Shoes are extremely important, especially when it comes to women. Shoes define who the woman is, what she likes, what she does not like and what she does in life. Therefore, it is of high importance to make sure that shoes are maintained in good condition to make them last in time. Lets have a look at some general rules which apply to all types of shoes and afterward we will focus on some of the most common types separately:
General rules for all types of shoes:
Avoid wearing shoes two days in a row. Give your shoes at least one day to air out properly. Wearing the same shoes constantly, makes them absorb the moisture from your feet.
Avoid wearing plastic shoes, because they do not let your feet breath. Prefer instead, shoes made of leather or canvas. Also, do not store your shoes in plastic boxes, plastic does not let the shoes air properly. The ideal place for shoe storage is a closet self.
If you wear the same shoes once or twice a week, it is important to remember to condition them once a month. When polishing your shoes, it is better to choose neutral polishes which are of better quality and make your shoes last longer. Before polishing them, wipe them in order to remove dirt. Tough stains should generally be removed by experts, as soon as they occur.
Replace heel lifts before they are totally worn down. Remember that when you wear heel lifts often, foot comfort should come first, otherwise you will end up either causing yourself unnecessary pain, or throwing away those shoes.
Soles that are pushed in easily when pressed with the thumb, should be immediately replaced. If you wait until they are totally worn out, they cannot be replaced, at least not properly.
Shoes that are drenched out on the water, should be left to dry completely before being used again.
Walk properly. Do not drag your feet, as this destroys the soles and do not kick stones, or anything else, since that forces your shoes to break open.
Specific rules per type of shoe:
Athletic shoes:
Use baby powder inside your athletic shoes before wearing them, so as to keep them fresh and dry.
Hand wash them using a mild detergent and cold water and allow them to dry on their own before wearing them again. Never put your athletic shoes in the washer or in the dryer. Loosen their laces, take out their insoles and let them air dry.
Get rid of the odour by:
a) Sprinkling the insides with baking soda
b) Stuff them with several paper towels soaked in bleach and let sit for a day.
Leather shoes:
Always use a soft cloth to dust the leather before applying the neutral polish. Never polish leather shoes when the leather is dry, otherwise the leather will be damaged. Leather is extremely sensitive to chemicals, so if the leather shoes are accidentally exposed to chemicals you should wipe them down as soon as possible with warm water and a soft cloth, and then apply an appropriate waterproof sealant.
Keep the leather away from direct heat, because there is a danger of the leather being cracked and stains being created. The leather can be protected with the use of waterproof sprays.
Leather can shrink, stretch and weaken when it is wet, so it is important to do your best so as to keep it dry. Leather boots especially, should be waxed or oiled to repel water.
Suede shoes:
Suede can be very difficult to take care of, because it has the tendency to attract stains and stains are difficult to remove from suede because water can harm the suede. When dealing with minor stains, what you can do is gently brush away the dirt and scrub the stains. When dealing with bigger stains, it is important to use a stain remover suitable for suede.
Canvas shoes:
Before wearing them you should always spray them with a cloth care spray or starch. Because of the fact that canvas shoes are not structurally supportive shoes, it is very important to be very careful with the way we walk when we wear them. Putting more weight on one side of the shoe can easily wear down the sole or the heel of canvas shoes.
High heeled shoes
It is very important to give yourself time to get used to high heeled shoes, so as to avoid hurting yourself and damaging your shoes. Consider starting with 2 inch high heels and slowly work your way up. Try walking with them for about 1 hour on a daily basis, for a whole week. Then do the same with 4 inch high heels for about two weeks. After a month, move to 6 inch high heels for two weeks, and if you pass that crucial test, you can safely move to 8 and even 10 inch high heels.
Before wearing high heels, it is recommended to ask for reinforced soles, which can make your shoes last longer, as well as preventing many accidents from happening (such as slipping on wet pavement).
Make sure that you can walk comfortably in your high heeled shoes. If in spite of your efforts you realise that you keep on wobbling on your high heels and cannot keep your legs straight, you can switch to 4 inch platforms which are much more comfortable.
Written by MariaPapadopoulou