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Caring for tango shoes: How to keep the sole perfectly grippy

By Mary De LucaUpdated

In a nutshell
  • Regular roughening with a special wire brush removes dirt from the chrome leather sole and restores its grip.
  • The upper leather requires cleaning with a damp cloth after dancing and occasional care with a suitable leather cream.
  • Wet conditions and street dirt must be strictly avoided, which is why tango shoes must never be worn outdoors.
  • After wearing, the shoes should air dry on wooden shoe trees for at least twenty-four hours.

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Your tango shoes are your most important connection to the dance floor. With the right care, you protect the fine leather and ensure that your soles maintain the perfect balance of grip and glide on any floor.

What you need for shoe care

  • Special roughening brush with wire bristles for dance shoes
  • Soft cotton cloth and a horsehair brush
  • High-quality leather cream matching the color of the upper leather
  • Shoe trees made of untreated wood (ideally cedar wood)
  • Shoe bag made of breathable fabric for transport

Why the right care determines your dance feeling

Anyone who commits to Argentine Tango quickly realizes: the connection to the floor determines the quality of every movement. High-quality Tango leather shoes are not a fashion accessory, but precision tools. The upper leather hugs the foot like a second skin, while the underside provides that unmistakable dance feeling. The sole must fulfill two opposing tasks: it must offer enough grip for powerful steps, while simultaneously allowing enough glide so that turns do not strain the knee joints. Dirt, dust, and beverage residues on the dance floor constantly take their toll on these fine materials. Without regular attention, the sole hardens, loses its grip, or becomes dull. Careful maintenance extends the life of your shoes and protects you from injuries caused by uncontrolled slipping.

The special nature of chrome leather

Unlike street shoes, classic dance shoes usually have a sole made of chrome leather, also known as suede or rough leather. This material is extremely flexible and absorbs the wood dust from the dance floor. This creates the perfect balance between sliding and traction. When you perform your Argentine Tango steps, you feel direct contact with the floor. However, as soon as the pores of the suede become clogged with dirt, the sole becomes shiny and slippery as ice. With the right cleaning, you bring back the fine fiber structure and restore the grip. At the same time, the fine upper leather of the shoes needs moisture so that it remains elastic and does not become brittle during tight turns or a close shared axis in Argentine Tango.

Step by step: How to properly care for your Tango shoes

  1. Gently clean the upper leather

    Remove dust and sweat residue from the upper leather with a slightly damp, soft cotton cloth. Make sure that no water gets onto the sensitive chrome leather sole.

  2. Roughening the chrome leather sole

    Place a special roughening brush flat against the sole. Brush with light pressure from the middle of the shoe outwards towards the tip to lift the flattened fibers of the suede back up.

  3. Apply leather care thinly

    Apply a very thin layer of high-quality, color-matched leather cream to the upper leather. Use a clean cloth for this and avoid the sole as well as the seams completely.

  4. Polishing the upper leather

    Let the care cream soak in for at least fifteen minutes. Afterwards, polish the upper leather with a soft horsehair brush until the typical, elegant shine of the tango shoes returns.

  5. Stretching and airing out shoes

    Let your shoes dry in a well-ventilated place in the shade. Use cedar wood shoe trees, as they optimally draw moisture out of the leather and maintain the shape.

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Do's and don'ts for the care of tango shoes

Correct

  • Only use special wire brushes for dance shoes
  • Always brush from the center of the heel to the toe
  • Let shoes air out thoroughly after every time you wear them
  • Use shoe trees made of untreated wood

Don'ts

  • Use wire brushes from the hardware store
  • Damage the leather by applying too much pressure
  • Leave damp shoes in a closed bag
  • Place shoes on the heater to dry

The care rhythm for your tango shoes

Right after dancing

Aftercare

Before the next milonga

Care

Frequently asked questions

  1. A chrome leather sole should be roughened as soon as it becomes shiny, feels smooth, or gets slippery while dancing. Depending on how often you dance, this is usually the case after every second or third visit to a milonga.

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