Caring For Your Shoes

PostedMay 25, 2017

Person polishing a brown leather shoe

Grundy’s Shoes stock a wide variety of brands, all sourced and crafted from premium materials so that exceptional comfort, support & style is translated from our shelf to your feet. The biggest mistake you can make is to neglect caring for your shoes after your take them home.

Putting in some time and effort into the fabric and soles will help your shoes stand up to whatever punishment your feet inflict. Here’s how to keep your shoes looking their best so you can continue feeling your best:

Try not to wear your shoes consecutively.

Just like us, even our shoes need a day off so it’s best to rotate 2-3 pairs throughout each season. As you wear your shoes, the leather soaks up the perspiration your feet give off so if you don’t give your shoes a day to air out, the leather can warp or disintegrate faster and they may lose their shape. Giving your favourite pair the day off allows them to air out which dries out the moisture and helps the leathers last longer. It also helps to rejuvenate the inner footbeds and encourages the uppers to maintain their shape. If you’d like to be extra cautious with your shoe collection, for the pairs you wear less frequently, investing in a cedar shoe tree helps absorb any moisture and can help maintain their shape better.

Avoid getting your shoes wet

Unless stated, most shoes are not waterproof so if you happen to get yours wet, make sure to dry them at room temperature. Drying them by a heater or in the sun can cause the leather to dry out and become brittle and it can harm any adhesives used which can break down the structure of the shoe much quicker.

Store your shoes safely

Most people don’t think twice about the way their shoes are stored but there’s a few things you can do to help prevent them becoming misshaped (and harder to find!). Keeping your shoes off of the floor is one of them, because it makes your shoes harder to find and they’re more likely to get beaten up. You should also avoid keeping your shoes stored in their boxes for prolonged periods of time, as it can cause certain footwear material to deteriorate, especially in humid climates. Investing in clear boxes with ventilation, shoe racks or shoe organisers and rotating between seasons is the best way to prolong your footwear.

Test cleaning products before use

Some shoe care products don’t necessarily work on all materials so testing any chemical products in an inconspicuous area of the shoe before applying to the entire surface is a good idea.

One shoe doesn’t fit all and it’s the same for their materials. Different types of leather/fabric require different types of care. Here’s a generic guide to help keep whatever shoes you own looking their best.

Full Grain Leather

Remove any laces or removable insoles before cleaning. Remove any dirt from the leather, average dirt levels require only brushing then a soft, damp cloth with luke-warm water.
Allow leather to dry naturally at room temperature, not in the sun or near any heat sources as this may dry out the leather.
If your shoes don't have any discolouration and only require a replenish, a leather conditioner will suffice. Apply with a soft cloth and buff to shine.
If your shoes have lost a bit of colour, select a high-quality cream polish that matches the shoe colour, then buff to a shine.

Oiled Leathers

Remove any surface dirt with a dry cloth or soft brush.
You could do one of two things: Apply a leather conditioner (but do not buff) and allow leather to adequately soak in conditioner naturally before wearing OR apply a boot wax such as Rossi’s All-Weather Leather Boot Wax to protect, rejuvenate and repel water. Apply with a soft cloth or shoe brush and lightly buff off.

Patent Leathers

Use a soft, dry cloth to remove any dried-on dirt and dust, then add luke-warm water with a drop of mild soap to remove any haze.
Use a patent leather cleaner then buff to a shine.

Suede & Nubuck Leathers

To remove any surface dirt, use a Suede and Nubuck Cleaning Block. Then, brush lightly with a soft Kombi Brush or Suede Brush. Never use a full wire brush as it will damage the suede/nubuck.
If your shoes need a deep clean, you can use a Suede and Nubuck Shampoo specifically designed for suede and nubuck products. Alternatively, you can simply spray your shoes with a Water and Stain Protector after brushing.

Synthetic Leathers

Remove any surface dirt and dust with a soft, dry cloth, then add luke-warm water to gently wipe the shoe clean.
Wipe off the area with a clean, dry, soft rag afterward.

Fabric

Remove excess dirt first using a soft-bristled brush.
Mix warm water with a small amount of laundry detergent to create a slightly soapy mixture. Apply a small amount of the mixture to a sponge, soft cloth or soft brush and clean affected areas.
Allow shoes to dry naturally before wearing.

To view our range of Shoe Care Tools and Supplies, click here.

Tags: Shoe care

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