Take care of your shoes: the right tips for each type of material

June 17, 2021

Have you ever thought about how many challenges our shoes face every day, and how important they are? Probably among the various items of clothing that are part of everyday life, those that we wear on the feet, which go to the ground, support our body and favour a more or less correct posture are the most subject to wear.

This is why it is inevitable that, over time, they deteriorate, get dirty and begin to show signs of wear. Thus, even the shoes that we liked the most and made us proud when we bought them, if they are not cared for enough, risk turning into neglected and ugly objects to behold. With due attention, however, it is always possible to recover them. For this we have created a practical guide that will help you to keep them in the best way, with simple, cheap and different do-it-yourself methods depending on the material and colour. Ready to do good to your shoes?

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Being in contact with the ground, it is practically inevitable that the shoes get dirty or, worse, that they get damaged. How do you clean them? Are you sure you have done it in the most appropriate way? Each material and each color requires specific care.

Leather shoes

Beautiful and timeless, leather shoes are as popular as they are delicate. To clean and take care of them, first of all, it is always good to make sure that dirt such as dirt or dust does not spend too much time on their surface.

Remove it with an old toothbrush or shoe brush, taking care to wipe these tools gently to avoid causing scratches.
If your shoes have laces, remove them, and at this point you are ready for the actual cleaning. With a clean, dry rag, wipe over the places where the shoes are dirtiest. You can also use an old tea towel or kitchen napkin. For stains, in this phase, talcum powder or wet wipes for children, the more delicate ones, are also useful.
At this point, after removing the most evident “dry” dirt, moisten another cloth with hot water - without exaggerating - and begin to wipe it gently on your leather shoes. You can also use a small amount of mild soap, which is then carefully removed.
Let them air dry without exposing them to sunlight or strong heat sources and, if you like, treat the skin with a cream wax.

Suede and nubuck shoes

For this type of material, which is particularly delicate, it is necessary to obtain a specific brush and a “magic eraser”. These are objects that are readily available in shops that sell home care products, and at a low cost. As an alternative to the magic eraser, even a very simple eraser will do.

With the brush - to be used always with due delicacy - remove dirt, earth and dust, moving it in one direction only.
At this point, remove the darker stripes from the suede with your rubber, always rubbing lightly so as not to damage the delicate material.
If the suede or nubuck is stained, remove the grease or grease stains with a small dose of corn starch, letting it sit for 2-3 hours and then brushing it off.

Canvas shoes

This material is also very popular among footwear, especially in spring or summer: here's how to make them look like new again.

First of all, remove all the dirt with the help of an old toothbrush or a shoe brush. Always be careful to move gently so as not to cause damage.
To clean the sole, you can prepare a mixture of water and bicarbonate in equal parts, in order to obtain a paste. Always with a toothbrush, pass it under your shoes and then wash off the paste with a damp cloth.
What about the stains? Of course, canvas shoes can be put in the washing machine, always making sure to choose a delicate program at low temperatures. However, if they do not clean enough, you can proceed with a stain remover for fabrics, first testing it on a hidden area to make sure it does not cause damage. Pre-treat your shoes, let them sit and then wash them - even in the washing machine.
For drying? Always choose a place not exposed to direct light or heat sources such as radiators.

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Patent leather shoes

Whether they are male or female, with heels or moccasins, patent leather shoes are another classic of elegant clothing. To take care of them and make sure they always keep looking like new, the first thing to do is always make sure that dirt, dirt and dust do not accumulate in excess on them. The same old toothbrush or shoe brush will help.

Act carefully and very gently. If superficial scratches have formed on your patent leather shoes, try to remove them with a very common eraser. Yes, even in this case the classic stationery accessory can be very useful, being careful not to use it too forcefully.
If the rubber is not enough, you can also try using a little hand sanitising gel or petroleum jelly against scratches.
For the inside, however, you can use a damp cloth, such as an old towel, soaked in warm water.
If you want, you can add a few drops of laundry detergent, to be applied gently and then removed with another damp cloth.
Before putting on your patent leather shoes again, make sure they are completely dry. Also in this case, it is good to make sure not to leave them in the sun or near heaters. It won't take long: in about 30 minutes, the damp should be gone.

White shoes

Have you ever had any of this colour? Probably yes. White shoes are versatile, sporty and elegant at the same time, and never go out of style. Difficult, however, that to always keep them as they were when they left the store, right? If you want to recover that aspect, however, just dedicate some time to their care.

First step: remove surface dirt. Given the light color, it will be necessary to repeat this operation more often than other colors, especially if our white shoes are made of leather. Also for this material, toothpaste will be useful in case of stains, but making sure that it is white in color. Rub it with a damp cloth and then remove it with another clean, dry cloth.
White canvas shoes? Here we can use soap. Choose a mild detergent and test it first on a hidden area. Then scrub it gently with a brush, rinse your shoes thoroughly and dip them in hot water.
You can also try bleaching them with bleach, obviously to be used in a limited and prudent way.
If you do not want to use this substance or the washing machine, remember that you can also act with sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide and water. How? Preparing a paste in a bowl with these ingredients: a teaspoon of bicarbonate, half of water and half of hydrogen peroxide.
Rub the mixture on the shoes with a toothbrush and put the laces in the bowl as well.
At this point, just let your white shoes dry for about 4 hours, even in the sun. The patina that has been created on them can be removed by banging them against each other.

And don't forget about the insoles

It may seem obvious, but it is essential to clean and sanitize the insoles just like the rest of the shoes. After all, it is precisely on them that we place our feet, and it is here that, over time, germs, bacteria and bad smells can proliferate. We therefore explain how to proceed.

First, remove them from your footwear. Do this with due care, trying not to bend or damage them. To do this, it is preferable to grab them from the back and gently pull them until they come out.
Brush them to remove any dirt, dust or lint - an old toothbrush will do as well.
In a sink or in a container, prepare a mixture of hot water and dish detergent (a few drops will be enough, preferably delicate).
Dampen a toothbrush in this compound and, gently, start scrubbing, taking care not to wet your insole too much, so that it does not get damaged in the operation. If you don't trust the toothbrush, you can choose a dish sponge or a cotton rag.
Rub both sides and then remove the residues of soapy water with another sponge or a clean cloth.
At this point it is necessary to let them dry well in the air, choosing a well-ventilated and not hot and humid place, conditions that favor the proliferation of bacteria. Sunlight will work fine too.
If you want to ensure complete sanitation, you can spray your insoles with a mixture of water and denatured alcohol (the classic rose alcohol), or white wine vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
And the baking soda? Also in this case it can be very useful. By putting our insoles in a resealable food bag (those also available at IKEA, so to speak) together with 100 grams of baking soda, make sure they are completely sprinkled with the white powder and leave it to act overnight, or at least 6-8 hours. When you take out your insoles, you will notice the power of baking soda: this substance will have captured all bad smells and will have restored hygiene.