Surely, your shoes are in pain and agony because of the everyday torture and pressure you inflict on them. Commuter routes, coffee spills, and puddles – all of them are enemies to your shoes. However, you can double the lifespan of your shoes by spending fifteen minutes on maintenance.
Professional services are expensive and unnecessary in this case. The maintenance of your shoes requires the following items: a horsehair brush, saddle soap, and a good conditioner such as Bick 4. Also, you may want to use an old t-shirt and a shoe tree in case you like it. The whole set will cost you less than pizza and will last for years.
First of all, you should clean up extra dust from your shoes using the brush. Spend thirty seconds brushing them with some force paying special attention to seams and welts because all the dirt accumulates there. You will be surprised how much dust they hide.
Now, take your t-shirt and wet it a bit and create lather with saddle soap. Rub the leather with the brush in circular motion making sure to wipe the soap lather constantly during this process. Do not soak your shoes but the light foam is quite enough. Let them air dry for a couple of minutes without the heat.
After drying, apply a thin layer of conditioner to your shoes. Rub it with the brush into the leather carefully because it protects leather from cracking during the run to the bus stop. Polish the remaining conditioner using another piece of your t-shirt until your shoes shine.
The entire process does not take even half of a television show and monthly maintenance will prevent leather from drying out and keep the stitching in perfect state. Now, your shoes look brand new and you do not need to replace them after every semester.
But there is a different approach to suede shoes. Do not use saddle soap on this material. Brush the suede in one direction and use a rubber eraser to eliminate any scuffs. And if you accidentally spilled the coffee on your suede shoes, the best luck for you is that they were not suede.
Rotating shoes is another powerful technique. Leather has to breathe and dry after each use to stay in good condition. Constant wearing of one pair of shoes will result in internal rotting. Give them a break and use the shoe tree.
To tell the truth, most people do not think of the health of their shoes until it is too late. Mostly people wear shoes with heels that were worn down at an angle, thus destroying their knees. So a little effort today will protect you from many troubles in the future.
Create a reminder on your phone to perform the maintenance of your shoes on Sundays. Sit down and listen to your favorite podcast, get your stuff and give a little attention to things that ease your life. Remember that shoes carry you through the chaos of graduate studies and should receive some attention. Plus, it feels great to come to the seminar with shining Oxfords.