GUARDby Khoury
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Care & application

How to apply.

Thirty seconds of care, done properly. The method below works on everything we protect — then each material gets its own notes, because suede and smooth leather deserve different hands.

The method

Five steps. Every material, every time.

  1. Clean & dry

    GUARD bonds to the material, not to the dirt sitting on it. Brush suede and nubuck free of dust, wipe smooth leather with a barely-damp cloth, and let everything dry completely before you begin.

  2. Shake well

    A few seconds, every time. GUARD is water-based and non-aerosol — a good shake wakes the formula so every pass sprays evenly.

  3. Test a hidden spot

    The inner heel. The underside of a strap. Mist one small pass, let it dry fully, and check the look and feel. Natural materials vary — this 60-second habit is non-negotiable, on every new piece.

  4. Two light coats, six inches away

    Hold the bottle about six inches out and mist in smooth, even passes until the surface is lightly damp — never soaked. Let the first coat flash off for 15–20 minutes, then lay down a second light coat the same way. Two thin coats always beat one heavy one.

  5. Cure 24 hours

    Leave the piece somewhere ventilated, out of direct sun, and don't wear it. The finish needs a full day to cure invisible — rushing this step is the most common mistake in shoe care.

By material

Same bottle. Different hands.

The figures match our material study — A through E, plus the one surface we'll honestly tell you to skip.

Fig. A

Suede

Drinks everything. We let it breathe and keep it dry.

Prep
Brush with a suede brush, following the nap, until the surface is dust-free and even.
Apply
Two light coats from six inches. Keep each pass moving — a soaked nap can flatten. If the suede darkens while damp, that's normal; it returns as it dries.
After
Once fully cured, brush again to lift the nap back to life. That final brush is what keeps suede looking new.
Fig. B

Nubuck

Velvet that bruises. Protected, it forgives.

Prep
Same as suede, with a softer hand — nubuck's nap is finer. Brush gently, one direction.
Apply
Light coats only, slightly farther out if the nap is very fine. Let each coat flash off fully before the next.
After
A gentle brush after the 24-hour cure restores the velvet feel.
Fig. C

Smooth leather

Beads and wipes clean.

Prep
Wipe with a barely-damp cloth and let it dry. If the leather is thirsty, condition it first — then give the conditioner its own 24 hours before GUARD goes on.
Apply
One to two light, even coats. Smooth leather takes the finish easily — resist the urge to over-spray.
After
After the cure, buff lightly with a soft, dry cloth for an even, natural finish.
Fig. D

Canvas & textile

Where stains live. Not anymore.

Prep
Brush or shake off loose dirt. Spot-clean and dry fully first if there's existing soiling.
Apply
The most absorbent surface we treat — give it two full light coats. On pale colorways, take the hidden-spot test seriously: some fabrics can water-spot. For knits, mist from eight inches and keep it light.
After
Nothing to buff — just give it the full 24 hours before wear.
Fig. E

Exotics

Scale and skin, unchanged. No color shift, no sheen.

Prep
Wipe gently with a dry cloth. Test a hidden spot and wait a full day before committing — always, on exotics.
Apply
One light coat, misted from a touch farther away. Avoid wetting between scales — light and even is everything here.
After
Let it cure untouched. If in doubt on a rare skin, ask your leather specialist first.
Fig. F

Patent & coated

Already sealed. Leave it be.

Prep
Skip it. Patent, glazed and coated finishes shed water on their own — GUARD adds little on top of a gloss.
Apply
On mixed-material pieces, treat only the matte panels (suede, nubuck, canvas) and keep the mist off the shine. It dries clear, but even coverage is what you want.
After
Wipe glossy panels with a soft cloth if any mist lands there.
On shoes

Laces out, paper in.

  • Pull the laces out. Spray them separately if they're fabric, and re-lace the next day, after the cure.
  • Stuff the shoe with paper (or use a shoe tree) so the upper holds its shape and every panel gets an even pass.
  • Work around the shoe in order: toe, sides, heel, then the tongue and collar. Don't forget the seams — that's where rain gets in first.
  • Skip the rubber — soles and midsoles don't need it. If mist lands there, wipe it away; grip matters more than coverage.
  • New pair? Apply before the first wear. The best time to protect a shoe is before the world touches it.
On bags

Hardware never needs it.

  • Empty the bag completely and work over a covered surface.
  • Keep the mist off zips, clasps and other hardware — GUARD dries clear, but hardware never needs it. Wipe any stray mist promptly.
  • Give handles and straps deliberate, light passes — they take the most hands, weather and wear.
  • Skip the interior. Linings don't see rain, and the inside of a bag needs to breathe.
  • Structured bags: stuff them to shape first, exactly like a shoe. After the 24-hour cure, back into the dust bag it goes.
When to reapply

When the water stops beading.

That's the whole rule. Flick a few drops on the toe — if they sit up and roll, you're protected. If they start to sink, it's time.

  • Pieces in heavy rotation: expect roughly monthly.
  • Occasional wear: the start of each season is plenty.
  • After any cleaning: always — cleaning lifts the finish with the dirt.
Honesty

What GUARD won't do.

  • It repels water-based spills — rain, coffee, a careless splash. It is not a guarantee against oil or grease.
  • It won't lift a stain that's already set. Protect before, not after.
  • It won't stop scuffs, scratches or dye transfer — it's a shield against water, not the world.
  • Applied in light coats it changes nothing you can see. If it ever changes the look of your piece, we refund it— that's the guarantee.
Ready

Thirty seconds. Then go anywhere.

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