to paint sock liner or any mesh/nylon areas we recommend mixing The Footwear Care paints with The Footwear Care 4-Soft. Mixing The Footwear Care Paint with 4-Soft in a 1:1 ratio with give the best results. The fabric/mesh will need to be heat-set after the paint has dried in order to keep the material nice and soft.
In order to paint/dye laces you need a fabric medium mixed with The Footwear Care Paints with a 1:1 ratio. Be sure to heat dry the laces after applying the mix.
The amount of paint needed for a project will all come down to the area that will be worked on. 30ml normally is enough paint to cover a standard pair of shoes with ease.
Paint takes about 15-30 minutes to dry in between layers. After job is done it would take about a day to fully air dry. Same as a car that is painted, you wouldnt want to drive it right off the lot immediately after its done.
Paints can last up to 3 years of stored properly in room temperature.
The Footwear Care Paints carries a vast assortment of matched colors to several of todays most coveted shoes. You can find those colors in the Collectors Edition.
Walk on Paints are made for heels and solid soled loafers BUT are not meant to apply on the soles of sneakers or any other shoes. It will not hold and eventually wears off.
ACRYLIC FINISHER
Acrylic Finisher a clear protective top coat that can help protect the paint from minor scuffs and scratches. Using Acrylic Finisher is also a great way to add a nice sheen to your project. We carry 4 different Acrylic Finisher's which all offer a different amount of shine.
Shop Acrylic Finishers Here.
Acrylic Finisher is used after your project is completed and you are ready to seal them off. Using the Acrylic Finisher is totally optional and is dependant upon personal preference.
All the Acrylic Finishers contain a different shine to them. Matte contains the least amount of shine while the High Gloss contains the most. Order of shine is as follows - Matte, Satin, Regular then High Gloss.
The dulling agency at the bottom solidifies when sitting so make sure to shake the bottle before using each time.
In order to dull down a finisher a bit you can add Duller to the mix. 5% of duller is recommended amount to mix.
Acrylic Finisher works as a added layer of durability to prevent cracking. But, keep in mind, if prep work wasnt done correctly you are still risking paint cracking and chipping.
Yes, Acrylic finisher is a scuff protectant. The more layers added the more layers of protection.
Yes, Acrylic Finisher dries on as a clear coat.
Yes Acrylic Finishers are thin enough to run straight through an airbrush gun with no thinning needed.
Sometimes when finisher is applied to certain materials or a project that hasnt fully dried you will experience a tacky finish. If you are painting a vinyl or patent leather you will need adhesion promoter for it to stick properly.
Make sure your surface is completely dry and ready for finisher before applying. If there is still any tack please apply a shoe polish or lotion to the surface and buff.
DYE
Leather dyes have a lot of pigment and are really strong. Suede Dyes are lighter in pigment and use a slightly different formula to keep the suede soft. If you use Leather dye on Suede it will make the nap of the leather harder.
Leather Dye on suede will cause it to get stiff. If you do Suede Dye on Leather dye it may not be strong enough or full of enough pigment for you.
Black Suede can have issues from a few things. If you apply too much it can cause an iridescent look. If you do not shake the bottle it will not be mixed and give a hue. The actual article may not be real suede. To alleviate most of these situations you just have to wipe down with cloth of water & alcohol.
Dyes takes the color of what is under them. So if you dye something white with red it will turn pink. It mixes with it. Paint sits on the surface and grabs on. You can cover anything with paint. Our paint is water based while our dyes are alcohol based.
Dye Mixing
Yes you can mix dyes to make other colors but that can have adverse results. A normal color mixing like with paint can be very strange with dyes.
No we do not have a white dye. Usually to "dye" something white you would need to bleach it.
Suede Dye
This is a matter of preference but we like with a paint brush or airbrush. The paintbrush will be ruined after application though.
To prevent the dye from bleeding you can brush the article after it has dried and then use The Footwear Care Water & Stain Repellent on top to seal it in. Some people even mix our acrylic finisher with water and airbrush it over to finalize it.
The same way you prevent it from bleeding. You would brush it to get excess pigment off then seal with The Footwear Care Protector.
CLEANERS
How to use FoamTex
When cleaning suede, we highly recommend using our The Footwear Care Premium Cleaning Kit. Begin by using the provided brush to gently brush away any dirt or debris.
Depress the pump handle to apply The Footwear Care Revive directly onto the brush. Apply enough product until almost the entire surface is covered.
Use the brush to work the The Footwear Care Revive in circular motions using a minimum amount of force. Work quickly to prevent the product from dissipitating.
