Do you love Tieks foldable flats? I do too. I'm showing you tips and tricks to keep your Tieks flats looking great for the long haul. Here's how to take care of your Tieks flats.
If you're going to make an investment in designer shoes, naturally you'd want them to last. When I got my first pair of Tieks by Gavrieli ballet flats in 2015, I knew from that moment on that they'd be the only brand of flats I'd be buying. They molded perfectly to my feet and have only gotten better with age. To help you take care of your pricey leather shoes, I'm sharing the tips and tricks I use to take care of my Tieks to keep them looking good. I'm including links to our affiliate Amazon so you can easily find the products you need. I'd like to add that this post is not endorsed by Tieks, so please use any products at your own risk. Be sure to check out their FAQ page for suggestions, or contact their amazing customer service team if you have any questions about your flats.
How to take care of your Tieks flats
First up, let's talk about cleaning and conditioning your Tieks. I didn't do anything to my Tieks for over a year of owning them. It wasn't until I joined a Tieks by Gavrieli chat group and other people were mentioning conditioning them that I started to wonder if my Tieks needed a little TLC. I looked at a few pairs and noticed that some of my top grain leather Classics were looking a bit dry. I already had Apple Care leather cleaner and conditioner on hand, since that is what I use for my Louis Vuitton bags, and it worked great. Chamberlain's leather cleaners and conditioners also work great (click on that link to view my overview of those products). Another great option is Fiebing's Saddle Soap. To clean and condition, I simply added a small amount of cleaner onto a soft cloth and gently rubbed the surface of shoe. Then, I wiped it with a clean area of the cloth and repeated with the conditioner. I always have a ton of these Zwipes microfiber towels on hand since I try to use them in place of paper towels, so that's what I use since they're super soft and won't scratch surfaces.
Get them on Amazon:
Apple Brand Leather Care Kit Conditioner + Cleaning Cloth
Fiebing's Yellow Saddle Soap, 12 Oz.FRYE Leather Conditioning Cream in Neutral
Now, let's talk about scuff marks. I'm very careful when I walk so I usually don't get a lot of scuffs on my Tieks flats, but they can happen. Luckily, there is Tarrago shoe cream to help minimize the look of them. Tarrago makes a ton of different colors and many of them are perfect matches. In some cases, you may have to do a bit of mixing, especially for more unique colors like Poppy. Be sure to check out my post about how to polish your Tieks leather ballet flats for a list of color matches.
One problem that may arise is dulling or extra wear in the heel area (see photo above). This can be caused by driving in your Tieks flats. The Tarrago polish can help cover these scuffs if you're wearing a selection from the Classics. I'm careful to always have my right foot slightly elevated off the floor to avoid getting any wear to my heel area, but I also have rubber floor mats and I think that helps as well. Or, you could simply remove your Tieks flats before driving.
Tarrago Shoe Cream Jar 50Ml. Black #18Tarrago Shoecream Jar 50Ml. Bordeaux #11Tarrago Shoe Cream Jar 50ml. #101 Magenta
Check out my post about how to polish your
Tieks leather ballet flats for a list of color matches.
Moving on to managing toe wear or the "toe bump." As you may know, Tieks by Gavrieli flats mold to your feet, which is why they're so insanely comfortable. Over time, you big toe can cause a bit of wear to the inner toe box and you could end up with a bump where your big toe rubs the soft leather. Your big toe can also wear through the inner lining of the toe box. Tieks recommends adding a small piece of moleskin to the interior of the shoe to help prevent this if it starts to become an issue for you.
I've got a post about how to add moleskin to your Tieks with a video to show you exactly how I do it. After a year of wear, my Cardinal Red Tieks flats started to get some wear in the toe area and I decided to add a double layer of moleskin (I use this brand) to prevent further wear and to decrease the look of the outward toe bump. It works like a charm! I've now started adding them to all of my Tieks prophylactically.
