It’s officially spring! Do you know what that means? It’s time for spring cleaning. Not only is it a good time to clean your house, it’s a great time to clean out your closet and assess the condition of your shoes. By taking care of your shoes, you can protect your investment and extend the life of your shoes.
- Inspect your shoes. If your shoes have worn soles or holes in them, take them to a shoe repair shop to determine if they can be repaired. If the heel lift (the little piece attached to the heel) is worn to the nail, the shoe can’t be repaired. Get rid of any worn or damaged shoes. Note: If your shoes show wear on the outside of the shoe, you are supinating (your ankles tilt outward too much) when you walk. If your shoes show wear on the heel and the ball of the foot extending to the big toe, you are overpronating (rolling your feet too far inward) when you walk. If you think you have oversupination or overpronation, have your feet and gait evaluated by a certified professional. You may benefit by wearing a custom orthotic device, such as ezWalker® Performance Insoles. These insoles strategically raise the arches of your feet, providing you with proper biomechanical support. Your feet will be better biomechanically aligned, not only reducing the wear and tear on your shoes, but also on your feet, knees, hips and lower back.
- Rotate your shoes. To make your shoes last longer, you should never wear them for more than two consecutive days.
Store your shoes on a cedar shoe tree. A shoe tree will help maintain the shape of your shoes and prevent your shoes’ upper leather from cracking and curling. Cedar also absorbs moisture from your shoes and deodorizes them.- Use a shoe horn when putting on your shoes. A shoe horn protects the back of your shoes as you slide your foot in, preventing any crushing or unnecessary wear.
- Weatherproof your leather and suede shoes. Leather shoes should be treated with leather-protecting products, such as mink oil, to repel moisture and salt from snow. Water can damage suede shoes, so make sure they are coated initially with a fabric protectant and that you treat them periodically.
- Properly dry wet shoes. If your shoes do get wet, stuff them with newspaper and dry them away from direct heat. Too much heat can crack the leather to crack and can damage any adhesives used on the shoes.
- Clean and polish your shoes at least once a month. For leather shoes, the type of care depends upon the type of leather. Generally, to polish leather shoes, use saddle soap to gently clean your shoes first. Then apply a wax or cream-based polish to the shoes. Let the polish sit on your shoes for a few minutes. Buff the shoes with a damp polishing cloth until they start to shine. You can continue to add small amounts of polish to build up multiple layers. Finally, use a polishing brush and brush your shoes to a high shine.
- Use a suede brush to restore the leather on suede shoes. Always brush suede in the same direction. Use a suede eraser to rub out small scuffs first.
- Use an athletic shoe shampoo with a scrubbing applicator to remove stains from athletic shoes. Or you can take your athletic shoes to a shoe repair professional to have them spray dyed.
- Take silk, satin or other cloth shoes to a dry cleaner for cleaning.
- Use deodorizers to remove any smells from shoes. If the smell can’t be removed, then have a shoe repair professional replace the insoles.
- Replace any worn shoe laces. New laces can perk up the appearance of your shoes.
By keeping your shoes clean, performing preventative maintenance and storing them properly, you can prolong the life of your shoes – saving you money.
For more information on ezWalker Performance Insoles, visit our website. ezWalker insoles are ultra thin and ¾ in length, so they easily transfer from shoe to shoe – saving you money. These insoles come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee, so you’ve got nothing to lose – except your foot pain. Order your ezWalker Performance Insoles today.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.
