Shoe care. How to properly care for shoes at home

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Shoe care rules

How to increase the wear life of shoes?

• You should buy shoes strictly according to size. It should not be too loose and dangle on the leg and, at the same time, should not squeeze the leg. If you choose the wrong size, the shoes will quickly become deformed: the seams may come apart, the sole will sag, or the lining will burst. And then it will be useless to take care of your shoes;
• Shoes should be worn depending on the season. For example, you should not wear shoes in the summer and sneakers in the winter. It is better to wear suede shoes in snowy weather, and wear leather ones in slush;
• Shoe care products should be selected for the material for which they are intended;
• It is necessary to dry shoes in natural conditions, away from heating devices;
• The best time to clean shoes is in the evening. Apply a special cream to the surface of the shoes, which should be absorbed. After this, polish the shoes until they shine.

Shoe care products

There are a large number of shoe care products. And from this variety you need to be able to choose the right one.

Cream

The most popular and effective leather shoe care product. The cream well protects the surface of shoes from external influences - dust, dirt, snow, rain, fills small cracks, and returns softness to the skin.

It contains wax, silicone, and oils. The cream can be liquid or thick. Thick is a good option for winter shoes. It has a dense consistency and contains fats and wax.

Liquid is suitable for summer and dress shoes. It has a soft texture due to its water-emulsion base.

Water repellent spray

Necessary for extending the life of shoes. It forms a protective waterproof film on the surface. It is necessary to treat shoes with it immediately after purchase, and then at least repeat it once a season.

The spray is colorless, suitable for any materials. When choosing it, it is better to give preference to a product with photocarbon resin. Unlike silicone, it provides ventilation.

Restorative paint

Used to restore color, mask scratches and abrasions.

There are three types:

• Aerosol. Apply by spraying to refresh color;
• Cream. Used to paint over various skin damage and restore color;
• Liquid paint. Used for complete repainting or restoration of shoes. Apply a thin layer with a special brush. When purchasing paint, it makes sense to choose one that is designed for the type of material you need.

Impregnation

A special shoe care product that impregnates the surface. It contains wax, photocarbon resin or silicone. Penetrating deep into the material, they protect it from dust and dirt.

The product is available in the form of a spray, foam, lotion, and emulsion. It should be applied only to a clean and dry surface, and best in the evening, as the product must be absorbed and the shoes must dry.

Stretcher

Designed to stretch tight shoes. Available in the form of lotion, spray, foam.

It should be applied to the inside of the shoe. Most of them are alcohol-based.

Anticolor

The spray is designed to protect socks or tights from staining during wear. When sprayed, it forms a protective film. Suitable for any material.

Polish

Used to care for patent leather shoes, protects them from drying out, moisturizes, and adds shine. It contains special oils and glycerin.

Sponges

Sponges soaked in glycerin are very convenient. They clean and polish the surface of shoes well, but do not protect against getting wet. In addition, their service life is short, the sponge breaks, and glycerin dries quickly.

This is a handy tool with which you can quickly put your shoes in order.

Brushes

They are made from natural or synthetic bristles of varying hardness.

Brushes are used:

• For applying cream and cleaning leather shoes;
• Washing shoes made of synthetic materials;
• Raising lint on suede shoes.

Eraser

Convenient for cleaning nubuck and suede. It is made from rubber and special abrasive particles. During cleaning, shoes crumble, combining with dirt, and the crumbs, along with dirt, are removed with a brush. In this case, the surface is not damaged, but, on the contrary, becomes velvety.

Cream composition

When choosing shoe polish, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the material used to make the shoe. On the jar of cream, the manufacturer always indicates the purpose of the product: for natural, artificial or combination leather. A mistake in choosing products can lead to damage to your favorite pair of boots.

Products for smooth and natural leather often contain wax, which protects well from moisture and gives the material an aesthetic gloss. It can be natural (carnauba, bee) and mineral. Wax prevents leather from cracking and eliminates small cracks and scratches.

Products intended for the care of winter shoes often include oils that prevent the harmful effects of saline solutions and low temperatures, and organic solvents. The second group promotes more efficient absorption of oils and paint into the upper layers of leather products.

The list of elements included in shoe polish may also include:

• silicone impregnations;
• lanolin;
• turpentine or turpentine;
• aniline and mineral paints

Knowing what your favorite skincare product consists of, it is easier to understand how it can be quickly and effectively restored.

How to properly care for shoes at home

If a person has clean shoes, a good impression is formed about him. And in order for it to maintain its appearance, you need to be able to care for it.

Caring for suede shoes

Suede is a capricious material. Immediately after purchase, suede shoes should be treated with a water-repellent spray. And it doesn’t matter whether they are winter shoes or summer shoes. This treatment helps protect shoes from moisture.

When cleaning suede and nubuck shoes, it is best to use special rubber brushes with metal “combs” and an eraser. Such shoes cannot be washed, as this will quickly cause the material to lose its original appearance. In case of contamination, it is better to use special means and, for additional protection, treat it with a water-repellent spray at least once a month. You need to maintain a rich color using coloring aerosols.

These recommendations are relevant for light and dark shoes.

Leather shoe care

Shoes made of genuine leather are expensive. Therefore, in order for it to last longer and not lose its appearance, it needs to be properly cared for.

Immediately after purchase, it should be impregnated with water-repellent agents. For polishing, use matte or glossy shoe polish.