Lastly, let's chat about Tieks insoles. The leather insoles inside of your Tieks can get a bit discolored over time, which is perfectly normal (and this usually does not involve any odor at all). Personally, I don't really mind the darkening of the insoles, but I have had a pair that got wet on a rainy day and they look a bit uneven inside. I decided to go ahead and add a pair of stay-dry insoles to hide the discoloration. I've since bought several more pairs and wear them in a lot of my Tieks. They do get a bit worn over time so when that happens I just peel them off and replace them. I really like the Summer Soles brand because they're paper thin so they don't take up any space in the shoe, and they come in 4 colors/fun patterns. UPDATE: I bought a pair of Shoeslulu inserts and I preferred them over the other stay-dry insoles. They don't have any adhesive so you can easily switch them between your Tieks. They do have a layer of padding on the bottom so they make take up a little more room in your shoes (but you might be able to peel that padded backing off, I'm not sure). For reference, I bought size 41 and they're a perfect fit for my size 9 Tieks. SECOND UPDATE: I now prefer Odor-Eaters Soft & Slim Odor-Fighting Insoles. They are so thin and prevent patina change. You simply trim them to the appropriate size and you can swap them easily between shoes.
Summer Soles Softness of Suede Stay-Dry Women's Full Length Insoles, 3 Pair, LeopardSummer Soles Softness of Suede Stay-Dry Women's Full Length Insoles, 3 Pair, TanShoeslulu Magic Absorbent Ultra Thin Handcrafted Lambskin Leather Insoles
I hope this helps you take care of your Tieks by Gavrieli ballet flats. I'll keep updating this post as I find new products and my recommendations change.
What do you do to take care of your Tieks flats?
Should I add anything to the list?
Be sure to check out the following posts if you're a fan of Tieks:
Why are women obsessed with Tieks? My honest Tieks review.
How to pick the perfect pair of Tieks shoes.
Why every woman needs a little blue stripe in her wardrobe.
How to add moleskin to your Tieks.
Amber Ludwig says
Oooh seriously awesome tips!! Things I would've never thought of!! You are so right that when we buy designer we should take care of it and make it last!! We all know things that are expensive are usually worth the money but wear down the same as anything else!! Such is life!! Now Im happy to know I can put in some effort to restore them!!
Mia says
I am impressed by how well the scuff came out after using the polish. It looked like it was totally gone.
Liz says
I'm so glad I found this information!! I have a couple pairs and the toe bump really bothered me. The moleskin trick made such a difference and now I love my pewter pair even more!
Ruth V. says
Awesome! I'm so glad it helped!
Robyn Cornejo says
Thanks so much for the suggestions! So glad I found this post because I have a pair of Tieks less than 2 months old and they already have some bad looking scuffs on the back heel. Definitely going to try the Tarrago cream. Wondering where you found the chat group you were talking about?
Ruth V. says
Hi Robyn! The chat group is linked above - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ihearttieks/ 🙂
C says
What do you use to clean the soles? Do you think saddle soap would be OK?
Ruth V. says
Hi C, do you mean the insoles or the blue bottoms?
Nona says
The blue bottoms.
Ashley Coffin says
Hello!!!!
I am buying my very first pair and since they are so pricey I was wondering do you use anything specific for waterproofing? as I was reading that you happened to get them wet and it affected the inside, but do you treat the outside?
Thank you so much for you time on this blog , it has really helped me make my mind up to buy these shoes. I am going to Paris and Rome for 9 days and cant wait to wear these there.
Ruth V. says
Hi Ashley! Frye brand has a great conditioner that's also a weatherproofing dressing: http://amzn.to/2qscaD4 (Amazon affiliate). I wouldn't say they're totally waterproof, but it helps with protection. I use this on my Classics and some people dab it on their Starstruck/Lovestruck but I haven't had to do that yet. Hope that helps!
Julie K says
Hi Ruth, love your tips! Do you have a color match to the brown midsole for a Tarrago cream? I didn't see one on the color match list and have a little scuff I'd like to fix.
