I don’t know about you, but I love to shop for shoes. It’s one of my favorite things to browse for, try on, and buy. I’ve owned brands from Target all the way to Manolo Blahnik. And no matter what the brand, or the price tag, I always want to take care of my shoes so they last as long as possible.
Shoes get a lot of wear and tear and we want to keep them in tip-top shape so you can wear them year after year. Here are some of my favorite practical and effective tips to keep any pair of shoes looking their best and keeping their shape longer.
How To Make Your Shoes Last Longer
Use A Spray Protector
The first thing I do the moment I buy a new pair of suede shoes, is to spray them with a suede protector. This is crucial for protecting your shoes from the elements. There are several types of shoe protector sprays you can buy from leather to nubuck, suede and even ones for sneakers. At the very least, you’ll want to protect your suede as it’s most susceptible to damage from water.
Spray your shoes often if they are being exposed to lots of water. It’s recommended to spray them every 7-10 wears, or whenever they get extra dirty or wet. When water stops to bead up on them, it’s definitely time to re-spray your footwear.
Resole Your Shoes
Before you wear your entire sole down on your shoes, you’ll want to get them re-soled. This will keep them looking their best and functioning much longer. For leather sole heels that feel a bit slippery, you can also add a rubber sole protector to them. This is a great way to protect the soles as leather wears down more quickly than leather.
If you have a pair of red sole Christian Louboutins, you can and should bring them to a shoe repair person before you even wear them to get a rubber sole added to them. The soles are very slippery and the red will wear off after your first wear.
And yes, you can even get a red rubber sole added! This makes the shoe more comfortable as well as the rubber is more cushioning on each step than the leather sole.
Replace Heel Tips
Have you ever noticed a clickity clacking when you walk in your high heels? This is due to the heel tip being worn down to the metal. Heel tips on stilettos and pumps should be replaced regularly from everyday wear and tear. It’s a quick swap that you can probably do yourself, but any shoe cobbler can help with this.
Store Your Shoes Properly
Caring for your shoes when you’re not wearing them is super important. Store your shoes carefully without them being pushed down and scrunched up. This also helps with preventing creasing. Keep your footwear in a cool dry place. This means, not keeping them in a garage, or attic that isn’t temperature controlled.
And if you’re really looking to protect your shoes, you may want to place them back into their dust bags. Or store them in a container.
Use Boot Shapers or Pool Noodles
One of my favorite tips for your tall boots is to use boot shapers! I love mine so much I wrote a whole review on them here. You can also use pool noodles, or a magazine. But I like these boot shapers because you can store them flat and they take up no space. They’re also easy to insert and remove.
By maintaining the proper shape of your boots, you’ll extend the life of the boots as they won’t crease when they flop over in your closet. Boot shapers also help to keep your boots upright in your closet so you can store them properly and feel more neat and organized.
Rotate Your Shoes, Don’t Wear The Same Pair Daily
Just like you shouldn’t wear the same bra two days in a row, you really shouldn’t wear any leather or suede shoes two days in a row either. Leather expands and contrasts, and it’s important to let your shoes rest in between wears.
Another great way to prevent any creasing and extend the life of your leather footwear. Plus, this is also a positive for your feet. Wearing the same shoe over and over again can cause feet issues like blisters and such. Give your feet, and the leather, a rest in between wears.
Use A Shoe Horn
Instead of shoving your foot into a shoe and bending the heel of the shoe, use a shoe horn to properly put your shoes on. This will extend the life of your shoes and keep them looking their best.
Wash Your Shoes Properly
Depending on the type of shoe you are wanting to wash, will determine how to wash them. Using a washing machine is not recommended as it can wear down the glue, and the drum of the machine can get damaged. Instead, wash your shoes by hand whenever possible.
Stuff With Newspaper Or A Shoe Tree
To extend the life of your shoes, and help to maintain the shape and prevent moisture, stuff your shoes! You can stuff your shoes with newspaper. And you can also use wooden shoe trees. These are really great for men’s dress shoes. I remember my dad having them in all his work shoes growing up.
