Care Tips for Boots and Shoes

The weather outside may be horrible, but your boots and shoes don't have to be. With these simple tips, you can keep every pair of your beloved boots and shoes looking great all season long.

1

The perfect time to spray those brand new boots or shoes with a protector spray or coat with wax (such as the all-natural ShoeRescue Wax), is before wearing them. Pay extra attention to fully coating the heels, soles and, especially, the grooves.

2

If you’re wearing them in the snow and slush and get salt stains on them, make sure to clean it off as soon as you come in – ideally with BootRescue or ShoeRescue wipes. Why? Salt can start damaging boots immediately, making the leather dry out and buckle. However, if you have an old pair of boots that have already been soiled, do not fear. Just give them a thorough wipe with BootRescue, including the heels and the grooves where salt can collect and do the most damage.

3 

For suede boots or shoes, once you’ve cleaned the salt stains off, brush them with a stiff suede brush to keep the suede looking its best. For really stubborn stains, you can use something hard to rub them off, like a nail file.

4 

The key to keeping your footwear looking great is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. So always resole or re-heel those shoes or boots before they're beyond repair.

5 

From time to time, it's a good idea to re-apply the leather or suede protector to your boots to keep them as well protected as possible.

6 

If your boots or shoes get wet, newspaper's what you need. Simply stuff your wet footwear with it and put them somewhere away from direct heat to dry.

7 

To keep the shape of your boots, when you're not wearing them, you can use wooden boot stuffers, but stuffing them with newspaper or wine bottles works just as well (and saves you money).

8 

If your shoes or boots get a little 'fragrant', here are a few easy ways to get them fresh-smelling again: replace the insoles, stick your shoes in a plastic bag and pop them in the freezer overnight (yep, really) or place dryer sheets in them for several hours after wearing.

9

Before you store your boots after the winter, make sure to clean them thoroughly so the salt won't cause permanent damage.

10 

Sunlight or extreme heat can cause leather to dry out, fade or crack, so it's best to store your boots out of direct sunlight in a temperature-controlled environment.