If you've had any experience with soft leather shoes, you know they can get occasional scuffs over time. I'm showing you how I polish my Tieks leather ballet flats with Tarrago shoe cream (and a few others) to keep them looking good over time.
As you know, scuffs happen. Especially when you're wearing high-end, soft leather shoes. I'm a huge fan of Tieks shoes and I try my best to keep them clean and polished to make my investment last. If you've got a pair of Tieks leather ballet flats that could use a bit of TLC, there are a few things you can do to keep them looking their best.
In my post about how to care for you Tieks, I touched on Tarrago shoe cream and how it's a fan favorite for Tieks leather ballet flats. Tarrago has been around since 1940 and they know what they're doing when it comes to leather care. This polish is a soft cream based on waxes. It's designed to maintain color, nourish and gives shine. As I mentioned, it's available in over 80 colors, both matte and metallic.
Tarrago shoe cream has a HUGE range of colors, some of which are perfect matches for Tieks. In some cases, you may have to do a bit of mixing to achieve the right shade. Especially for unique colors like Poppy.
To see a larger version of this polish chart, CLICK HERE
Tarrago shoe cream's formula is enriched with natural lanolin oil, which won't block the pores in your leather item, so it's easier for it to absorb the color pigments. You can use it on natural smooth leather (cowhide, goat, pig and equine leather, etc) and synthetic leather, but it's not suitable for suede or nubuck.
I've had my Cardinal Red Tieks for about a year and a half and wear them very often. I'm pretty careful when wearing them and try not to rest my foot while I'm driving (over time this can cause a scuff on the back of the shoe), so they still look great. I do get a few stray scuffs from time to time, but a little Tarrago Red #12 fixes them right up.
I simply clean them by removing any dust or dirt from the shoes' surface. Then, I apply a small amount of cream with a soft cloth (I usually use Zwipes microfiber cloths because I always have them on hand since we try to use them instead of paper towels). Let the shoe cream dry and then buff them to shine.
I also polished a pair of Burgundy Tieks that had noticeable heel wear. Tarrago shoe cream Bordeaux #11 is a perfect match.
Here is a list of polish matches for certain Tieks leather ballet flats.
These color matches were put together members of the Tieks community. I can't confirm that all of these shoe creams are 100% matches, but it's the most up-to-date information I have. This list is mainly just for Classics (solid color Tieks leather ballet flats).
Check out the video to see how I polish Tieks:
CLICK HERE to find the Tarrago shoe creams (there is a pull-down color menu
Matte Black - Tarrago 18
Metallic Pewter- Tarrago 502 and Tarrago 15 as a 50/50 mixture to use
Feather Gray - Tarrago 19
Ballerina Pink- Tarrago 43 or 743 (743 has a pearly shimmer to it, which some people love)
Burgundy - Tarrago 11
Cardinal Red - Tarrago 12
Clover - mixture of Tarrago 32 and Tarrago 22 (mostly 32 with a tiny bit of 22)
Fuchsia - Tarrago 101
Poppy - 50/50 blend of Tarrago 25 & 28
Tangerine- Tarrago 28
Mustard Yellow- UPDATE: Mixture of ⅔ Tarrago 8 and ⅓ Tarrago 7. You may need to try Angelus Paint in Maize to paint and blend deeper scuffs.
Taupe – Tarrago 46 (not a perfect match and some have said the polish is darker)
Cobalt Blue - Tarrago 22
California Navy - Tarrago 16 or 17
Pacific green - Tarrago 13
Tahitian Pearl Metallic - Tarrago Pineneedle #13 mixed with Prima Marketing Green Brocade Art Alchemy-Opal Magic Wax (thank you, Bonnie T. for that info!)
Metallic Bronze - Tarrago 107
Metallic Gold - Tarrago 507
Midnight Blue- Tarrago #717
Chestnut - Tarrago 09
Camel - Tarrago 51
Cream - Tarrago 36 (not a perfect match, but it's the best to my knowledge)
Champagne - Tarrago 506
Olive - Tarrago 34
Lilac - Saphir Shoe Cream in 84 Violine
Chocolate Brown - Meltonian 120 Brown
Cool Grey - a mixture of ⅔ Tarrago 19 and ⅓ Tarrago 14. Saphir polish 13 is close, but a little darker than Cool Grey and a bit thinner than Tarrago.
Raspberry Truffle: 1 part Tarrago 54 (Aubergine), 1 part Tarrago 111 (Old Leather, although any brown will probably work), and a hint of Tarrago 506 (Platinum). For this, I used ½ tsp. of 54 and 111 and just a small amount of 506. There's a drop-down menu on Amazon and you can select the colors. I store the mixed polishes in these little containers.
