Footwear Care Tips For Every Type Of Footwears
While footwear has taken colossal steps forward over the past century, one constant that hasn't changed is the fact that footwears will always require proper care to keep them in good shape.
Today, we have so many types of footwear - from leather to canvas and everything in between. It's bewildering to think that every type of shoe, from cleats to brogues requires special care. Follow our expert tips on how to care for your footwear and they may very well outlast you.
Let’s start with what NOT to do to your footwear in general:
Avoid the wash: Contrary to popular belief, the washing machine is a no-go zone for any type of canvas/ knit or mesh shoe. Even the gentlest cycles can damage the glue that keeps your shoe together and make your soles look more worn down.
No air: Much like our skin, footwears require decent airflow to enable it to breathe. Never store footwears in plastic.
Overwearing: Constantly wearing a single pair of footwears can irreversibly damage the structure of them, in which case, no amount of cleaning can save it. Rotate your shoe wardrobe often.
Dry feet only: Always dry your feet before wearing footwears- damp/moist feet can cause a multitude of health issues and also causes footwears to get moldy.
Don’t forget to wipe: Mud and liquids should be wiped off as soon as possible, specifically from leather footwears to avoid stains.
Forget the heater: We suggested you stretch them out using a hairdryer- if you want to keep the shape of your footwear, the reverse is also true. Do not dry your damp footwears near a heat source. Air drying is best.
With the don’ts out of the way, here’s what you should be doing to keep your footwear in a prime condition for a long time.
Running Footwears
Running Shoes
Running footwears usually feature mesh or knit as an upper, so care is quite simple. Primary to keeping your faithful exercise companions in shape is to always put them on and take them off with care; this means: loosen the laces as much as you can to slide your foot in and out without squashing down the heel counter of the shoe.
Air out after each wear and never p ut damp feet in your footwears: that’s a sure-fire way to give yourself a serious case of foot funk and a fungal infection.
Clean them with a good quality laundry detergent, diluted with water and scrub to a foam before rinsing off under cold water. Never heat dry or tumble dry, rather rest the footwears on a drying rack outside - not in direct sunlight or in an airy room with the fan on.
Stains on white running footwears/ sneakers can be cleaned with nail polish remover or a vinegar and water solution and a cotton ball.
Like the easy-going lifestyle they perpetuate, cleaning Chucks or similar casual canvas footwears is fuss-free.
Our top tip is to use a good quality foaming cleanser specifically formulated for this type of material or good old laundry detergent mixed into a solution with water. Lather up using a firm bristled brush (NOT a steel brush)/ used toothbrush until the entire surface of the shoe is foamy. Wipe off the foam with a damp clean microfibre cloth and leave to dry in an airy place. It’s better not to submerge Chucks into water, this can cause the sole to start cracking where the glue stops working.
Detergents can be replaced with a baking soda/water paste, applied to the stains and left for 15 to 20 minutes. Dip a scrubbing brush into warm water and work the paste into the shoe further before wiping off with a damp cloth and leaving the footwears to air dry.
If you’re in a bind and need to clean with what you have on hand, white, non-gel toothpaste works brilliantly. Work the paste into areas that are stained, leave on for about 10 minutes and wipe off of a wet cloth. Leave to air dry.
Drugstore sneaker scuff cleaners tend to get chalky once dry so rather invest in a specialty product.
Leather
Black Leather Footwears
Like any other skin, leather needs to be conditioned so that its’ luster and color remains intact. Before adding any creams, make sure to wipe the uppers with a damp cloth. For any stains, a weak solution of vinegar and water rubbed gently on the stain will lighten it somewhat. Allow to dry and then use a good quality leather food or cream in a color that matches your shoe to seal the uppers.
All these listed footwears can be found in our Top 10 footwears worn in 2019
It’s advisable to polish or wax full grain leathers at least once a month using a leather restorer or lanolin-based lotion. Treat waxy and oily leathers in the same way. For some old school cool, use several pairs of used nylon pantyhose
We hope these tips can help you add a few more meaningful years to your favorite pair of footwears!
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