• However, if your shoes are of a different material, they may require gentler care, and thus a gentler shoe brush. Because they are so alike, suede and nubuck shoes can be cleaned with similar brushes.
   
• Brushes for nubuck shoes have a rubber portion to remove scuff marks, as well as a bristle side to restore their velvet-like texture.
   
• There is also a special shoe brush for suede shoes which clean the surface with metal wire instead of rubber; however, the metallic bristles are actually removing the top layer of the suede, so it may be best to use such a brush only if the shoes are very dirty. Both surfaces should only be brushed in the direction of the grain.
   
• Depending on the design of your shoes, there may be some areas that are hard or impossible to reach with ordinary brushes. For these cracks and crevices, you can use a clean toothbrush, or cotton swabs for delicate materials.
   
• Some shoes have surfaces so fine they should be brushed rarely, if at all. This includes some high-end suede and nubuck shoes, as well as shoes made from velour. These shoes are often best cleaned with a block of gum-like rubber that will pick up dirt and remove stains.
   
• A bristle shoe brush is not recommended. Gum blocks are available at footwear stores. Leather shoes with a high-gloss finish, such as those made of patent leather or of a metallic color, cannot be brushed without scratching their coating.
   
• These should only be cleaned with a soft cloth, such as an old T-shirt or a shoeshine cloth.

Shoes are an oft-overlooked part of wardrobe maintenance. Proper brush selection and a little care will ensure you get the longest possible life out them, and look sharp doing it.