There’s not much point in owning a sportscar if you never keep it clean, right? Why spend all that money on a car if it’s just going to look dirty and shabby?
We believe the same theory applies to footwear. If you’re investing in high-quality footwear, then keeping your shoes clean is a must. Not just because they look better, but because it increases their lifespan too!
Over our 80 years’ experience in shoe retail, Forbes Footwear has learned a few amazing tricks of the trade in caring for shoes. Here, we’ll reveal some of our biggest cleaning hacks to keep your footwear looking fresh!
Vinegar and baking soda for white canvas shoes
Those white casual shoes didn’t stand a chance on that walk through the park on a rainy day. But thankfully, there’s a cleaning hack that makes white canvas shoes look basically brand new again. Using a mix of vinegar and baking soda, plus a dash of water, is a winning formula for cleaning white shoes. Rub the paste into the shoe, let it sit for a few minutes, and brush it off and rinse. Your shoes should be gleaming white.
Vaseline for patent leather
Love the shiny look of new patent leather? So do we! Until it gets a scuff. But instead of panicking and madly scrubbing at the scuff with cleaning products, just apply a dab of Vaseline to it. The petroleum jelly is an effective cleaner of scuffs, and even works to mask the scuff by filling in any micro-scratches. Rub it in with a soft microfibre cloth.
Using a rubber on midsoles
Haven’t used a rubber since primary school? Time to bust it out of your old tartan pencil case. Rubbers can be an effective way to get rid of marks on the midsoles of casual and running shoes. The best thing about this cleaning hack is that it’s low risk, and has no chance of damaging your shoes.
Nail polish remover on certain scuffs
There are certain scuffs that can be wiped clean using plain, old nail polish remover. Raid your daughter’s room, find her nail polish remover and apply it to a cotton ball. Then, brush it over stains on materials like synthetic fabrics and rubber.
Baking soda for bad smells
Say goodbye to bad odours by neutralising them with baking soda. The trick here is to sprinkle baking soda directly into your shoes and leave them to sit overnight. Then, empty the baking soda in the morning. Soon enough, your shoes will be smelling like roses! Well, not exactly, but you get the idea.
In need of some fresh kicks? Forbes Footwear is the shoe retailer you need. We stock a huge range of shoes of all kinds, for men, women and children. We’ve been providing Australians with healthy footwear for over 80 years, so we know what makes a great shoe. Browse the range online today, or come visit our Hornsby location for a professional fitting.