Shoes take quite the beating for you. While your feet don’t technically need shoes, the modern world has made them an absolute necessity. People need shoes to protect their feet from glass and debris on the ground, to keep things comfortable on hard concrete, and to complete their outfits. However, shoes have lost quality over the years, like many different fashion elements. What used to last decades with the proper care now gets tossed when the style gets tired.
If you’re someone who wants to create a signature look, live more mindfully, and are a rebel against the culture of over-consumerism, then this guide can help you make your shoes last an absolute lifetime.
Start with Great Shoes
Leather shoes that can be repaired are essential when it comes to shoes that can actually fulfill that lifelong promise. Those shoes can still be bought new today, though the upfront price might be a bit daunting. Don’t worry. If you’re on a particularly tight budget, you can easily look for said shoes second-hand. Otherwise, know that you’ll end up saving more throughout that shoe’s life than those buying new every few years.
Get the Right Supplies
There are many great shoe care supplies that can make that shoe more comfortable and longer lasting. Simple things like a disinfectant and deodorizer can help leather shoes look and be their best. To really take care of your shoes, however, you’ll want a shoe shine and buffing brush. What these products do is keep the leather in great condition, so those shoes don’t just hold up over the years but look amazing.
How to Take Care of Your Shoes at Home
The best way to take care of your shoes at home is to:
- Put your shoes on properly to avoid damaging the heel
- Clean your shoes regularly to minimize dirt’s wear and tear
- Buff your shoes regularly to shine and protect the leather
- Deodorize and disinfect your shoes often to prevent bacteria build-up
Try to clean your shoes at least once a week. You can learn how to do this properly online with how-to videos. There is a thriving show collection community out there who are passionate about heritage shoes and how to take care of them. Find tutorials from them to help keep your shoes in amazing condition for longer.
Getting Your Shoes Repaired
Wear and tear will get the better of any shoe. The good news is that cobblers do still exist, even if they aren’t as popular as they were in the past. You can have the heel replaced and even the entire sole refitted.
You’d be amazed at how much of a well-made shoe can be fixed. That’s why it’s entirely possible to pick up a pair of second-hand shoes and give them a new life. Yes, those well-made heritage shoes can be expensive, but considering that you can get them fixed again and again for a relatively low cost means you only really need to buy one pair that will last you a lifetime.
