Shoe care

Shoes are the most capricious part of the wardrobe, because during operation it becomes dusty, dirty, exposed to temperature changes, cold and sun. If you do not take care of competent, constant care, after a few months your favorite shoes or boots will lose their attractive appearance. Considering that shoes are expensive, it makes sense to provide complete care, which consists not only in cleaning, but also in drying, processing with special tools and proper storage.

What includes shoe care

First of all, you need to wear shoes with the help of a horn, you can not remove shoes or boots, resting one foot on the other. We will talk about other stages of care in more detail.

Cleaning up. You need to clean any shoes immediately after returning home so that the dirt does not dry out on the sole and does not spoil the appearance. You need to wash it quickly so that it does not get wet, excess moisture harms any material.

The cleaning recommendations are as follows:

take out the insoles and laces, they are dried separately;
dry the shoes or shoes, providing access to the sole (the drying process lasts at least 24 hours);
minor contaminants are removed with a brush or a damp cloth, and then dry;
if there are no special tools at hand, you can quickly rinse under running water;
the cream should match the material and its shade, apply the composition best of all at night so that it is completely absorbed;
the next day it is enough to polish the surface;
regularly wipe the inner surface to avoid the appearance of fungus;
the sole should be lubricated with vegetable oil (prevents drying out and cracking).

Important! It is forbidden to use aggressive detergents containing chlorine. Also, you can not clean the surface with a silicone sponge - they are impregnated with a special composition that harms the skin and suede.

Secrets of cleaning different materials:

Genuine leather is cleaned immediately to prevent the drying of dirt. Wet and dry wipes, running water or soapy water are used if the contaminants are strong.
Textiles and synthetics are cleaned with a soft brush (you can use a sponge). Sports sneakers made of textiles are washed in warm water (not higher than +35 degrees), after which they must be thoroughly rinsed.
It is more difficult to take care of nubuck and suede; they can be cleaned only in the dry state with the help of metal, rubberized tools. For treatment, special impregnations and aerosols are used, after application, the surface is wiped with a stone for suede, then combed in one direction. For added protection, a water-repellent is applied once a month to suede or nubuck.

Interesting fact! Sticky places can be rubbed with bread crumb, salt, or part of a matchbox with sulfur. Brown suede can be grated with coffee grounds, and smoking over a candle will help return the presentation to black suede. It is best to straighten the pile over the steam.

Plastic boots are cleaned with petroleum jelly for a beautiful shine, as well as protection against cracks.
It is enough to wipe black satin shoes with a cotton swab dipped in strong coffee.
The boots are looked after with a stiff brush or sandpaper.
Felt is treated with talc.

Good to know! If the shoes have not been used for a long time, it is easy for her to return an attractive appearance. Rub varnished with petroleum jelly, leather with glycerin, rubber with vegetable oil.

Drying. Basic Rules:

dry away from heat sources only at room temperature;
pads are placed inside, if not, use plain paper.

To keep the shoes soft, after drying, they must be treated with petroleum jelly, and after a few hours with shoe polish.

At what temperature should shoes be dried from different materials

Material	Drying Temperature
Leather and Nubuck	The best way is to wipe dry with a flannel cloth and dry at room temperature
Felt boots	+90 degrees
Felt	+50 degrees
Rubber boots	Dry and dry at room temperature
Snowboats	Can be dried on a battery (put on a warm surface with a cloth base) or with an electric dryer

Important! Wash your insoles regularly - this is a necessary disinfection and an important step in the care.

Polishing and impregnation. For polishing waxes, creams, aerosols are used. The main goal is to give the surface a rich shade and brilliance. The product is distributed with a brush (the best choice is a brush with a natural pile). Then the surface is rubbed with a dry cloth. Another way to polish is to apply surface cream, apply some water and grate with a cotton towel. For impregnation, means with a water-repellent effect are used.

Tools for processing. All natural materials are sensitive to chemical components. Using low-quality means, be prepared that your shoes will lose operational qualities over time: strength, elasticity, texture. In addition, wax protects the seams from getting wet even without the use of an aerosol.

Important! The optimal choice, according to experts, is a colorless wax with a natural composition. Please note - beeswax or mink oil must be present.

Before applying, you must carefully read the instructions. The cream is applied to the dried surface with a brush (sponge). Absorption requires at least half an hour, but it is better to leave the shoes overnight.

Since it is often not recommended to wet the skin, it is necessary to wash it with soapy water after 2-3 treatments with cream (it is applied every day).

A few recommendations:

for processing, a tool is selected for a certain material;
if the shoes are multi-colored, a toothbrush is used to process different areas;
for the care of light shoes choose a colorless cream;
skin cannot be lubricated with petroleum jelly; vegetable oil as a result, the material will become dull.

