Step it up—don’t neglect your shoes
Heels have been replaced with slippers, formal shoes with flip-flops and trendy sneakers with comfortable sliders. Since just the top half of a person is visible on video work calls, our footwear lies forgotten, packed away in shoe racks and shoe boxes. But there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that the pandemic will, one day, pass and you will be out and about again, sporting a new pair. The bad news—if you don’t care for your shoes now, you won’t have anything to wear when the lockdown restrictions are lifted. But don’t fret yet. We asked our experts to share handy tips, tricks and techniques on how to care for your shoes and here’s what they had to say.
Giving the traditional juttis a modern twist is what Shirin Mann, founder and creative head of Needledust, specialises in. She believes that the only vital shoe care practice one must follow is to keep your shoe away from moisture. “If possible, run your dehumidifiers in your shoe closets. That helps them really go a long way,” says Mann. Organisational wizard Rohini Rajagopalan, founder of Organise with Ease, agrees. “Keeping in mind that its rainy season, I would recommend using moisture absorbents in your shoe storage. They work very well to control the excess moisture we experience during this season,” says Rajagopalan.But rainy season or not, there are some shoe care basics everyone needs to follow. “Take all your footwear out, wipe them clean with a dry cloth and put them out in the sun for a few hours. If that is not possible, just keep them out to air. Also, remember to air the cupboard you are storing your shoes or footwear in frequently,” she adds.
Brush, polish, and store dress shoes correctly, says Jyoti Narula, founder JOE SHU, a men’s footwear brand. “Follow a multi-step process to prevent damage starting with regularly brushing the shoes to prevent build-up of dirt and debris,” she says. Another handy tip by Narula is to not let dirt ruin the look of your red bottomed heels. “Wipe the heels according to its material,” she says. Use a dry microfiber rag for leather and satin shoes, and if your expensive shoes do get wet, wipe them down with a dry rag and let air dry; and avoid applying heat to dry them.
But some shoes require extra TLC, such as leather juttis. “I make juttis using leather that are then embellished with embroidery, so they should not be kept enclosed or in an airtight case. They need to be aired out at least once in 10 to 15 days. Leather needs to breathe to stay in its original form,” explains Mann. According to Narula, shining leather shoes using a neutral leather cream at least once a month is essential to maintain their finish. Also, storing them correctly using a shoe tree to keep their shape intact is important. “Use a shoe horn while wearing your leather shoe. It saves wear and tear of the heel collar. Plus, to remove bad odour from your leather shoes, allow them to dry naturally. Avoid placing in direct sun or using a heater,” she says.
A common mistake that all experts seem to agree most people make is storing shoes in their boxes. “They tend to get moisture locked. It is best to store them in muslin dust bags,” says Mann.
It is also important how you stack, stash and store your shoes at home. “I recommend, first declutter and keep only what you would use in your shoe shelf,” says Mann. “Once you have done that, ensure that the shoes are kept in a way so that they are easy to access and use. Stuffing the cupboard will only ensure that they lose their shape and you will never find what you want to wear.” Rajgopalan advises investing in a good storage unit for your shoes.
Another growing trend is to store the shoes after disinfecting them. This can be done using disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces and insoles. Don’t just use the wipe all over the shoe though, do a test patch first to see if your footwear is reacting to the wipe. If you have antiseptic and sanitising sprays, you can use those as well from a distance of 30 cm, but remember to do a patch test. Do bear in mind that sanitisers with high alcohol content may damage your shoe, especially leather ones. Fabric or canvas footwear can be washed in the washing machine under high temperatures and then air dried. Remember, it’s important to be gentle with your shoes, no matter what the material.
