Tag Archives: shoe care

Shoes

How to Make Shoes Last Longer

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These days people are saving money wherever they can. A great place to do so is with your shoes and this can be achieved rather easily if you just give your footwear the proper care it deserves. Depending on what type of shoes you have will depend on the care, but for the most part there are a number of things that you can do to help stretch the life of your shoes.

Again, each shoe type is different but here are some ways you can make your various shoes last longer:

•    Let shoes rest: Most of you have more than one pair of shoes and this is great because ideally you should never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. By letting your shoes ‘rest’ you are allowing them time to breath and dry out completely should they be damp from moisture due to the outside or perhaps due to your sweaty feet.
•    Get driving shoes: Buy a cheap pair of shoes specifically for driving. The reason is simple; it saves your more expensive shoe’s lives. When you are driving your heel is constantly dug into the floorboard of your car and this can lead to your heel being pre-maturely worn out or even worse a broken heel should you be wearing high heels.
•    Shine shoes: If you have dress shoes or any other shoe that can be shined, then do so. This may sound like a daunting task but you can do it while you watch television and doing so will not only stretch the wearability of your shoes, but it will also keep them looking great all the time.
•    Try shoe repair: Many dress shoes can be repaired when the bottom sole or tap becomes worn. Yes it will cost you some money to have the shoes repaired but the cost is typically a lot cheaper than a new pair of shoes. And if you have been shining your shoes then a repaired shoe will look and feel as good as a new pair and best of all, they will already be broken in.
•    Dye your shoes: This applies for sneakers that are white. When they get old and dingy looking get some fabric dye and change the color. The end result will be a comfortable fitting shoe that looks new because you have changes the color.
•    Dry the wetness: This sounds silly, but so many people allow their shoes to get wet due to the rain and then simply allow the air to dry them. Bad move. Doing so will compromise the material of your shoes and thus weaken them with the end result being a pair of shoes that are worn out before their time. Combat this problem by making sure that you completely dry your shoes once they get wet. Some tougher shoes like sneakers can be tossed in the clothes dryer for a few minutes and others will require a more delicate touch. A great tool to have here is a hair dryer with adjustable heat settings.

Your shoes are like anything else you own in your wardrobe. If you neglect them they won’t be around for long, but if you give them proper care they will last you for many seasons to come.

Sneakers

How To Wash Sneakers

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Sneakers

Everybody has a pair of sneakers. Usually it’s the most comfortable piece of a person’s wardrobe. You come home from work, step out of those uncomfortable shoes you have to wear all day and into your sneakers for lounging around. You go everywhere in them. Depending on your activities and the use they get, it might not take long for those sneakers of yours to get very dirty. While making sure the cleanliness of the rest of the wardrobe is a priority, sneakers often are overlooked when it comes to washing them regularly. How do you actually clean sneakers? It’s very simple.

There are two ways to wash sneakers. They can either be washed in a machine or washed by hand. Both do the job. Washing machines might be a little more rough than the direct care one could give when washing manually but either system will result in sneakers you will no longer be ashamed to be seen in.

Washing Machine Method – The first step is to remove the laces. Be careful when pulling them out. If they’re frayed in any way they could be torn in two pieces. Next, place the sneakers in a pillowcase and then directly into the washing machine. Placing the sneakers in pillowcases keeps the sneakers from being scratched as they bounce around the machine. The machine’s drum is also protected from the bumping and potential tangles caused by the laces. Set the machines setting to delicate and use cold water after adding about a half cup of detergent. When finished, the sneakers should be allowed to air dry. Stuff paper towels or newspapers into the shoes so that they retain their shape. Don’t use a drying machine as the heat might damage the sneakers.

Washing By Hand – Again, remove the laces and also inserts if the sneakers have them. Prepare a solution of soap and water or use a pre-purchased athletic shoe cleaner. A toothbrush can be used to clean the sneakers all over with the soap and water solution. Then using the same solution clean the inserts and laces. Once completed, hold your shoes under a running spigot or hose of fresh water until the soap is washed away. Any of the remaining solution can be wiped off with paper towels. Using more paper towels and/or newspapers, stuff the shoes so they retain their original shape as they dry. Replace the paper towels should they become saturated with water. Allow to dry in the sun if possible as the sun will actually help make white sneaker whiter. Once dried, replace the inserts and laces. To keep them fresh, baking soda can be sprinkled sparingly on the inside.

The cleansers that you choose are important as some are better than others. The best for cleaning shoes are stronger cleansers like Comet, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Greased Lightning.

Now your sneakers should be thoroughly cleaned. Make sure they’re completely dry before using them as this will extend their life. Have fun showing off your like-new sneakers.

Smelly shoes

How To Clean Smelly Shoes

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Smelly shoes

So why do feet smell so bad? It’s an age-old question. The answer is probably obvious. What might not be obvious is how to clean the smelly shoes that are caused by bad-smelling feet.

Feet contain hundreds of thousands of sweat glands. This is normal in all people. Sweat is basically just salt and water, and doesn’t have much of a smell of its own. The smell is actually caused by bacteria. Sweat attracts bacteria and is their source of food. These millions of bacteria eat the sweat and then excrete it out. The bacterial excretion causes the pungent smells we’re so familiar with.

Actually, hands have nearly as many sweat glands as feet but don’t smell as badly. So what gives? The reason is our socks and shoes. The sweat from our feet can’t easily escape into the air like the sweat our hands excretes. Bacteria love the dark, damp confines of sweaty shoes and have a feeding frenzy. When you remove your kickers at the end of the day, the smell that hits you is all of that collected bacterial waste.

An obvious way to keep shoes from smelling is to keep your feet clean in the first place. Be sure to dry your feet completely after bathing and add a moisture-wicking powder between the toes. Wear socks like cotton or bamboo that are great at absorbing sweat and change them a couple of times throughout the day. Make sure your shoes are not overly tight which is another way to stimulate sweat to build up. Finally, go barefoot and let your feet air-out as much as possible. If you can, put your shoes on a rotation. That is, try to switch to another pair so that previous pair can air out before you wear it again.

Ok so what if you’re too late in cleaning your own feet and simply have shoes that you can barely stand to be in the same room with? There are numerous ways to rid those old, or sometimes barely-worn shoes of the odors they accumulate. Some methods are backed by sound science while others are Grandmother’s old ways that she swears does the trick. Whether you’re inclined towards modern science or old wives-tale methods, try one of these ideas on for size.

1)  A combination of anti-bacterial spray and anti-fungal foot powder. There are various sprays and powders on the market that should work well. One to try is Fresh Wave.

2)  Cedarsoles (insoles made from antifungal cedarwood) have an easy long-lasting effect.

3)  Place each shoe into a plastic bag and place into a freezer overnight. The next day remove from the bag and freezer. Place the shoes outside in the sunlight to thaw, and dry.

4)  Place cat litter into a pair of tights. Tie the tights securely and place in each shoe overnight. The shoes will be odorless the following morning. You will need to change the cat litter periodically. It works, cost is minimal and environmentally friendly!

5)  Remove the laces and soles from your shoes and put them all in a single pillow cushion. Put a small towel in there too and then put on a single 40 or 50 degree wash. repeat this procedure again immediately after the first time.

6)  Put rubbing alcohol on a cotton square and wipe out the insides of the shoes that are not washable.

Now go take care of those shoes before they take on a life of their own!