Good to know! Experts do not recommend cleaning shoes in shopping malls, with automatic brushes, since the bristles are most likely synthetic and the cream is of poor quality.

Storage. Shoes must be sanitized from the inside before storage. It is best to purchase special pads, they prevent deformation. If there are no pads, fill the shoes with paper so that there are no wrinkles on the surface.

The storage area should be regularly ventilated to prevent mold and mildew. Plastic boxes and plastic bags cannot be used for storage - without oxygen, the material dims and becomes stiff.

How to properly care for shoes, depending on its material

Genuine Leather. Before the first use, the surface is treated:

protective composition;
cream of the corresponding shade.

Dirt is removed with a dry brush, then with a damp cloth, skin shampoos are also used.

Prohibited! Use aggressive detergents and wet the skin strongly.

Patent leather. Such shoes can be worn only at a temperature not lower than -100 ° C, not higher than + 250 ° C. For processing, products for patent leather, dry, soft wipes are used. To avoid deformation, varnished shoes are stuffed with paper. Special oil or spray polish gives a beautiful shine.

Prohibited! To brush a varnish surface.

Velours. Before the first use, a protective composition for suede is applied to the surface. Dust and stains are removed with a rubber brush. Then apply the tool for velor or suede and brush raise the pile. The best everyday care product is suede spray paint.

Prohibited! Wear velor shoes in the rain.

Nubuck. It should be cleaned regularly, before the first use, a protective agent for suede or nubuck is applied. It is dried at room temperature or by means of a dryer. Why are dirt residues removed from a dry surface?

Prohibited! Use water, only special foams for nubuck.

Synthetic materials. In this case, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions for a specific material. The use of shoe polish is not required, but the silicone brush will be relevant. For better protection, use a water repellent.

Textile. Before the first use, you need to apply a textile care composition to the surface, periodically treat with a product that prevents getting wet. The dirt is brushed off after drying.

Prohibited! Wear shoes in the rain, if the shoes are wet, they need to be dried at room temperature, pre-stuffed with paper.

How to care for shoes depending on the season

In spring and autumn, care is as follows:

clean immediately after returning home;
if you need to wash your shoes, you need to do this with cold or slightly warm water;
minor contaminants are removed with a damp cloth;
nubuck and suede are brushed;
paper, special dryers are used for drying;
for surface treatment, a cream of a suitable color or colorless is chosen, the seams and folds are carefully treated, the composition is applied only to a dry surface.

Important! In the off-season, when the weather is especially unpredictable, you need a removable pair of shoes. “Seal” the seams will help ordinary glycerin or petroleum jelly, you can also carefully process the joints with a water-repellent.

Do not forget about shoe care in the summer. In the warmer months, she also needs to be cleaned and treated with cosmetics. First of all, you need to protect the color from burnout, for this there are special compounds. The second stage is dust protection, which is especially important for suede and textile shoes. Use impregnations that form a protective layer and do not allow dust to linger on the surface.

Important! Do not dry your shoes in direct sunlight, best at room temperature.

In hot weather, you can’t do without talcum powder and deodorant for shoes, in order to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor, you need to regularly wash the insoles and treat them with hydrogen peroxide.

Leather shoes, like human skin, have a limited supply of moisture, so you need to moisturize it. The use of lotions and balms will protect the skin from drying out and cracking.

In winter, shoes are at greatest risk because they have to interact with chemicals and salt that are sprinkled on the roads. You also have to deal with the negative effects of low temperatures. In winter, shoes require the following care:

obligatory drying after each use;
a brush or a special eraser will help get rid of salt and chemicals, white stains are removed with a cloth moistened with vinegar (vinegar and water are mixed in equal amounts);
regularly apply water-repellent to the surface;
in winter, leather shoes should be cleaned daily with water-repellent cream;
Before leaving the house, apply wax or shoe polish on a previously cleaned surface.

Important! An excellent tool that prevents the appearance of white stains is a water-repellent spray.

More shoe care tips

Recommendations:

Choose shoes by size - this applies to the fullness, insole length, foot features. Otherwise, cracks appear on the surface, seams may break.
Shoes should be worn in accordance with the season and weather conditions. In winter, it is best to wear suede boots, and for spring and autumn it makes sense to choose a pair of genuine leather. Textile shoes are only suitable for dry weather.
Provide care immediately on the day of purchase. Before first use, shoes should be wiped with a soft cloth and a water repellent applied.
Put on and take off your shoes correctly - use the horn, completely unfasten the clasps.
Regularly clean shoes from dirt and dust, dry them for at least 12 hours.
Use special impregnations and protective agents to protect against dust, fading, and also to moisturize.
Try to dry your skin at room temperature.

Following simple instructions, you can easily save a presentable appearance of your favorite pair of shoes and extend its life.