Ruth V. says
Hi Julie, I don't have a color match for the midsole unfortunately. Please let me know if you try one!
Karen Domizio says
What do you recommend to care for my snakes? I have leather balm, but it doesn't seem to keep them from looking dry.
Ruth V. says
Hi Karen! I haven't had to add anything to my snakes. Which pair do you have? The Frye conditioner might works best, but you could always reach out to Tieks to see if they have a product to recommend ([email protected]).
Nancy Nemoyer says
Thanks for the article - well worth the read. I have the obsidian black - more of a patent leather look. Same conditioning as the matte leather or not?
Ruth V. says
Hi Nancy! I haven't had to do anything to my patents. No conditioning needed in my opinion.
Mia says
Hi Ruth! I've recently purchased the Starstruck Tieks for my wedding this year. I am nervous about wearing them on the big day and scuffing them up badly because of dancing all night long. I know that Starstruck is a more delicate leather than say the Classic Tieks. What would you recommend for care? I've read some people seal with Angelus neutral leather sealer. Have you heard of this? I'm definitely going to try the moleskin trick too. Thanks in advance for your input! 🙂
Ruth V. says
Hi Mia! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Sealing with Angelus is the only thing I've heard also. I hope that works well for you. I think Starstruck will be gorgeous on your big day. They're one of my favorite pairs. 🙂
Mary says
Did you notice any darkening after using the apple brand or the Fiebing's? i have a pair of matte black that could use some conditioning, so i'm not exactly worried about them looking darker, but i do have a few other pairs (including Poppy) that i wouldn't want to darken. Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Mary! I used Apple on my Cobalt and Clover (both top grain) and didn't notice any darkening. I'd probably use that on my Poppy also if they needed conditioning (they haven't yet), but I'd do a small test area first. I haven't ever used Fiebing's so I can't really comment on that. I have Frye and wouldn't use that on Poppy since it feels a bit "heavier" and I think it would darken lighter colors. I hope that helps!
Kristin says
Thank you so much for posting this!! I just ordered all of these items for my Tieks so I can take care of them too!! SO grateful for this info!
Shannon says
Thanks to your wonderful review, I ordered my first pair. They're here and I love them, but how do you store them when you're not wearing them? Do you keep them folded in the box or perhaps in the bag?
Ruth V. says
Hi Shannon! I'm so glad you ordered a pair! I keep mine unfolded in a shoe cubby. I've got this one: http://amzn.to/2v80SpV
Just be careful if you have patents to keep them away from other leathers, etc. since they can absorb the color of things that they touch (not just with Tieks, any patent leathers really).
Cathe Kriebel says
Hi, Ruth! I am now the proud owner of THREE pairs of Tieks. Like you, I live in Florida so it's inevitable that one could get our shoes wet, especially in August, our rainiest of months, when often we're out and downpours start unexpectedly... I am following all your recommendations for caring for our Tieks but was wondering if there is something we could use to help waterproof them somehow. There is a waterproofing spray on Amazon. Have you or anyone else ever tried it on Tieks? I would be devastated if my lovely tangerine or cobalt blue (Gator) shoes got water spots on them. Any ideas/recommendations? Thanks for all your info. Loved the colour comparison pics. Very helpful in choosing which Tieks to buy, now or in the future. Your hard work is most appreciated.....
Ruth V. says
Hi Cathe! I haven't tried any of the waterproofing sprays. Frye's conditioning cream says it's "weatherproofing" but I haven't used that enough on my Tieks to know if it works. I will say that I've got a few pairs soaked by accident (Fuchsia and Cardinal Red) and they've always dried just fine. It darkened the insoles, but no one sees those so I don't really mind. I hope that helps a little!
Cissi says
How do you store your tieks when you aren't wearing them? Flat or folded!
Ruth V. says
I store them flat. And I try not to have the patents touch anything else since patent leather can absorb color from things (not just Tieks - any patent leather really).
