Tips To Clean Shoes n Make It Shine

By Madhu Babu

Shoes are an important accessory, and hence they are chosen to compliment and complete the overall style statement. They primarily protect your feet from dirt and insulate your feet from hard ground. Hence shoes tend to get dirty and damaged too often requiring regular care and maintenance to increase their life. Maintaining your shoes as new requires some care, little attention and work.

Since shoes are made of different materials ranging from leather to canvas and different materials, each variety of shoes require different method of cleaning and maintenance. A shoe made of leather or rexine kind of material should never be cleaned using water. Where as a shoe made of canvas or other tough cloth based material can be cleaned using water as well as some alcohol based cleaning agents. Here are some ways to clean your shoes and make them shine like new.

Tips To Clean Shoes n Make It Shine

Tips To Clean Your Shoes And Make it Shine:

Cleaning a Leather Shoe

  • Firstly remove the lace from the shoe and brush off loose dust and debris sitting on it using a soft cloth or a brush. This maintenance needs to be done each time you wear and remove your shoe for proper care and long lasting life.
  • Rub away scuffs with some water and saddle salt on a soft cloth. Its important not to use excess water and if possible, it can also be cleaned using commercial leather shoe cleaner. Let it dry in shelter before it can be polished. A leather shoe must never be dried under direct sunlight as it leads to the formation of cracks due to dryness and discolouration.
  • Depending on your usage, you can polish your leather shoes once in a week or month. Use cream based shoe polish for longer life. After applying the polish you can buff your shoes by applying a few drops of coconut oil on a soft cloth and rubbing it gently on the shoe. This tips can clean the leather shoes and make it shine with glaze.

Cleaning sneakers and canvas shoes

  • After unlacing your shoes start by cleaning off any excess mud or dirt that can be brushed off easily. Use a brush or a soft cloth to get the surface dirt off. Use a cotton swab to clean any dirt hiding inside the groves.
  • Use a soft cloth or a cotton ball and few drops of some alcohol based shoe rubbing solution for removing any more dirt that is stuck to the shoes. You can also scrub your shoes in the sink or bathtub with soap and a brush.
  • Another tip to clean canvas shoes and make it shine like new is, place your shoes inside the washer along with the lace and add some mild detergent. Run the washer using cold water to avoid fading or discolouration. Place the shoes in shade for drying. It can take a day or two depending on the weather. Its important not to place the shoe in direct sunlight as it fades off colours. Once dried put the lace back on the shoe and use a colourless wax or cream based polish on the shoe to make it shine and look new.

These are some simple tips to clean and maintain your shoes making them look new all the time.

Story first published: Friday, September 20, 2013, 19:24 [IST]
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