Soles are no different than souls and the better you care for them, the better they will stay by your side during tough times as the roads get harder.
Shoes reflect one’s personality and when you care for your shoes, you are also taking care of yourself.
Even though you might have different shoes for different days and occasions, you should never let beautiful soles shoes sit unmoved in one place. Give them the care they need, after all, they are your ‘sole mates.
With a few tips and tools, you can stretch out their lifespan and keep them in your wardrobe rotation longer. Here are 5 SIMPLE TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES.
- STORING YOUR SHOES
Before we get to daily wear and tear, let’s talk storage. Shoes should be kept in a cool, dry place. If space permits, store your shoes on shelves or in cubicles.
For small-space dwellings, hang a shoe bag with many pockets on the back of a door or put shoe racks or shelves on the floor of the closet.
Before you place them in their respective spots, remember to wipe your shoes clean of dirt so it doesn’t dry and stain the material.
Tap your shoes together outside so that the loose dust falls off or use a brush to get rid of the dirt from the soles.
Stuffing the shoes with tissue paper or shoe trees ensures that the natural shape and texture of the shoe are restored and keeps them from sagging. Moreover, cedar shoe trees can be used to keep them moisture-free.
- GET A SHOE CARE KIT AND SET UP PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Before you place shoes into their proper storage containers, make sure they are clean.
There are a few must-have supplies like a suede soap or leather cleaner for cleaning shoes; shoe creams and polish in the most common colours of your leather shoes, plus a neutral for hard-to-match colours; a suede brush and suede shampoo or cleaning liquid.
Did you know professionally installed sole protectors like rubber taps for pointed toes, and waterproof leather soles prevent your favourite shoes from wearing out too quickly.
Waterproofing sprays or conditioning creams will help protect them from ice, salt, or rain, all of which can easily ruin the material.
- HOW TO CARE FOR PATENT LEATHER
Patent leather’s high-gloss finish is particularly susceptible to cracking, so take special care not to get it wet. Clean with a soft cloth and a solution of one drop of gentle soap and water.
If cracks appear, stretch the shoe on a wooden shoe tree or cushion-type shoe shaper, and treat the cracks with leather conditioner. For scuff marks dip a clean cloth in olive or mineral oil and wipe.
Petroleum jelly works as well. Always dry patent leather away from heat sources and take care not to scratch it.
- HOW TO CARE FOR SUEDE
Suede cannot be polished, of course, but the colour can fade and become dusty-looking in spots, and the nap can become shiny from wear. Because suede is a porous material, suede shoes are best worn on dry days.
To clean it, sponge very lightly and gently with a shampoo formulated especially for suede. Then, brush gently with rubber, nylon, or brass-wire brush made to raise the nap of the shoe.
This will also remove dirt and mud. For oily stains, use baby powder or corn starch, let it sit for a while then dust it off. Use a suede conditioner, available at shoe-repair shops, to rejuvenate colour.
- HOW TO CARE FOR CANVAS
Sneakers are a styling fit that is loved by both men and women. But the white colour can get dirty and stains easily.
Therefore, they need additional care. You can clean canvas shoes by hand using a laundry detergent or throw them in the washing machine.
If you’re doing the latter, add a towel or two to the drum to prevent loud banging and set your wash on a delicate cycle.
Gently remove stubborn spots with a nail brush and use oxygen bleach to brighten the colour. Air dry your kicks without exposing them to direct sunlight.
See the video below for more!