Lovestruck - Glitterlites: penny copper, lavender, gold
Moonstruck - Glitterlites: gunmetal, starlight blue and lavender (accent)
Starstruck- Glitterlites: gold, starlight blue, limelight (accent). Some have other colors. Add as
needed
Shop for Tarrago shoe creams for your leather ballet flats on Amazon
(click on any of them to adjust the color options):
Tarrago Shoe Cream Jar 50Ml. Black #18Tarrago Shoecream Jar 50Ml. Red #12Tarrago Shoecream Jar 50Ml. Bordeaux #11
What do you use to take care of scuffs on your leather ballet flats or shoes?
I'd love to know!
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.
Marina says
Hi Ruth,
thank you for your guides re: taking care of Tieks! I was wondering which Tarrago number you'd suggest for champagne Tieks?
TIA!
Marina
Ruth V. says
Hi Marina, I'm not sure anyone has found a good match for Champagne yet. Platinum *MIGHT* work, but I haven't tried it myself: http://amzn.to/2mlqTyE
Andrea says
Tarrago 506 is what I have for mine 😉
Courtney says
Thank you so much for posting this guide. I have pacific green, poppy, and burgundy and have been looking for decent color matches for a while. This is so helpful and appreciated!
Aimee says
Did you try the two colors list for the Poppy? If so, what did you think?
Vicki says
Hi there, what would you recommend for Lovestruck tieks?
Ruth V. says
Hi Vicki, some people have used Frye's leather conditioner (http://amzn.to/2lUg35a) then buffed it afterwards, but I haven't tried this myself yet.
Wendy says
What would you recommend to polish leopard Tieks?
Ruth V. says
Hi Wendy! Are you trying to polish scuffs or do you mean conditioner?
Wendy says
There are only 2 small scuffs on them near the toe area, but I just feel like they need a polishing, they are looking kind of dull.
Amanda says
Thank you for this post! It's very helpful. Any suggestions for a color match for Clover Tieks?
Ruth V. says
Hi Amanda! I don't have a good suggestion for Clover yet. I'll update as soon as I find one.
Stacey says
Do you use Frye's cream for Rose Gold? Or what is a good one to care for Rose Gold Glam?
Ruth V. says
Hi Stacey! I haven't used Frye's on my Rose Gold, but I've heard a lot of people have used it on Starstruck and Lovestruck so I think it would work!
Kelly says
Hi Ruth,
Do you use anything on your Rose Gold Glam? I am trying to decide on my first color of Tieks, and Rose Gold just makes my heart happy. I want to be sure that I pick one that I can easily take care of, too,
Ruth V. says
Hi Kelly! I haven't had to use anything on my RGG yet. They are holding up very nicely!
Melody says
Do you have a color suggestion for clover green by chance?
Ruth V. says
Hi Melody, I'm sorry I'm just seeing this! I don't have a suggestion for Clover just yet. Sorry!
Brooke says
Hello there, I was wondering what would be a better color for chestnut tieks: the amber brown (09) or the cognac (49)? It's hard to tell from the pictures which would match better. Thanks!!
Ruth V. says
I checked the Tieks groups on Facebook and it looks like Tarrago 9 is the best match 🙂
Katelynn says
When you polish your tieks do you do just the scuffed spots or do you do the entire shore?
Ruth V. says
Hi Katelynn! I do the spots first, then the entire shoe usually. It really gives them new life!
Jen says
Hi--thanks so much for this post, and for the post about the moleskin! Is there a color match for metallic gold?
Ruth V. says
Hi Jen! I don't have a match for metallic gold just yet. Sorry!
Kristin Lee says
Tarrago 507
Allyson says
This is awesome! I have become a Tieks junky since i have a foot condition that keeps me from wearing my heels. Your blog posts are great! My heels scuffs have gotten awful! It is all from driving! I have started putting a towel over my weathertech mats when I drive. There was a suggestion for every color except romantic blush (my fave pair). Do you think the "pearly pink" color recommended for ballerina pink would work? Thx for all your great Tieks posts!!
Allyson
Ruth V. says
Hi Allyson, I'm not sure the pearly one would be best since it'd not a complete match - it sort of changes the entire appearance of the show (when used on Ballerina Pink - it's gorgeous, but different). For Romantic Blush, you might have to try the Angelus paint and do the pink base and silver scales. I'm going to send you an email 🙂
Jen says
This is a great post - thank you! Any suggestions for polishing wild copper? I know that's a tough one since it's a print but I have some toe and heel scuffs. Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Jen! The Angeulus paints might be better for Wild Copper since you'll have to do a little mix and matching due to the scales. If you join the Tieks Facebook groups you can ask for recommendations - I'm sure someone has done this before 🙂
Sam says
Hi. Is there a polish that matches Lilac or clover green? I just used the polish on my magenta tieks & it made a world of difference. I was gonna be done with them. But this post & this save made me buy another pair.
Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Sam! I don't know of any perfect matches for Lilac yet. I've heard that a mix of Tarrago 32 and 48 works. Hope that helps and I'm so glad you're loving your Tieks again!
Linda says
Did you use Tarrago 101 for the Fuchsia Tieks? Glad to hear it came out well!!
Olivia Schanberger says
Is there any care or conditioning needed for your Electric Snake or patents? That's mostly what I have... I'm awaiting my first pair of classics now! I haven't done anything for my patents and I just got Electric Snake last week & I haven't been brave enough to wear them out yet bc I love them so much & I don't want to accidentally ruin them!
Ruth V. says
Hi Olivia, I haven't had to do a thing to my patents and snakes. I think they're very durable. Hope that helps!
Beth says
Ruth, do you remember how long it took to break in your patent Tieks? Just got my first pair and where the patent is sewn under is a little rough and leaves an indention above my big toe. I sized up because I'm a half size. Thanks for all the great info! - Beth
Ruth V. says
Hi Beth! Most of my patents have been pretty comfortable right out of the box, but I did have to break in one pair in particular. It's taken a few weeks maybe. My advice would be not to wear them back to back two days in a row to give your feet a little time to adjust.
Linda says
Hi! Do you know if Tarrago 109 Dark Beige would be a closer match than 46 Taupe for the Taupe Tieks? 46 is definitely darker. Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Linda! I'm not sure if that would be a better match. It seems some of the batches of 46 look perfect and some a definitely darker:(
Linda says
Thank you, Ruth! I have a few colors that I will try to blend to find a good match. I will report back 🙂
Linda says
I found a great match for Taupe! It's Tarrago 123. Thank you, Joe, at shoecaresupplies.com for your help! 🙂
Lisa says
Hi! Wondering if you had heard anything about people polishing their Arabian Night Tieks? Do you think leather conditioner would be alright to use on them?
Ruth V. says
Hi Lisa! I've never heard of anyone polishing or conditioning the AN Tieks. I'd probably email customer service to ask ([email protected]) since you definitely don't want to damage those.
Shirly says
I'm so glad to find this page, thank you for sharing information on how to give our Tieks a second chance. I never do anything to my shoes before but after reading this blog I'm interested to try with my cardinal red and yellow mustard. Just have a question on how to buff the shoes after applying the Tarrago shoe cream.
Ruth V. says
Hi Shirly! I just use a microfiber or soft cloth to buff them. Works like a charm!
Heather Kireta says
Do you stuff them with something before applying! Do you use a paint brush? I don’t want to get any paint on the soles or the back stripe! Thanks in advance 🙂
Ruth V. says
Hi Heather! No, I don't stuff them and I just wipe it on with a soft cloth. It's not a paint, just a polish and can easily wash off with soap and water if you get it on the sole. Hope that helps!
Lia says
This blog post is a tiek saver!!! I was so bummed out when my cardinal red tieks had scuff marks all over the front. I've been scouring the internet for answers or solutions and then I came upon this blog post. THANK YOU!!!
Britanni says
Have you found a match for chocolate brown tieks yet? I've been looking all over & cant find a match. Thank you!
Ruth V. says
Hi Britanni! I did some investigating and just updated the list with a new polish 🙂
Tara says
Ruth quick question, I have a scuff down the back of one of mine of shoes I got as a result of a day of long walking. It's resulting in a hole where the blue is now showing through the leather. Do you think this is repairable?
Ruth V. says
Hi Tara! It's hard to say without seeing the shoe. I would definitely contact Tieks customer service ([email protected]) and send them a description and photo of the shoe. They have always been really helpful when I've had questions about caring for my Tieks.
Andrea Bolan says
Hi! Awesome post, thank you. I was about ready to throw in the towel, but this made my chestnuts so much more comfortable and they look so much better. I did the mix on the poppy and they look a little dull now - better, but a little dull. Any suggestions? I'm hoping the conditioning makes my poppy ones a little more comfy, too, I can hardly wear them for more than a few hours right now!
Ruth V. says
Hi! I'd definitely try to condition them and see how they look. I'm surprised you're having trouble with the comfort of your Poppies. Mine are like butter, but I think I have pretty easy-going feet. Are they tight in length or width?
