Shoe Care 101: Extending the Life of Your Favorite Footwear

Your shoes are one of the first things people notice and the hardest part of an outfit to replace. Yet shoe care is often the most neglected aspect of wardrobe maintenance. With a few simple techniques, you can extend the life of your shoes dramatically.

Rotate Your Shoes

The single most important shoe care practice is rotation. Never wear the same pair two days in a row — leather and fabric need time to dry out and recover their shape between wears.

Clean Immediately After Wear

Do not let dirt set into your shoes. After each wear, wipe off surface dirt with a soft brush or damp cloth. For leather shoes, use a dedicated leather cleaner and conditioner.

Use Shoe Trees and Stuffing

Shoe trees — preferably made of cedar — maintain the shape of structured shoes and absorb moisture between wears. For shoes without proper shoe trees, stuff them loosely with acid-free tissue paper.

Protect Before You Wear

Preventative care is always more effective than repair. Apply a waterproofing spray to leather and fabric shoes before your first wear, and reapply it seasonally.