Best Tips and Tricks to Make Your Shoe Last Longer

Posted by Anil Kumar on December 18th, 2020

You’ll spend a fair amount of time in your shoes, and they take a beating over the years due to wear and tear, improper care as well as from the weather. Everything has a lifespan, just as any other article of clothing. But there are a few simple measures that you can take, to protect your favourites and make them last longer for years to come. No matter if you choose loafers, oxfords, or bellies, here is a rundown of the best tips and tricks that you can try out, to give them a second life.

Use a Wooden Shoe Tree 

We all have a natural tendency to hurl the shoes under the bed or let them scattered all over the home. But even if you arrange them, stacking one over the other, it will eventually make them alter their shape. 

So invest in a wooden shoe tree as it holds your shoes in its proper shape, allows your shoes to breathe, and avoids creasing. Added to that, a shoe tree wicks away moisture and keeps the stingy smell at bay. 

Wooden shoe tree, especially the cedar one, removes excess sweat produced by your feet, which may otherwise age your shoes. So it’s important to buy a cedar shoe tree along with a high-quality pair of shoes. Even though shoe trees are often used to hold men’s shoes, there’s no problem with a woman choosing a shoe tree for her bellies. 

Place Them in Cloth Shoe Bags 

It may seem as though the dust bags within your shoebox doesn’t have any serious purpose, but verily it serves a purpose. And most likely, you’ll throw away your shoeboxes when you get home unless you have enough space within your wardrobe to place it. So give your dust bags a go, that will otherwise collect dust and scuffs with time. So every time you want to get those shoes, you can easily spot them out from the depths of your wardrobe. In case if you don’t have such bags, then a pillowcase can be a great alternative!

Stretch Them Out 

Based on the weather and how much you walk, your shoes may fit differently on one day than they do when tried in the next day. But if you notice that your shoes are way beyond small or big, then you can go visit a specialist to get them stretched. When it comes to big size shoes, use a padded insole. 

But the flexibility varies from one pair to that of another- for instance, when compared to calf-high boots, it will be much easier to stretch penny loafers. But if you really love your kicks, then go to a good cobbler to get it done. But see to it that you count on a professional to stretch them out. 

Condition and Polish Them

Just as our skin, leather shoes weaken and crack when exposed to dry or cold climates. So if you wish to prolong its life, then apply a leather conditioner on a monthly basis. 

It might seem to be an old school idea, but you can give your leather shoes a second life, just with a slick of polish. With closer inspection, you’ll also be able to spot out the damage that calls for repair. 

Get Toe Taps 

It will be better if you get toe taps for your shoes. While taking each step if you place more emphasis on the toe area, then the area around the balls of your feet will quickly deplete in the long run. By placing toe taps, you’ll not just prevent further spreading of current damage, but for long keeps your kicks intact. 

Protect the Soles 

The prime spot that you’ll ever notice damage on your shoes is at the soles. But you can make them last longer, with a removable sticky sole protector. It protects your shoe soles, and it won’t leave behind any residue on them. 

If you notice that the soles have started to wear out, then better get them replaced by taking them to a cobbler. The more the soles wear out, the more it will affect the rest of your shoes, and eventually makes them not capable of getting mended. 

Rotate Your Shoes 

Even if you’re wearing your favourite pairs of shoes day after day, they will age in a jiff. So it’s better not to wear the same pair two days straight, since it gives them a longer life, but not only that, you’ll also be creative with your choices. Added to that, your shoes get a chance to dry completely, before it’s worn again. If your shoes aren’t properly dried, then no sooner it will turn stinky and weaker. 

Keep Stinky Shoes at Bay

Most likely, you have a stinky smelling pair in your wardrobe. If you’ve decided to throw them anyways, then it’s better to give it a second thought- there are ways to freshen up your stinky shoes. Air purifying bags do the trick since most of them contain active charcoal that not just sucks the moisture out of your shoes, but also odour and eliminate unwanted bacteria. All you have to do is simply place one bag on each shoe and leave them overnight. 

Use Shoe Horn 

Are you finding it difficult to slide your foot into the shoe every day? So you need to realize that when you forcefully slide your foot into the shoe, then you will damage the heel cup, which in turn reduces their lifespan. There comes the importance of shoehorn, with which you can easily wear your shoes in a jiff, and it helps your feet fit properly on your shoes. It will be your best bet if you have a foot injury. By using a shoehorn whenever you put on shoes, it prevents any damage to the heel cup. 

Store Them in a Dry Area 

Always leave your shoes to dry in a cool and dry area at night. Those that you often wear will be more exposed to humidity and have more moisture when compared to the shoes in your wardrobe. Store the shoes that you often wear in a well-ventilated area to let the wet shoes to breathe. 

Spray Water Protector

When wet, your leather shoes are vulnerable, but fret not- there are a lot of water protectors out there which you can spray to prevent any damage. Once in a month, spray on them before you wear them, and follow the instructions as mentioned in the bottle. 

Take Preventive Measures 

After wearing your brand new shoes for a couple of days, head over to a cobbler and get the toes and outsoles fortified. If you do that, you can keep on replacing the outsoles whereas the actual soles remain undamaged. It’s much harder to get your shoes done after your soles wear out.

Use Toothbrush To Clean Your Shoes

If a need for cleaning shoes arises, then instead of tossing them into a washing machine, use a toothbrush. Since your shoes may wear out with machine wash, choose a toothbrush instead and clean them after adding a little laundry detergent atop the toothbrush. You can also easily clean those hard to reach grooves and thoroughly clean that area. 

Simply follow these tips and tricks so that you will probably have even more of them since you really don’t have to throw away worn-out ones as often. Make sure that you spend some time cleaning your shoes, make them shiny, and this process is quite easy!