Bettina Elliott says
One of my shoes is sort of crinkling after I used tarrago. I buffed it but had to stop or I'd remove too much polish. Wonder if I should maybe seal with angelus instead. I used #19 pelican for my feather grays so it changed the color. But I love the new color.
Ruth V. says
Hi Bettina! Hmm, have you tried to condition them after the polish? Maybe they're just dry? I'm not a rehab expert, but there are several ladies in the Tieks Anonymous Facebook group that might be able to give you some advice about using Angelus sealers.
LucyC says
FYI, Tarrago 36 essentially ruined my creams. Strongly discourage you to use it! I think Cole Haan's neutral might be my next try.
Ruth V. says
Hi Lucy! I hear Saddle Soap should take the polish off. Have you tried that? I'll ask around about better Cream recommendations.
Lucy says
I'll let you know if I find one!
Allison says
Thank you so much for posting this! I used this on both my black and feather grey Tieks and it worked out amazingly! Do you have a color match for Tiek's newest shade, Blush Patent?
Ruth V. says
Hi Allison! I don't have a match for Blush Patent because I don't think polish would work on patents. If you have a scuff on those you might just need to try to color match paint. The polish would dull the patent finish.
LucyC says
Hi Ruth! Do you prefer 16 or 17 for California Navy?
Kashmira says
Hi,
YOur post is very helpful.
I have mustard yellows which I absolutely love. I polished them using the above mentioned combination of creams. When buffing them certain spots started showing a bit of green tinge. I am not sure what that is.
Also, how much cream should I be using. I think I may have used a lot of cream to cover it. Should it be a thin layer?
Ruth V. says
Hi there! Mustard is a bit tricky since the cream doesn't cover quite as much as some of the others (since the scuffs are darker than the cream it can be tough to get good coverage and that's probably why you're getting a green hue). I'd probably use a medium amount of cream and let it dry, then buff lightly. If that doesn't work, you might need to try the maize paint.
Lindsay says
I used tea tree oil on my toe, and now there is a stain on the front of my Clover Tieks. Do you think polishing with the mixture you suggest would cover it up? Thanks!!
Ruth V. says
Hmm, I'm not 100% sure since it's an oil stain and not a simple scuff. You might want to reach out to TwigPigs on Facebook (she rehabs Tieks) and ask her what she thinks regarding polish or paint. Thanks!
Jamie says
Hello! So I am thinking about rehabbing a pair of Tieks and would love to paint them Poppy as they may never come back. What color paint would you recommend as it didn't look like the polishes and paints were the same shades. Any direction would be appreciated!
Ruth V. says
Hi Jamie, I'm sorry I can't offer any painting recommendations since I haven't tacked this yet. You may want to join the Tieks B/S/T group on Facebook. There are some leather rehabbers there and they can probably give you some advice.
Melissa says
Hi there! Wondering if any of your tieks have experienced the stitching coming undone on the inside sole? If so, what have you done about that?
Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Melissa! This hasn't happened to me personally, but I've heard from others in the Tieks community that the stitching on the inside insole is purely cosmetic. You could trim it off, or if it is bothersome you could contact Tieks customer service. In some cases, people have sent them back to Tieks and they've fixed the issue. Hope that helps!
Michelle G. says
HI Ruth,
Wondering what you have used on your leopard tieks? Would Angelus neutral paint work to seal them? Mine are looking a little dull and your pair look amazing!
Thanks!
Michelle G.
Ruth V. says
Hi Michelle! My Leopards are from the newer batch and they haven't had any issues with dullness. According to Tracy at Legends Costumes and Leathers (she does amazing rehabs), she says to condition them, then use Tarrago Amber Brown #9, followed by a Protector Waterproofer. You'll need to repeat this process regularly since the polish is temporary. For long terms fixes, a repaint is probably your best bet. You can find her info here if you decide you want a full rehab: https://www.facebook.com/LegendCostumes/
Yvonne Camara says
How do you clean the insoles without damaging them? Also, I'm new to tieks, how often should I clean and condition them?
Ruth V. says
Hi Yvonne! You could clean the insoles with a baby wipe or a mixture of Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Oil (just go easy) on a cotton ball. The Witch Hazel + Oil will darken the insoles most likely so don't do that if you're not okay with the darkened color. They're natural leather so they're going to darken over time anyway unless you use an insole (which is what I do now - https://www.vivaveltoro.com/insoles-for-flats/).
As far as cleaning and conditioning - it's really an as needed thing. I have some that I've never cleaned or conditioned and some that I do every 2-3 months. It just depends how much you wear them and how hard you are on them.
I hope this helps!
