Monday, October 17, 2011

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: How To Make Your Shoes Last Longer Through Persona...

OJAMES FOOTWEARS: How To Make Your Shoes Last Longer Through Persona...: Shoes are prone to wearing out quickly just due to their very nature of daily pounding. This is the reason it is even more crucial to mainta...

How To Make Your Shoes Last Longer Through Personal Maintenance

Shoes are prone to wearing out quickly just due to their very nature of daily pounding. This is the reason it is even more crucial to maintain and care for your shoes even more than other items in your wardrobe. There are some tips that can help you prolong the life of your shoes, some of which are basic repair and cleaning routines that can be handled at home.

It doesn't take a huge amount of time, effort, or money to do the maintenance that will help to protect your investment and prolong the life of your quality shoes. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever to invest a hundred dollars or more on a pair of shoes and then not take the necessary steps to care for them properly. One of the easiest things you can do for your shoes is to clean the dirt off them gently with a soft brush and if they are wet, dry them off and stuff them with dry newspaper to help absorb any moisture and help them keep their shape while they are drying.

For leather shoes you can and should use cream to polish and protect them. After polishing you should always be sure to remove the excess with a non-abrasive cloth. Just the mere act of polishing can make your neglected shoes look almost new again, but if you keep them polished in the first place they will be more likely to never look bad to begin with.

Okay, those are the easy things now let's look at the maintenance tips that take a little more elbow grease or assistance from a professional. If you have a pair of high quality leather shoes that the heels are becoming worn on you can have the heels replaced with rubber heel caps that will not only last longer than the original ones but also be more comfortable to walk on.

Another popular replacement is that of the original leather sole. Leather soles wear out quickly and replacing them with high quality rubber soles such as Vibram will help to prolong the life of your shoes and also make them less slippery. If you live in a colder climate you will appreciate that the rubber soles help keep your feet warm better than the leather ones as well give you better protection against slipping on icy areas.

Another method of shoe maintenance that can be applied to your favorite pair of shoes is to replace the leather sole with a rubber one. Although the leather does allow room for the foot to breathe, it is less warm and more slippery. This can be a concern during the winter month especially in snowy and icy conditions. The rubber sole would provide more traction for your foot and prevent slipping and falling.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER FOOTWEARS

Leather footwear adds a class and sophistication to your outfit. Most of the people go for leather ones when it comes to look classy at certain important occasions. Be it impressing your new employer or finalizing the business deal or meeting your girlfriend's parents, you can always trust upon the pair of leather shoes to make an everlasting impression. Fine leather comes expensive, hence in order to protect them, proper handling is crucial for leather shoes. Besides polishing, you need to do a regular shoe-care. I have pen down some useful tips, which will help you to maintain your shoes for longer:

Cleaning

After using your shoes, keep in mind to clean them with a piece of cloth. This would help in removing the dust particles. You can also use soft brush to clean them. Clean your shoes on regular basis during rainy season because the mud that sticks to the shoes dries up and results in flaking of the leather. If possible, avoid wearing leather footwear during monsoons. Use cleaning solutions like creams, gels, foams and sprays to clean the grime inside the crevices.

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Conditioning

You can opt for a good quality shoe conditioner available in the market or you can also use petroleum jelly. Dab some petroleum jelly on the shoe, and wipe it in circular motions with a soft cloth. Condition your shoes, at least once in a week, to retain the shine. Select the conditioner, according to the texture of the leather. Dry the shoes properly, after conditioning.

Polishing

Use a branded shoe polish to shine your shoes. Do not compromise on the quality of the polish. Polish your shoes regularly, depending upon the usage. A fresh coat of polish can completely change the look of old, worn-out shoes. However, if you wish to change the color of your footwear, do not try to do it by using a different shoe polish. You can go to the shoe repair shop and get the color changed.

Storing

If you don't use your leather footwear regularly, you should store them in a proper way. Never put away your shoes, immediately after use. Allow them to dry properly; otherwise, they will be covered in fungus. Dust some talcum powder and cover the inside of the shoe with paper-napkin. Wrap the shoes carefully in a paper, without disturbing their shape and store them in a cloth bag.

Protecting

Leather footwear is likely to catch fungal infestation. To protect your shoes from fungus, always dry them well after you use them. Even if you find your shoes covered in fungus, do not worry. You can always get rid of the fungus. Take a toothbrush and soap solution and clean the fungus from the shoe. Clean the crevices properly and make sure there is no trace of the infestation. Dry the shoes in bright sunlight.

A little care is what you need to make your investment in leather shoes worthwhile. I hope the above tips will help you to preserve your treasure for a long time.



Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/accessories-articles/how-to-care-for-leather-footwear-1319725.html#ixzz1at1L2vDt
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