Let’s imagine, one day, somebody gives you a Ferrari. You’re absolutely over the moon about it, and you love driving it around. But there’s only one problem – you don’t have a proper garage to store it in.
This means you have to park your new sportscar on the street, leaving it exposed to being stolen, scratched, covered in bird droppings and paint-fade from the sun’s rays. It’s almost useless owning such a valuable car if you have nowhere to park it!
Well, the same goes for shoes. If you’ve done something great for your feet and invested in high-quality, supportive footwear, you need to store them and maintain them properly.
Here, the experts at Forbes Footwear outline some top tips for keeping your shoes in good condition, so that your feet stay happy and healthy.
Cleaning your shoes
Every shoe is different when it comes to cleaning. Here are some of the most common shoe types and their ideal cleaning method:
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Fabric shoes
To maintain fabric shoes, brush off any excess dirt with a dry paper towel. Make a cleaning solution using warm water and dishwashing liquid. Scrub shoes clean with a rag before wiping them down with clear water. Dry thoroughly with a dry towel.
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Leather shoes
Leather and faux-leather shoes should be wiped down to get rid of excess dirt before being buffed and polished with a moisturising shoe polish that not only adds colour but prevents the leather from drying out. If the colour is difficult to match you must polish the entire shoe and expect some colour change or use a neutral polish or cream.
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Suede shoes
There’s a reason Elvis was so hot on keeping people off his blue suede shoes: they’re a pain to clean! One great tip is to use a clean pencil eraser to gently rub off any marks. For oil stains, you can put on some baby powder, let it sit there for an hour and gently brush it off. If you’re too intimidated to clean suede shoes, then let a professional do this.
Shoe storage
Shoe storage is another part of the equation. Here are some of the best tips for shoe storage so that your high-quality shoes last longer:
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Never leave them in the sun or rain
Humidity and aridity will inevitably take their toll on the form of your shoes if exposed for too long. This can cause warping and deteriorating of your shoes, making them uncomfortable and unsupportive.
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Use newspaper or shoe trees for long-term storage
If you’re putting your shoes away for a period of three months or longer, use scrunched up newspaper or proper shoe trees to keep their shape.
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Clean shoes before storing them
Always clean your shoes before putting them in storage to prevent mould.
Forbes Footwear are your local experts on everything shoes. They’re Sydney’s specialists in high-quality shoes, ensuring the perfect fit so that you can buy with confidence. Since 1940, they’ve been Sydney’s finest team in shoe retail. The Forbes philosophy is simple: deliver quality products at fair prices and keep customers happy as can be. Browse the range online today, or visit their Hornsby location.