You need to dry your shoes in natural conditions, away from heating devices. If possible, you can purchase a dryer with ultraviolet radiation.

For cleaning, do not use acetone, gasoline, or nail polish remover. Do not wash shoes in a washing machine, as they may lose shape and color. Do not use rough brushes, as this can damage the skin.

Caring for nubuck shoes

Nubuck is a fine-haired leather that, during the dressing process, is subjected to chrome tanning and sanding of the front surface with fine-grained abrasive sandpaper. Nubuck is similar to suede, but is usually made from cattle leather.

Source Wikipedia

Unlike suede, nubuck is afraid of water. If your shoes become dirty, you will only have to clean them dry. Using detergents will ruin your shoes.

Caring for textile shoes

Immediately after purchase, shoes should be impregnated with a special impregnation and in the future this will need to be done after each cleaning.

To clean shoes, it is best to purchase special shampoos, sprays, and brushes. They will help you cope with dirt better and maintain a good look longer.

If your shoes are heavily soiled, you can wash them in cold water and soap in a washing machine on the “delicate wash” setting. It is prohibited to use chlorine-containing products.

To protect shoes from negative influences, it is recommended to treat them with special impregnations, which are available in the form of spray and foam. But when choosing them, you should take into account the manufacturer’s recommendations, since a large number of different textile materials are used to make shoes.

Caring for shoes made of synthetic materials

These shoes do not require cream treatment. It is better to clean it with a silicone brush. To prevent it from getting wet during rain and slush, it must be protected with water-repellent agents.

It doesn’t matter what material the shoes are made of, in order for them to last as long as possible, they must not only be looked after, but also protected:

• Take off your shoes without stepping on the heels;
• When putting it on, use a special spoon;
• When you take it off, unzip it all the way and untie the laces;
• Don't wear suede shoes in slush.

Caring for combination shoes

If the shoes are combined and consist of different fragments, you can clean them with a toothbrush. This will allow you to apply different products to each area.

Caring for patent leather shoes

It can only be treated with soft cloths. In order for such shoes to serve for a long time, they should be regularly moistened with special sprays and protected with appropriate wax.

Caring for faux leather shoes

You can care for such shoes in the same way as natural ones. But instead of products with natural ingredients, such as beeswax, you should use silicone-based creams.

Caring for rubber shoes

It is very easy to care for these shoes. To make it look fresh, it is often enough to simply rinse it under running water or wipe it first with a damp and then a dry cloth.

How to Renew Dry Shoe Sponge

There are these things called shoe sponges, and I really like this invention. On average, such a sponge works for about a week. It could be more, but it runs out of silicone oil. What kind of substance is this, and where can I get it?

After scouring the Internet, I found several ways to restore shoe sponge.

Method 1

Liquid for impregnation of shoe sponges Dass"

It appears to be a clear, thick liquid. The composition says it contains cream-gel, wax components, and dyes. This is a question about dyes, of course. It's not there because it's transparent.

How to use? Take an old sponge, drip as much as you see fit, and rub it until it is absorbed. You can rub it in directly with your hand, but make sure there are no drips. By the way, this liquid has no expiration date. And it lasts for a very long time!

Method 2

Add a few drops of castor oil to a dry sponge. I remember how my dad always lubricated his leather shoes with castor oil in slushy weather (as well as in heavy snow and frost): his shoes always shone and no dirt stuck to them. As they say, it flowed like water off a duck's back :-)

Method 3

Is the cooler (fan) humming in the system unit?

Add two or three drops of this lubricant, and for six months to a year you will be free from such problems. Due to chemical inertness and stable viscosity even at high temperatures, this lubricant significantly extends the life of the cooler.

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Shoe care tips

To protect shoes from many unfavorable factors: drying out, cracking, getting wet, you should follow certain rules:

• If necessary, wash leather or leatherette shoes with warm soapy water and wipe with a soft cloth that absorbs water well;
• Do not wet leather shoes excessively;
• For white leather, you should not use bleach;
• After washing, use cream of the same color as the shoes.

It is better to buy shoe cleaning products only in specialized stores.

To clean the inside of shoes, you should use foam detergents. It will help to carefully clean dirt and, moreover, it will not need to be washed off.

It is recommended to keep all shoe cleaning products on the surface of the shoe for no more than 15 minutes. This time is enough to clean the dirt and the shoes will be able to gain protective properties.

To polish shoes you will need a special shoe cream, which should be applied to the shoes in a thin layer and evenly distributed over the entire surface with a shoe brush.

To clean suede, you need to use cleaning foam, special wipes and erasers. Patent leather shoes should also be cleaned with special products designed for cleaning patent leather shoes.

It is better to wash the soles of shoes or boots that are too dirty with a soapy solution.

A few more tricks

One of the easiest ways to revive dried cream is to mix it with a fresh, colorless skincare product. Colorless balms and creams are suitable for any type of leather shoes. If the cream has dried out too much, it can be preheated in a microwave oven or in a water bath.

Many people recommend using regular milk as a supplement. A few drops of this product will make the composition soft again. This advice is especially relevant for products intended for the care of light-colored shoes.

Resuscitating dried shoe polish will help you avoid unnecessary household expenses. Most of the components necessary for restoration are literally at hand, and the “revival” procedure itself will take only a few minutes.