Want to keep your shoes and sneakers looking great? You’ll be less tempted to buy new ones before the old ones wear out if you keep them clean and attractive. These ideas work especially well for kids sneakers, since kids tend to be really hard on their footwear. Ever tried to get play dough or gum off of their shoes? Some show saver ideas involve proper maintenance. Here are some tips you can use to save those shoes.
For the play dough or gum problem, or just general scuff marks, try using a tablespoon of a “soft scrub” type cleanser. Take a smooth rag, add the cleaner to the rag and wipe off the smooth parts of the shoe. You can get into the groves of a sneaker using the cleaner with a cotton swab. Just be careful with colored sneakers and shoes because these products generally contain bleach, and the bleach could take out the color.
For suede shoes, make sure to brush them off with a semi-stiff brush to keep dust and dirt from grinding into the fibers of the shoe. You can use a show brush, of course, but an old, clean hairbrush works just as well.
Practice proper storage of your shoes. Keep the shoes covered with a cloth or in a shoe box, if you aren’t going to be wearing them for a long time. Don’t store them in the basement or attic, since the temperature and humidity changes can effect the glue in the shoes or get a good case of dry rot going. Long boots should have a support in the legs, so they won’t flop over and crease. Try rolled newspaper or magazines.
Sneakers can generally be washed, when you need to brighten them up. Place them in a pillowcase and wash them on cold. Allow them to air dry, use a hair dryer, or tumble them in the dryer on low. If the sneakers have laces, remove the laces and wash and dry them as well.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
For more about washing shoes and making them last longer, click here: Make Your Shoes Last Longer