9 Shoe Care Essentials

You might not think it but one of the most noticeable signs of a tired wardrobe is the condition of a man’s footwear. An old saying has it that you can tell a gentleman by his shoes and this old adage has even been backed up by academic research*. People really do make assumptions on your personality, education and earning power based on the condition (and style) of your footwear. There really is no excuse for dirty, dull or scuffed shoes when personal maintenance is so easy and the materials to do it yourself are so cheap.

What you’ll need:

1. Cleaning brushes – a soft haired brush for removing dirt and debris from the shoe and a smaller welt brush for cleaning between the shoe’s upper and the sole (an old toothbrush will do)

 Various brushes used to clean shoes

 

2. A lint free cloth - for applying polish directly to the shoe, in a few small dabs and rubbing it in to the leather

 

3. Polishing brushes – You’ll need a number of polishing brushes for buffing those shoes to a parade quality shine. A good idea is to clearly label your polish brushes for each colour - residual black polish on a light tan brogue can be a costly mistake to make. 

 

A polish brush used to polish shoes

 

4. A range of polish colours are also a good idea; black, dark brown and a neutral or clear polish for tan shoes or other colours should do it

 

 Various polishing colours

 

5. Suede eraser and suede brush – the eraser does exactly what it says on the tin, allowing you to get rid of small marks on your treasured suede shoes. The suede brush will allow you to restore the nap of the suede if the fuzz is looking a little bald. 

 

6. A shoe tree – these nifty little devices are best used immediately after wearing the shoe and fill out the shape of the shoe, stopping the leather from collapsing inwards while it is still warm from the heat of your foot. Filling out the shoe while it cools keeps unsightly creases from forming in the leather which can eventually lead to irreparable cracking.

Unvarnished shoe trees are best as the porous nature of the wood soaks up any humidity from recent wear, helping the durability of the leather and also aiding odour control. Shoe trees are not expensive and are a wise investment to prolong the life of your shoes. 

 

A Shoe Tree used to keep the shape of your shoe

 

7. Stuffing - However, if you travel a lot and don’t want the extra weight of solid wood shoe trees in your luggage, keep some crepe paper or ball up some newspaper to stuff into your shoes when you get back to your hotel room.

 

8. More shoes – wearing the same pair of shoes every day will inevitably lead to a short life span for your footwear. Try to get at least three pairs of good quality shoes on rotation, pairing your shoes with different suits or workwear can also create the illusion of having a much larger wardrobe, as it adds variety to your daily outfit.

 

9. A good cobbler – a good pair of shoes can be re-soled or have a new heel applied by a professional cobbler but choose carefully. Specialist cobblers are a dying breed but can be the salvation of a much loved pair of brogues and massively extend the life of your shoes.  

 

So now you have the what. For the how of cleaning and polishing your shoes who better to turn to than the experts over at Kiwi? Check out this quick guide and let us know if you have any tips or tricks for looking after your favourite footwear.

*http://www.medicaldaily.com/you-can-judge-90-percent-strangers-personal-characteristics-just-looking-their-shoes-240793