Taking Care of Shoes

It is easy to spend a lot of money on fashion footwear, so you want it to last some time. You should think of your shoes as an investment that needs to be looked after just as you would a house or a car. Take pride in your appearance and follow these tips on how to care for shoes.

Clean your shoes regularly according to the materials they are made of so that stains won’t permanently set. If you want your shoes to last a long time and look great, make sure to polish the leather frequently. Select a color of polish that matches the shoes, as this way the dyes will blend into your shoes and mask any scuffs marks. First give your shoes a quick clean with a damp cloth or sponge then apply polish with a clean, soft rag, getting into every crease of your shoe. Leave to dry on a piece of newspaper and then buff up to a perfect shine.

Keeping canvas shoes clean. Running shoes, canvas shoes and sneakers are all made of basically the same stuff and so need the same care. You can actually buy sneaker shampoos for extra tough stains or odors. But water and a toothbrush are just as effective in caring for your shoes. With a brush or applicator, you should be able to bring your sneakers back to their original color. Also try putting them through a cycle in your washing machine. Then get them into a well aired spot to dry. (Try not to place your shoes into the dryer, because if you do, they can lose form and even fall apart.)

Suede shoes need to be cleaned carefully. A bit more special care is required for suede than for sneakers. To care for suede, you must realize they can’t be polished. So you have to aim to avoid scuffs rather than fix them later. Your best bet is to apply a good spray of water and stain repellent before you even put them on. This will often be offered for sale when you buy suede shoes or it can purchased from any shoe store. And don’t forget to reapply for best results. You can gently brush your suede shoe to get dried mud off, but don’t scrub the shoe! You will end up with scratches that will not be able to be removed. There are suede cleaners available to clean grime and build-up, but harder stains will need the help of a shoe-care professional.

It is advisable to learn general shoe care methods. The best way to protect expensive shoes is to keep them in bags or boxes. Don’t allow them to knock around or rub against your other shoes. Attack dirt and stains soon after they happen. A lot of money can be saved in the long term if you take a little time to properly care for your shoes.

Tiffany Provost writes about shoes care and other fashion and personal care tips for HowToDoThings.com.

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