Guide to Keeping Your Shoes Clean: A new pair of sneakers is every enthusiast’s happiness. If you are new to collecting shoes, there are some things you have to know to completely ease your worries, especially when your pair becomes dirty due to unforeseen circumstances.
Some might take their shoes to a laundry service that offers shoe cleaning. There might be some laundry services in NYC that offer, but what if the ones near you do not? You do not have to panic; you can take care of it. We have a guide on how you can keep your shoes clean.
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Prevention is Better than Cure
Cliché might sound, but this is the best way to keep your shoes clean, by treating them well from the beginning. You have to prevent anything that might stain or give your shoe wrinkles. Do not use it on days you know it will rain. Meanwhile, you can prevent creases by stuffing a newspaper after each wear.
These days, waterproofing sprays, stainproof sprays, or conditioning creams are available on the market. You can apply it to your shoes to protect them from rain, ice, or snow. It is better to test the spray on an inconspicuous spot before using it entirely.
No Washing Machine
Although we have mentioned that laundry services offer shoe cleaning, we did not mean they will wash it in a washer. It would be hand washed. If you do the cleaning at home, do not use the washer, it only ruins the materials of your sneakers and makes loose the stitches.
Always air dry your shoes. Do not expose them to dryers, and it uses excessive heat to dry things. If your shoes have a funky smell, you can control the odor and fungus by wiping a vinegar-water solution on its inner soles. Prepare the solution with half cup vinegar and half cup water. After you have wiped down the interior soles, place back the shoes to air dry.
Properly Store Shoes
Storage is as important as wearing your shoes carefully. If you are not using your shoes, place them in the proper storage. Keep them in a cool and dry place. If you do not have much space, you can have a shoe bag with several pockets. You can hang it at the back of your door or have a shoe rack. But, if you have space for shelves, the better.
Before you store your shoes, wipe the dirt and stuff it with tissue paper to prevent it from losing its shape.
Invest in Shoe Care Kit
Regular maintenance is much easier and better if you invest in a shoe care kit. A shoe care kit includes a suede soap or leather cleaner, shoe creams, polish, a buffing brush, and a microfiber cloth.
As much as you invest in the looks of your shoes, do not forget that the laces need attention too.
Lastly, do not wear your sneakers consecutively—alternate your shoes. Give them time to dry or rest. Frequent use will easily wear and tear your shoes.