Wipe off the excess product using the provided microfiber towel. Continue to dry the rest of the suede as much as possible. Leave to dry for at least 24 hours.
After the suede has completely dried for at least 24 hours, the nap of the suede may be laying down and or feel slightly stiff. Using the same brush, brush the suede in a back and forth motion to loosen and raise the nap. If the nap of the suede is very long and stiff, you may receive better results loosening the nap using our Nubuck & Suede Set.
When cleaning leather with The Footwear Care Revive, apply cleaner to brush and begin to scrub dirty area. When done wipe off excess soap with a clean towel and repeat if more cleaning is needed.
The best way to use The Footwear Care Revive is to have a cup of warm cleaner water, a cleaning brush and a clean rag with you. Apply The Footwear Care Revive to the brush and start scrubbing. Using a warm clean water, clean off the brush in between sessions. After that dry the shoe off with a clean rag or microfiber.
Yes after you have applied the cleaner you wipe it off to remove soap and dirt.
It is always best to test the cleaner on a inconspicuous area just to make sure it reacts well to the material. Especially true on nappy suede as the dye tends to be weak on them.
When soles turn yellow it is due to oxidation that occurs through time. The product used to reverse this problem is Sole White.
Sole White is a extremely strong material and you MUST wear gloves when handling and applying to shoes. Use a small brush and apply generous amount to area you are deoxidizing but avoid touching any other areas. Cover with plastic wrap and place in direct sunlight. UV rays will react with the chemical and bring back the original look. Keep in mind that sometimes you will need to do several sessions to get results.
To use the Suede & Nubuck kit you use the Suede Eraser and you rub on any stained areas on the suede then use the brush to remove any eraser debree.
Protector
By spraying 2 light coats of Protector on the product you wish to have protected and allowing it to fully dry you add a water proof sealent.
Yes, you sure can. Be sure to reapply the Protector after the cleaning has been done.
Protector will last one to three weeks of normal wear before you have to reapply the product.
GLITTER
The Footwear Care Glitter Paint may require mixing by hand in order to introduce the glitter that has settled to the bottom. Stir the product until the glitter is introduced evenly throughout the bottle.
Check out our tutorial video below:
No finisher is required on top of The Footwear Care Glitter Paint. Glitter Paint is flexible and does not flake. Applying an Acrylic Finisher on top of the Glitter Paint may hinder the "glitter" look.
You can in order to thin out the glitter to give less of distribution of the glitter. We do not recommend using The Footwear Care Glitter Paint through an airbrush as the pigment is too thick and may cause immediate clogging.
Yes, Glitter Paint can be mixed. Many of our customers mix The Footwear Care Glitter Paint to obtain a desired custom colour.
You can mix Glitter Paint with The Footwear Care Paint but be warned it may hinder some of the glitter effect. If you cover the glitter with paint it will not be able to shimmer through.
ORDER FAQ
SHIPPING
Shipping times vary depending on your location, shipping method chosen, & whether or not Rush Processing was chosen.
The Shipping Method chosen will directly effect your orders transit time. Listed below you will find estimated Transit Times (Does not include processing time of 1-3 business days) based on your selection:
USPS First-Class (About 2-5 Business Days)
USPS Priority (About 1-3 Business Days)
Priority Shipping (About 2-3 Business Days. May ship USPS or FedEx, whichever works best for the size of the order. FedEx does not deliver on Weekends)
FedEx 2-Day (2 Business Days Guaranteed. Excludes weekends)
FedEx Standard Overnight (1 Business Day Guaranteed. Excludes weekends)
Order placed after 12pm PST will begin processing the following business day.
Adding the Rush Processing option guarantees that your order will ship out that same day if placed before 12pm PST. Orders placed after 12pm PST or on Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays will process the following business day. Please note that we normally have a 1-3 business day processing time. Rush Processing will bump your order to the front of the line and will be shipped out that same business day (if placed before 12pm PST Mon-Fri).
Yes, we offer free shipping on orders over £50 shipping within the UK .
We offer shipping methods through a few different carriers. For USPS, our shipping options are: USPS First Class or Priority Mail. For FedEx, we offer 2-Day & Standard Overnight (weekday delivery only).
We also have international shipping options.
We ship worldwide for great prices but can not ship any aerosol, flammable liquids, or products larger than 8 oz. (e.g. Pints, Quarts, Gallons). For a full list, click here.
Please note that the customer is responsible for additional taxes or Custom's Fees (if any) upon arrival of the package. If package is refused or undeliverable for any reason, a refund will be given minus any Shipping Costs/Duties/Taxes/Customs fees.
Please allow up to 30 days to receive a refund.
Shipping costs are non-refundable.
