8 PIECES OF SHOE CARE ADVICE TO LIVE BY

To get the most out of your shoes would entail utmost care on your part. Not only will it make your shoes last for decades, it can also do you a great deal in cultivating a culture of cleanliness and care. After all, it has been said, you can judge a person by their shoes.
We in Tiger Effects embrace these values and would love to share these pieces of shoe care advice:

1. Get into a regular cleaning routine.

This means more than just owning a complete shoe cleaning kit. You really have to do it. Daily, if you must since you wear shoes everyday – when you go to work, do errands, shop or when you just go out somewhere.After a day’s wear, make sure that all dust, dirt, stains are wiped off. This will also keep germs, bacteria and fungus from building up not only in the shoes but in the place where you keep them.

2. Avoid getting your shoes extremely wet or dirty.

Unless they are aqua shoes, you must not get them wet and soaked for a long time. Even if your shoes are made of canvas or cloth, you must not forget that getting them extremely wet can still do damage. It can break the adhesive or cause water stains. That will be especially true for leathers and suede, so it is best not to use them during rainy season. The same goes if you get your shoes really dirty with mud or sludge and the like. You may think that it’s only on the surface but it can seep insole if you expose your shoes to dirt long enough.
A way to avoid getting them extremely wet or dirty would be the use of shoe covers. They are made of different materials and some are water-resistant to protect your shoes from being exposed to extreme weather conditions and natural elements.

3. Air dry your shoes.

After washing or just getting your shoes wet, some resort to using dryers or drying them under direct heat from the sun. While those can help dry your shoes faster, the heat could also cause damage. Not drying them properly can lock in moisture that can cause watermarks, break the adhesive, cause discoloration or cracking, especially for leather shoes.The tried and tested method to dry your shoes is by air drying. Some use dry newspapers to pat the surface and stuff the insoles to help absorb the moisture. Then, the shoes are left to dry in room temperature for 24 to 48 hours as some suggest.

4. Use a shoe tree to maintain the shape of your shoe.

You might wonder what this is. This is a shoe insert, usually made of wood, which we often see in shoe shops. It may not be a basic shoe care accessory, but if you know the wonders that it can do, you might think of getting one. A shoe tree holds your shoe in its original shape. In this way, the shoe can dry properly. As it is often made of cedar wood, it absorbs moisture from the insoles of your shoes. It does not only help keep your shoes dry and in shape, it also deodorizes and keeps your shoes from reeking.

5. Don’t over wear a single pair of shoes.

Yes, you always have your favorite pair among your collection and you tend to wear them daily. It could be because of the style, the comfort or basically, just because it makes you feel good when wearing them. But, did you know that over wearing can actually do damage to your shoes? You expose them too much to extreme conditions and elements and not giving them time to “breathe”and rest.
The sweat from your feet is absorbed by the material of your shoes. Of course, some would say that the shoes just served its purpose. But wearing them everyday doesn’t give sufficient time for them to dry, which can cause problems not only to your shoes but to your feet as well. Bacteria and fungus can develop which can infect your feet. It is for this reason too that others always keep a spare or an alternative pair.

6. Store your shoes in well-ventilated cabinets or storage racks.

To keep the entryways and bedrooms in our house uncluttered of shoes, we lock our shoes in closed cabinets or keep them under the bed or wherever we can hide them. While they may seem like a good storage solution to organize your home, they may not be a solution that can be good for your shoes.
Following our discussions in previous items above, your shoes need to be air dried so as not to lock in moisture. Since there is little air movement in closed storage or cabinets, humidity can rise to a level that can cause the growth of molds and mildew. This is not good for your shoes, neither for your feet.

7. Use the right shoe care product and method for each type of shoes.

Shoes are made of different materials. Leather, canvas, suede, fabric, rubber, synthetics are just some of the materials commonly used to make shoes. And, each requires a different kind of care or cleaning method. Different cleaning agents for a specific type of shoe material are readily available.
You just have to know what your shoes are made out of. The more expensive shoes or the branded ones usually have their own brand of shoe cleaning product to ensure that you can give your shoes the right kind of care.