How do I care for my shoes properly? (also the sneakers)
Benno Büchler, 29.03.2023
Your shoes are an important part of your wardrobe and help you feel well-dressed.
Whether you're wearing smooth leather shoes, suede shoes, textile shoes or even sneakers, it's important to take proper care of them so they stay beautiful for a long time.
In this article, I'll show you how to properly care for your shoes and what points you should pay attention to in order to enjoy them as long as possible.
The best way to care for your shoes depends on the material the shoe is made of. As a rule, you first brush away the dirt. Then you coat them with the appropriate agent or paste for the color and material. At the end you have to polish them again with a good, fine brush. Textile shoes can be washed in the washing machine, and sneakers are best cleaned with a wet cloth.
From cleaning to storage, I've got you covered so you can always keep your shoes in tip-top shape.
So, let's start and find out how to properly care for your shoes
Structure
To make things easier for you, I have divided the article into the different types of shoes: Smooth leather, suede, textile and sneaker.
So you can quickly and easily find what is best for your shoes.
I'll go into the specifics of each type of shoe and give you tips on how to best care for them.
Let's go!
Smooth leather
Smooth leather shoes are shoes whose upper is made of smooth leather.
These include, for example, men's or women's boots, low shoes, business shoes or even ballerinas.
Smooth leather is a popular material for shoes, as it is robust, durable and easy to care for. However, you should note that smooth leather is also sensitive to moisture and therefore needs regular care.
The cleaning
To clean your smooth leather shoes, you should follow these steps:
- Unthread the laces to be able to clean them individually.
- Remove dirt and dust from the shoes with a brush. If the shoes are very dirty, you can also wash them carefully with lukewarm water and then dry them well.
- Apply shoe wax or cream to the leather and spread it carefully with a brush. Do not forget to treat the inside of the eyelets as well.
- If your laces are very dirty, you can clean them in a water bath.
- If your shoes ever get wet, dry them carefully and then fill them with newspaper to shape the leather. Avoid drying the shoes directly on a heat source, as this can damage the leather.
It is recommended to thoroughly clean your smooth leather shoes every 4-6 weeks to keep them in good condition.
The maintenance
To keep your smooth leather shoes looking great for a long time, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Always use shoe trees to maintain the shape of the shoes and avoid wrinkles.
Waterproof your shoes regularly so that you can protect them from moisture and dirt.
Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day. This will prevent them from wearing out too quickly and give them a chance to recover.
If you follow these tips, your smooth leather shoes will stay beautiful for a long time.
Rough leather shoes
We refer to shoes whose uppers are made of rough leather as suede shoes.
These include, for example, sneakers, desert boots, ankle boots or even Chelsea boots.
Rough leathers also include nubuck and suede, which also have a rough, suede-like surface.
Suede leather is a very popular material for shoes, as it is robust and durable and gives a particularly casual and stylish look. Therefore, suede shoes are also a real style statement and can be worn with many outfits.
Below we give you tips on how to properly care for your suede shoes.
The cleaning
To clean your suede shoes, you should follow these steps:
- Remove dirt and dust from the shoes with a damp cloth and a brush. Be careful not to get the cloth too wet, as suede is sensitive to moisture.
- Let the shoes dry well before putting them back on. It is best to put them in an airy place so that the leather can breathe.
- Use only creams and care products specially designed for suede. These are gentler to the material and help to preserve the rough surface. You can also use special waterproofing sprays to protect the leather from dirt and moisture.
The maintenance
To keep your suede shoes looking great for a long time, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Use shoe trees, but with caution. Suede leather is a little softer than smooth leather, so the heel may be deformed if the tensioner is too large.
Also, give your shoes a regular breather and don't wear them every day. This way you avoid that they wear out too quickly.
Impregnate them every now and then to protect them from dirt and moisture.
If you want to refresh the rough surface, you can carefully roughen the shoes with a brush. Be careful to brush only in one direction and not to damage the leather too much.
You should clean it about every 6 weeks and let it dry well afterwards.
Store them in a dry, airy place where they are not exposed to direct sunlight.
Textile shoes
Textile shoes are shoes whose uppers are made of fabric or other textile materials such as mesh, canvas or synthetic fibers.
They come in many different styles, such as sneakers, sandals or ballerinas.
A great advantage of textile shoes is that they are particularly breathable and comfortable. Therefore, they are particularly suitable for summer or for sports activities.
Another unique selling point of textile shoes is their versatility: they can be worn with many different outfits and go well with both casual and dressy looks.
The cleaning
The care of textile shoes depends on how dirty they are. If they are only slightly dirty, you can brush them with a brush or a damp cloth. If they are more dirty, you can wash them in the washing machine. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Only use a cleaning program that is specifically suitable for textile shoes. These programs are gentler to the material and avoid deforming the shoes.
- Choose a cold wash program to preserve the material.
- Use only a little detergent and make sure it is suitable for textiles.
- Let the shoes dry well after washing and do not use a direct heat source to dry them.
The maintenance
When maintaining your textile shoes, waterproofing is especially important. Especially because the shoe is so airy and breathable.
Other than that and the slightly larger cleaning every few weeks, they are very low maintenance.
If you want them to get wet, stuff them with newspapers and let them dry.
Sneaker
The white leather sneakers, which have been very popular for quite some time, are to be treated more or less exactly like smooth leather shoes as far as care and cleaning are concerned.
With few differences:
- You don't necessarily need shoe trees, as a certain worn look is exactly what these shoes need.
- Most of the dirt can be removed with a wet cloth.
- To polish up the shoes there are several special sneaker cleaning products
Conclusion
You did it, you read through the whole blogpost and now you know how to properly care for your shoes.
From cleaning to storage, there are many ways to keep your shoes in top shape.
Don't forget that your shoes are an important part of your wardrobe and they help make you feel well-dressed.
So, let's get started now and take proper care of our shoes!
Source cover image: Pexels | edited post
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