Commercial Invoices will include the full retail value of all products and will not account for any discounts/promotions.
Please note that The Footwear Care Direct will not ship to any mail forwarding services. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Our system automatically sends you an e-mail containing the tracking information as soon as your order is being prepared for shipment. Check your tracking link often for updates on the location of your package as well as the estimated delivery date.
If you have your Order # & e-mail address, feel free to check on the status of your order here: https://www.thefootwearcare.com/ pages/order-lookup
Otherwise, feel free to e-mail us to inquire about the status of your order: info@thefootwearcare.com
Unfortunately, packages can get delayed due to unforseen circumstances. Sometimes due to weather, and other times due to package volume at your local USPS hub. Please allow an additional 1-2 business days for your tracking info to update.
Unfortunately The Footwear Care cannot be held responsible for packages that go missing once the tracking info shows that it's been Delivered. We recommend visiting your local Post Office to see if they can locate your package. In our experience, it can sometimes take an additional 2-4 days for packages to find their way to your address even after it states that it's been delivered. If USPS Priority shipping was chosen, feel free to file a claim through USPS regarding a lost or stolen package.
We accept returns on most unopened/unused items within 30 days of delivery. We are unable to accept the following items for a return: Luxury Leather Laces & Airbrushes that have had the plastic packaging/seal removed.
If you'd like to return an item, please e-mail us to receive an RMA form. We can be contacted at: info@thefootwearcare.com. Please DO NOT return items without the proper documentation. Return postage is to be paid by the purchaser.
For all other questions or concerns, please contact us at: info@thefootwearcare.com
Please note that items shipped using a mail forwarding service are not eligible for replacements of any kind.
Unfulfilled means that your order has not yet shipped.
Fulfilled means it has been packed and it is on its way out or is already out of our facility. It will have a tracking number associated with it that will update in a few hours after being fulfilled.
ORDERS
If you wish to check your current order status click here!
Unfortunately we do not accept Pre-Paid Gift Cards. Our system only accepts PayPal and major Credit/Debit Cards that are linked to a valid Billing Address.
Processing means we have received your order and it is in queue to be done. Our normal processings times are 1-3 business days. Business days meaning Monday through Friday. If you wish to speed up processing time make sure to get Rush processing. Business days may be extended during busy Holiday seasons.
We can ship most normal orders to addresses other than the Billing Address. However, we are unable to ship relatively large orders to an address other than the Billing Address associated with the credit card used. The customers of such orders will be contacted and their order will either be shipped to the Billing Address or the order will be cancelled. For any questions regarding your order, please e-mail us: info@thefootwearcare.com.
Usually when getting a fraud alert it means that billing information entered does not match the cards billing information. If billing is different than the shipping address make sure to select the box on the checkout to change it. Your funds may be put into processing by your bank but we have not received them so they will go back into your account in 1-2 business days. The bank does this as a way to make sure the owner of the card will know something is up in case of a fraud purchase.
Most Pre-Paid Gift Cards do not have a valid Billing Address, therefore they are not accepted on https://www.thefootwearcare.com/. If you'd like to place an order, please use a valid credit/debit card or PayPal during checkout.
Currently we do not take phone orders. All orders can be placed strictly online. If for some reason there is a problem feel free to call us and we will walk you through it.
To cancel an order it is best to call us during working hours, 7-3:30 PST M-Fri, and get it before we ship it out. An email will work but your order may get shipped out before we can get to it. Especially true if you chose rush processing.
For the safety of our customers and to retain order accuracy, we are unable to make any changes to orders. However, if your order has not yet entered our Shipment process, we can cancel and issue a full refund for the order.
Usually when something like this happens it entirely has to do with the use of an incorrect Billing Address. The Billing Address has to be the Billing Address associated with the card. If you put an incorrect Billing Address, as a fraud protection, it will say pending or processing on your account. We personally do not have your funds as this is a bank measure to stop fraudulent orders. It will go back in a few days. If not contact your bank about the discrepancy.
If you find that there was an error with your order, please e-mail us immediately regarding the issue. We will gladly take care of any errors within 30 days of purchase once we have confirmed the mistake with our records.
We can be reached at: info@thefootwearcare.com
An order confirmation with a copy of your drivers license and credit card may be required before processing an order if our fraudelent system detects something out of order.
This is usually a wrong billing address, a very strange shipping address, or multiple payment attempts with wrong information.
Order confirmations are to protect you and us against fraud.
We know this may be an inconvenience and we appreciate you working with us.
ABOUT US
We are based online but we do have stores around the UK that stock our products.
We are currently changing provider and will be updating our contact number shortley.