Do you remember the good old days when you could afford to throw away that slightly old and scuffed pair of shoes and replace it with another of the many pairs in your wardrobe or pop out and buy a new pair without even thinking about it? If shoe funds are a little tighter these days, don’t despair.
Our top ten shoe care tips and tricks can revitalise old shoes and make new shoes last just that little bit longer.
1 – Don’t degrade your suede.
Overuse of a wire brush to clean your suede shoes is a great way to send them prematurely bald. If they’re lightly dirty try dabbing them with adhesive tape to lift out the dirt.
If you have to use a wire brush, use just enough force to remove the dirt and limit brushing to as small an area of the shoe as possible.
2 – Quell the smell.
Our feet contain a quarter of a million sweat glands between them and perspire constantly. If your shoes become a bit niffy, sprinkle baking powder in them and add orange peel, then leave overnight.
3 – For that polished sheen, make sure they’re clean.
Trying to disguise dirt with shoe polish is not an alternative to cleaning your shoes; it doesn’t work. If you have dried mud on your shoes use a clean damp cloth to gently work it off. Once they’re clean make absolutely sure they’re dry before applying shoe polish and cleaning as normal.
4 – If you’ve soaked your feet, avoid intense heat.
You didn’t see the puddle, you’ve walked a mile through deep snow or you simply got caught out by the rain. If your shoes are saturated, avoid the temptation to blast them with the hairdryer, or place them in the oven or directly in front of the fire; this can permanently ruin them. Instead, pack them with dry newspaper and place them in a warm environment such as an airing cupboard and leave them to dry naturally.
5 – Get to grips with stubborn zips.
If the zips on your boots are getting a little ‘sticky’ in their old age and you don’t have any WD-40 to hand, sharpen a pencil and rub it up and down on the zip: graphite (pencil lead) is a natural lubricant.
6 – Leather will soften if you oil it often.
Working a little oil, such as ordinary (i.e. non-virgin) olive oil or castor oil, into leather with a cloth and allowing it to dry will help leather to remain supple and crack-free and can contribute towards waterproofing too.
7 – Salt stains needn’t be pains.
Winter can be hard on shoes and unsightly salt stains are an inevitable consequence of walking in snow. They don’t have to spell the end for your favourite shoes or boots though. Salt stains can be treated with a very dilute solution of white vinegar. Using a clean cloth, wipe away the salt stain (note that the polish will come away too) then allow the shoes to dry naturally and re-polish. Job done!
8 – Restore some grip when soles start to slip.
If the treads on your shoes have worn smooth in places and are beginning to slip there is no real alternative to getting them resoled professionally or replacing them altogether. However, for a quick fix scuff up smooth soles using coarse sand or grit paper or a short-bristled wire brush.
9 – Shoes won’t last long if the storage is wrong.
If you’re not going to be wearing your shoes for a while, put them in a box and store them in a dry place; shoes will quickly become mouldy if stored in damp conditions. A shoe tree with cedar wood fittings can help shoes keep their shape when stored, but a shoe rack to keep shoes together and out of harm’s way is better than nothing at all.
10 – With polish, a small amount is enough to count.
You might think that the more polish you apply to your shoes the better for them this is, but in fact too much polish can end up giving leather an unwanted grainy finish. Plus, of course, the more you use the more is wasted on your cloth. The key is to give your shoes a thin, even coat of polish all over, leave it to dry – preferably overnight – and then buff to a healthy shine.
About the author: Article courtesy of Rainbow’s End, fashion retailers in the UK selling footwear including Heavenly Feet shoes.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Elaine Tan.