The minimum workable kit has 4 items (~500,000–700,000₫): horsehair brush (daily dust brushing), leather cleaning solution, conditioner/Renovateur, and a soft cloth. To upgrade to the standard kit, add cream polish in the right color + shoetree. Beginners should buy a matched set (Gazano Combo 36 from 750,000₫) instead of piecing items together — it avoids duplicates and wrong products.
The kit in this article is the exact set of tools Gazano uses in our workshop every day — and horsehair brush is the one we reach for most often.
Caring for leather shoes at home doesn't require a professional's full arsenal — but missing just one basic item (or buying the wrong kind) can undermine the entire routine. Below is Gazano's list, distilled from the very toolkit we use daily on thousands of pairs, organized into 3 tiers by budget so you buy in the right order.
Tier 1 — The 4-item minimum kit (~500,000–700,000₫)
| Tool | Purpose | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Horsehair brush | Daily dust brushing + buffing after polish — the most-used item | 180,000₫ |
| Leather cleaning soap or Wren's Leather Lotion | Cleans the surface before conditioning | 200,000₫ / 300,000₫ |
| All-purpose conditioner (Saphir Renovateur) | Moisturizes, softens, and revives dry leather — the "face cream" for your shoes | 450,000₫ |
| Shoe-shine cloth | Wipes clean, spreads conditioner, finishes | 150,000₫ |
With just these 4 items, you can handle 80% of routine care: the 5-step at-home routine.
Tier 2 — The standard kit: add 3 items (~1,500,000₫ total)
- Cream polish matched to your shoe color — restores color to scuffs and faded creases. See how to choose the right polish color.
- Cedar shoe trees (950,000₫) — maintain shape, absorb moisture, and prevent toe creasing. The priciest item on the list, but the most worthwhile investment for shoes over 2 million VND.
- Round-head brush (100,000₫) — works polish into welt crevices and seams your fingers can't reach.
Buy individually or buy a combo — a quick calculation
Beginners piecing together items usually make 2 mistakes: buying products with overlapping purposes (2 differently named cleaners that do the same job) and buying the wrong type for their leather (smooth-leather polish used on suede). A matched combo solves both:
Not sure which kit suits your shoe collection? Click "Consult" on the product page or message Zalo — describe how many pairs you own and their leather types, and Gazano will suggest a kit that's just right, with nothing extra.
Household items you should NOT use on leather shoes
Coconut/olive oil/Vaseline — clog leather pores, attract dust, and cause permanent staining · Wet wipes, alcohol, all-purpose cleaners — strip the leather's natural oils · Toothbrushes — bristles too stiff for leather surfaces · Hair dryers — heat shrinks and embrittles leather; stuff shoes with dry paper and let them air-dry instead.
Which item should a beginner buy first?
A horsehair brush (180,000₫). Thirty seconds of daily dust brushing is the single habit with the biggest impact on your shoes' lifespan — even before polish and conditioner.
Can the kit also be used on leather bags and jackets?
Most items work across the board (brushes, cloths, conditioner, soap). Leather jackets, however, call for specialized products like those in Combo 37, and suede needs its own dedicated brush and cleaner.
How long does a kit last?
Caring for 3–5 pairs regularly: a tin of cream polish and a bottle of cleaner last 8–12 months; Renovateur about a year; brushes and shoe trees last for years.
What if I'd rather not do it myself?
Use Gazano's cleaning & care service (from 300,000₫/pair) — with home pickup and delivery in Hanoi. Done every 1–2 months, it costs about the same as buying your own supplies, but the work is handled by professionals.