Kaps Suede and Nubuck Dabber Light Grey 114 – Colour Reviver 75ml

Description

Kaps Suede and Nubuck Dabber Light Grey 114 – 75ml – brings faded light grey suede back to life

Light grey suede is a wonderful colour and an absolute magnet for trouble. It picks up road dust, it goes shiny where the shoe flexes, and after a season it fades to a chalky, uneven sort of nothing. A brush alone will not fix that, because the problem is lost pigment rather than dirt. This is where a dabber earns its keep.

The Kaps Suede and Nubuck Dabber is a 75ml bottle with a sponge applicator built into the cap, so the colour goes exactly where you point it and nowhere else. Squeeze gently and the lotion feeds through the sponge onto the nap, restoring the shade while it nourishes and rebuilds the surface texture of the leather.

I like it for the fiddly jobs that a spray cannot handle. Just the toe box, just the heel counter, just the strip along the sole edge where the suede has gone bald — a dabber gives you that control. It is also the tidier option if you would rather not aerosol your kitchen.

Kaps have been making shoe care in Poland since the 1980s and their dabber range is one of the widest around, so there is a good chance of a proper match rather than an approximation. 114 Light Grey is the shade for pale and mid grey suede and nubuck.

Why choose the Kaps Suede and Nubuck Dabber?

• Sponge applicator built into the cap – the sponge head sits on top of the bottle, so you can dab colour onto exactly the area that needs it without treating the whole shoe or masking off the sole.
• Restores lost colour, not just cleanliness – a brush lifts dirt but cannot replace pigment, and this lotion puts the light grey tone back into suede that has gone chalky and uneven with wear.
• Nourishes and rebuilds the nap – as well as colour it feeds the leather, keeping it supple and restoring the surface structure so the nap brushes up soft again instead of staying flat and shiny.
• Made for suede, nubuck and napped leather – the formulation is designed for velour surfaces rather than smooth leather, so it will not seal or flatten the nap the way a cream would.
• Works on more than shoes – the same bottle looks after suede bags, gloves, jackets and accessories, which makes it useful well beyond the shoe rack.
• A practical 75ml bottle – enough for many applications, and because you are usually treating patches rather than whole shoes one bottle stretches a very long way.

How to use the Kaps Suede and Nubuck Dabber

1. Brush the suede thoroughly with a suede or crepe brush first, working against the nap to lift out dust and loose dirt. Anything left on the surface will end up sealed under the colour.
2. If the shoes are properly grubby, clean them with a suede cleaner and let them dry naturally away from a radiator before you start.
3. Shake the bottle vigorously. The pigment settles into the bottom and you want it fully suspended before the first dab goes on.
4. Test on a hidden area first — the inside of the heel or under the tongue — and check the match in daylight once it has dried.
5. Squeeze the bottle gently and work the sponge over the faded areas in even, overlapping strokes. Keep the coat thin and resist the temptation to soak the leather.
6. Let the shoes dry naturally for a few hours, then brush the nap up with a suede brush and finish with a suede protector spray to keep the new colour where it belongs.

Specifications

• Volume: 75ml bottle with sponge applicator in the cap
• Shade: 114 Light Grey
• Type: Pigmented colour reviver and conditioner for napped leather
• Suitable for: Suede, nubuck and velour — shoes, boots, bags, gloves and jackets
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and coated finishes
• Drying time: A few hours, naturally and away from direct heat
• Brand: Kaps
• Best used with: A suede brush before and after, plus a suede protector spray to finish

Frequently asked questions

Will a dabber flatten the nap on my suede?

Not if you let it dry properly and then brush it. The lotion goes on wet, so the nap will look darker and laid flat for the first hour or two — that is completely normal and it worries people every time. Once the shoes are dry, a minute with a suede brush lifts the fibres back up and the velvety texture returns. What does flatten suede permanently is soaking it, so keep your coats thin.

How do I know if 114 Light Grey is the right shade?

Always test on a hidden spot first, ideally the inside of the heel or the strip of suede under the tongue, and judge it dry and in daylight rather than wet under a kitchen light. Grey suede covers a wide range from almost white to slate, and 114 is aimed at the pale to mid part of that range. If your shoes are noticeably darker, a mid or dark grey will give you a truer match.

Where can I buy the Kaps Light Grey Suede Dabber in the UK?

You can order the Kaps Light Grey Suede Dabber directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy.