When you invest in a new pair of shoes, whether it’s a pair of work shoes, high heels or designer sneakers, you want to make sure that you make them last as long as possible. Our shoes are some of the easiest pieces of our wardrobe to get damaged as they are constantly in contact with tough surfaces, dirt and all other sorts of things, so protecting them is important. This is how you do it!
Avoid The Washing Machine
When someone needs to clean their trainers, it’s a bit too easy to just think about throwing them in the washing machine and then coming out super clean. However, shoes can sustain water damage when you put them in the washing machine, as well as damage from being swung around in the machine for an hour! Some shoes are more prone to damage, like leather or suede, but it is much safer in general to just hand wash your trainers, or if they’re really bad, take them to a professional shoe cleaner. The last thing you want is for your expensive trainers to come out in pieces, so just spend that extra bit of time or money to get them cleaned correctly!
Use Protector Products
It is inevitable that our shoes will be damaged at some point or another, so one of the best things you can do is to use protector products. So many places sell shoe protection products that you spray onto your shoes, which then help to repel liquid and prevent stains! So, you could get your foot trodden on, accidentally step in a puddle or drop some food on them and you’ll be able to wipe it straight off. This obviously won’t be very helpful if your shoes are already stained, however if they aren’t, we can’t recommend getting protector products enough! For dress shoes, you might need to use a polish first and then this on top, but make sure that you read the instructions properly to look after your shoes. This can help to significantly extend the life of your trainers.
Be Careful Where You Store Them
Another thing to bear in mind when it comes to prolonging the life of your shoes is where you store them, as this can have a big impact on how that they last. It’s really important that your shoes are stored somewhere that is cool and dry, away from potential dust, as well as somewhere that has some element of breathability. If you wear your shoes all day, it’s likely they might be slightly warm or moist, so they need to be able to dry out slightly in the storage without any mold developing. You can get shoe storage online designed specifically, or you could store them in the original boxes. You could also get a shoe rack to go in the bottom of your wardrobe. There are so many options out there to help you store your shoes safely!