The power of good shoes is no secret. They support us from the ground up, providing comfort, style and protection from what lurks beneath our feet. But what do we do when the wears of the world start to show on our favorite pair of kicks? What is the best option for cleaning shoes made of suede or leather? When do we give our oldest, most beloved pair of shoes a proper send-off?
Find the answers to these questions — and learn how to eliminate nasty shoe odor — below!
Basic maintenance
Put your best foot forward with some basic cleaning and upkeep! Common supplies for cleaning shoes include an old toothbrush, a clean cloth, dish soap, baking soda and water. A shoe brush and shoe cleaner are options you might consider investing in if you need to clean your shoes often.
Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to set up shop.
- First, remove the laces of your shoes to allow access to the tongue and eyelets (the part of the shoe that your laces run through).
- Use a dry cloth or shoe brush to remove any excess dirt or grime from the entirety of the shoe. Then, move on to a used toothbrush for any hard-to-reach places.
- Mix a couple drops of dish soap with warm water to create a mild cleaning solution that can be used on the fabric components of the shoe. (Hint: You can also clean your shoelaces in this mixture.)
- For the rubber sole of your shoe, mix a paste of baking soda and water. Avoid scrubbing this solution into the fabric of your shoe because this cleaning method is harsher and can cause the color of the shoe to fade.
- Use a clean cloth to dry off any excess water and let your shoes air dry before relacing them.
Suede and leather
Higher-end shoe materials such as suede and leather need specialized care when cleaning. It’s best to avoid traditional methods since some soaps can cause lasting damage. When possible, use products that are specifically designed with these materials in mind. In a pinch, a mixture of water and white vinegar can be used as a natural cleaner that can be applied to a cloth before gently scrubbing the shoe. Explore these detailed cleaning instructions for leather and suede.
Stomping out shoe odor
Now that your shoe rack has been organized and your favorite pairs of kicks are sparkling, it’s time to take care of the elephant in the room. Well-worn shoes sometimes develop a bit of an odor, but at Scentsy, nasty smells aren’t in the playbook. When your shoes become too pungent, Scentsy Fresh is the ideal way to eliminate odor from hard-to-wash fabrics like the inside of your shoes. But what if your entire parlor or mudroom needs a bit of Scentsy fragrance? For high traffic areas, we recommend the Scentsy Wall Fan Diffuser, which can scent any space in seconds. Plus, each diffuser holds up to two Scentsy Pods with fragrance that’ll last for up to 120 hours!
When to retire your shoes
It can be hard to say goodbye to your favorite pair of kicks. They’ve been with you through the good and the bad, supporting your feet whenever you’ve needed them. But when that support has faded and the damage is noticeable even after a clean, it might be time for you to retire them.
When to get rid of a pair of shoes mostly depends on how consistently they’re worn. Well-loved sneakers with frequent use will likely need to be replaced after about six months, but this can be extended to close to nine months with regular cleanings. Nicer shoes that are worn with less consistency, like heels or loafers, can last more than two years when properly taken care of. Finally, leather or suede dress shoes that are properly maintained and only worn on special occasions could last to nearly 10 years before they begin to fall apart.
We hope these tips have really swept you off your feet! Is there anything that we missed? How do you take care of your most precious pair of shoes? Let us know in the comments!