Jessica says
Hi! Thanks for the info. I love my tieks, but my feet sweat and they smell terrible! Any ideas for how to clean them and get the odor out? Or how to prevent it in the future? Thanks!!
Ruth V. says
Hi Jessica! I've heard some people use a little tea tree oil dabbed on a cotton ball, or witch hazel and then wiping the inside with tea tree oil. I'm hoping to write a post about this soon.
Lori Ashley says
There is a great foot deodorant spray. It goes on your feet in a fine cool midst and instantly dries to a fine powder consistency. It’s called Stinky Foot spray for kids and teens. It works amazing for everyone! I highly recommend it. To remove odor from your shoes. Baking soda ball deodorizers to set into the shoes during non use. Both are sold at WALMART. I believe you could also find them on Amazon. Neither are expensive. I also recommend that after the foot deodorizer you use bamboo ballerina style socks. Bamboo socks allow your feet to breathe. Hope this helps you.
Kathleen Hayes says
Hello Fellow Tiek Lovers!
Just waned to share something. I worked in a shoe store when I was in high school...longtime ago.
BUT, the one things I took away from that job and still practice, to this day, is this:
Polish your shoes before the first wear! Then, any minor bump will ding the polish, not the leather.
I polish my leather boots every other time I wear them.
Allison Spencer says
Hi! I was wondering if you have noticed on a pair of your Tieks if the backs have smushed down a bit and don’t stay snug on your heel? One of my pairs of Tieks , and when I walk they flop a little. Do you know how to fix that?! Thank you!
Ruth V. says
Hi Allison! I haven't had any issues with a collapsing heel. Have you tried a heel gripper yet? Maybe that would give the heel some support: http://amzn.to/2DIklBX
You could also reach out to customer service ([email protected]) and see if they have any advice for you, or see if this is a defect of some sort.
Stephanie says
Thanks for these great tips! I just got tieks for the first time last month and this post really helped me take care of my babies! I did also find that Saphir shoe polish in Garbadine is a very close match to the taupe tieks, making a small scuff on the back of my tieks almost unnoticeable. Definitely recommend!
Ruth V. says
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for letting me know about the Saphir! I will check that out for Taupe.
Emily says
Do you do a cleaning, conditioning and polish treatment to your patents (Ruby Reds)? Or would you with Lovestrucks?
Ruth V. says
Hi Emily! No conditioning or polish is necessary for patents. If they need to be cleaned, I just wipe with a damp cloth. I also wouldn't clean and of the strucks (Lovestruck, Moonstruck, or Starstruck). You can condition those if needed, but don't rub the condition on, just lightly dab. I like Apple products for conditioning, then using Carbon Pro spray for Waterproofing: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/waterproof-spray/
Emma says
Thank you for the tips! Looking at the material of the insoles you use, do they ever make your feet stink at any time? Would you ever use any kind of socks with these shoes?
Ruth V. says
Hi Emma, I've had to replace one pair of Shoeslulu inserts in the past after heavy wear and they were getting a bit stinky. They're made from leather so I sort of expected that.
I've been using the Odor Eaters insoles lately since they're thinner and I really like those: https://amzn.to/2IApAaP
I usually opt for insoles over socks, but I do have a post where I compare some options: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/best-no-show-socks-for-flats/
Kate Henry says
Hi! Would you please give me care instructions for Love Potions and Aquarellas. Read this morning that someone suggested a thin coat of Angelus. Thank you.
Ruth V. says
Hi Kate! I would spray my Love Potion with a waterproofing spray: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/waterproof-spray/
I haven't used the Angelus clear paint so I'm not sure how that holds up in the long haul. I will have to do a test trial before I can recommend that.
I haven't had to do anything to protect my Aquarellas since I haven't worn them too much. I've got a large rotation so many pairs are more for special occasions.