Susan says
I have the taupe tieks which have some scuffs on the toes and heels. I bought the tarrago polish but I feel like after applying within the day the scuffs are visible again. Am I doing something wrong? Any help would be appreciated!
Ruth V. says
No, you aren't! Since Tarrago is only a polish you might need to reapply it every few weeks if you have really deep scuffs. Hope that helps!
Ashley says
Can you polish the patent tieks??
Ruth V. says
No, you won't be able to polish the patent finish. It would really make it dull.
Donna W says
Hi Ruth. Do you have any suggestions for what to do if you were to get a scuff on the parents? Would you have to paint them somehow? I just noticed a tiny white scuff on the back of my Obsidian blacks. I don’t think it’s super noticeable, but I know it’s there, so of course, it’s all I see now. I have several pair of patents now, and I’m now wondering how to handle scuffs. How do you handle them?
Ruth V. says
Hi Donna! I haven't had any deep scuffs yet, but you could probably paint them with an Angeuls paint. It might not be a perfect match though since patent leather is coated and shiny.
Aimee Kelly says
Thank you so much for all of your Tarrago suggestions! I love my Raspberry Truffle Tieks, and the combination of the 3 colors is a perfect polish for them!
Raquel Collins says
Hello fellow lover of Tieks, would you be able to share what color polish, or combination of such you'd recommend for Poppy?
Thank you in advance and thank you for the most helpful information.
Ruth V. says
Hi Raquel! I believe poppy is on the list above as a 50/50 blend of Tarrago 25 & 28. Hope that helps!
Megan says
Hi! I’m sorry if this posts twice, but I didn’t see my comment pop up after I tried to post it. Thank you for all of the information and videos that you have done featuring Tieks! I have a question about the metallic pewter ones. Using the color combo that you suggest above, do the scuffs polish as well on these as they do on the regular Classic colors? Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Hi Megan, there might be a little variation but those matches are the closest we have. The classics usually take polish a bit better.
Megan says
Thank you for the info! If you get a scuff on the metallic pewter, does it polish out pretty well? That’s my only hesitation in getting the metallic pewter. I’m afraid if I scuff them, I won’t be able to polish them to look nice again.
Ruth Miller says
Hi Ruth. What exactly is the name of the “Apple cleaner “ for Tieks? I don’t see it mentioned anywhere...thanks!!!
Ruth V. says
Hi there! It's Apple Brand Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. Here's my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2X2k8ac
Alison says
Do you know what tarrago polish would work best on the rosé tieks? Thanks!
Ruth V. says
Not yet! I'll try some out soon though!
Lisa Graziano says
Yes I would love to know just in case!
Going back to look for flat liner post
Lisa Graziano says
Do you have success using the polish for the patent leather tieks? I love the colors just a bit worried. Adoring my Rose’ tieks and can’t wait to buy my next pair. Boy. We’re those moleskins tough to get in, but worth it! Thanks for the tips ?
Sarah M says
Hi Ruth! Just wanted to check in if you have the polish matches for Rosé and Midnight Blue?? Your list is so reliable and I haven’t seen these colors discussed in the community yet. Thanks!!
Lisa Graziano says
Hey Ruth,
Someone on a tieks community mentioned it was not good to put the patents face to face as it could make scuffs when storing. That led me to see some tiek owners using shoe shapers to store. Have you tried that, or do you store in box!
Rebeca Schomaker says
Hi what Tarrago shape will be best for wild copper tieks, thanks in advance, got great tips from your blog I’m new to tieks
Ruth V. says
Wild Copper will be tough since it's a print. I'm not sure any polish will do without changing the overall appearance. I'd probably use a cleaner and conditioner like Apple Care: https://www.vivaveltoro.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-tieks/
Emily says
Do you have any recommendation for the patents? My Sapphires have been very loved.
Ruth V. says
Unfortunately, you can't polish patents. You'd have to find a paint to match, or possibly consult a shoe rehabber.
Sarah M says
You can get Saphir Vernis rife in neutral to condition the patent leather. Rub on wait to dry then buff…I think the instructions are in French. I opted for the alternate because Saphir was sold out and got Venetian Shoe Cream for patents. This one is different and you rub it on and immediately buff it in until it shines otherwise it kind of becomes sticky.
Sarah M says
Hiya! Found a little better match for Midnight Blue…717 by itself is mostly sparkle and doesn’t help touch up the blue. I did 1 part #17 Navy to 2 parts #717 Navy metallic.
Faith L Graeber says
Thank you for this! I hope to not need to know that but I appreciate the tip for the midnight blue
Brandi says
Thank you for your tips on how to take care of your Tieks! The color matches are so helpful! My Tieks look new again!
Ruth V. says
I'm so happy you found this helpful!