Brittany Armstrong says
Hey Ruth,
Just wanted to say thank you for this article and a few others I popped over to as well. As a young professional, buying a brand new pair of Tieks was not on my budget, but I go so tired of my cheap flats falling apart so I found a middle ground and bought a metallic pewter used pair on eBay. With the help of your articles I was able to get them cleaned up, polished with scuff marks covered up, new insoles added, and mole skins placed and they look almost brand new! No one would ever know! I tried to use all your affiliation amazon links as well so that you get a little something for all your work. Just wanted to say thank you again and I would be happy to send you pictures of the before and after if you would like!
Karen says
I'm so glad to hear someone else is a size 9! My first (and only) Tieks were a surprise gift from a from a friend. I love them, but she second guessed my husband when he told her that short-little-me was a size 9. 🙂 Thanks so much for the information in this post!
Iman says
Hi Tieks community! Anyone have pointers on how I might "scotchguard" my new Vegan babies? I got them in the Brentwood fabric and just love them, but Im nervous about scuffs or dirt showing up on fabric material, as it's not leather... I also got a pair of classics in Camel which are a lovely neutral on my skin tone as well (caramel tan) but I just like the look and fit of the Vegan Brentwoods a bit better. I can't afford to keep both pairs, so I am preparing to send the leather dolls back. Any fabric protecting tips or tricks would be much appreciated!
Ruth V. says
Hi Iman! I'd use Scotchgaurd for sure. I did that for my Vegans as well.
Sharon Burke says
I just wanted to thank you for your attention to detail and all the incredible information in your articles. Before I get a new pair I’m always here looking for your input.
Ruth V. says
Thank you SO much!
Lisa Graziano says
I am not a fan of summer soles. I tried to insert them without sticking so they didn’t leave a residue and the paper slipped from the top leaving sticky anyway.
I did try one of the leather shoe inserts with a black foam bottom. Same thing. Heat left the bottom stuck to the shoe I was trying to protect.
There is a company that makes inserts in fun prints They are not paper thin but they work. Trying to find them online again.
Summer Sellers says
I wanted to ask what you do about cleaning the original insoles. I had my shoes off today at work shooting a video for New Year's and champagne sprayed its way into my shoes. Now I have several splotches in the inside of my beautiful matte black Tieks. I'm devastated and any tips would be helpful!
Ruth V. says
I would clean the insoles with a damp cloth or baby wipe (or Lysol wipe) then let dry. It should all dry the same color, although it may darken them a bit.
Ashlee says
Hey there! Anything specific to use to take care of patents. I saw the Apple conditioner and all, just wanted to know if that’s all you do?
Ruth V. says
Hi Ashlee! I don't do anything special for patents. All you need to do is wipe them with a damp cloth when soiled. There's no need to condition them since they're treated. Hope that helps!
Deborah Hutchison says
Any suggestions on how to stop the “squeezing” noise when I walk? I’ve tried baby powder and corn starch but still get the squeak.
Ruth V. says
Hi Deoborah! That noise often happens with brand new Tieks but should subside after a few wears. 🙂
Kisha H. says
Good morning. Thank you for the tips.
I have A question: do you store your tieks by refolding or do you store them flat? Or does it matter?
Ruth V. says
Hi! I always store my Tieks flat. Hope that helps!
Mandy says
What tarrago conditioner do you use for leopard print Tieks?
Ruth V. says
I'd use the Amber color. Hope that helps!
amanda robinson says
What tarrago do you use for chestnut?
Ruth V. says
It's listed here: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/polish-tieks-leather-ballet-flats/ Thanks!
amanda robinson says
Is there a list of terrago colors for matching to shoes?
Ruth V. says
Yes! Here it is: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/polish-tieks-leather-ballet-flats/
Amy says
Do you spray or treat your Lovestrucks with anything to keep them from flaking?
Ruth V. says
I've sprayed them with Carbon Pro. It works well but won't prevent flaking if you get a harsh scuff. https://www.vivaveltoro.com/waterproof-spray/