When putting on shoes, first loosen the shoelaces before using a shoehorn: careful daily use is the first step in shoe maintenance. Shoe damage often starts from the heel. Therefore, it is advisable to use a shoehorn when putting on shoes. At home, prepare a long-handled one, and carry a portable one for daily use. Also, do not force your feet into shoes; for lace-up leather shoes, make it a habit to loosen the laces before putting them on.
* Use shoe trees to prevent shoe deformation: inserting shoe trees is the best way to prevent shoes from deforming. Factors such as foot shape, walking style, body temperature, moisture, and rain can cause shoes to lose shape, especially when feet sweat or shoes get wet. Always use shoe trees to maintain the shoe shape. Since body temperature and moisture can loosen leather, shoe trees should be inserted while the shoes are still warm inside.
* Perform maintenance immediately after purchase: new shoes have not been treated with shoe polish. To protect new shoes, always apply shoe conditioner before wearing, polish them, and spray with waterproof mist. Whether or not these two steps are done greatly affects the aging speed of the shoes. Also, even your favorite shoes should not be worn every day. Rotating different pairs is one way to prevent shoe aging.
* Essential basic shoe care supplies: basic supplies for shoe care include shoe brushes, cleaning oil, shoe polish, cloths, and waterproof spray. It is best to use horsehair shoe brushes and have at least two—one large for the whole shoe and one small for detailed areas. Shoe polish should match the shoe color. Use brown polish for brown shoes and black polish for black shoes. Since shoe polish and cleaning oil have different properties, shoes will not discolor if used correctly. When polishing new shoes for the first time, start from an inconspicuous area.
* Correct maintenance methods can extend the life of shoes. The correct sequence is as follows:
① Use a large shoe brush to lightly brush the entire shoe and check if the protruding parts of the shoe edge have dirt.
② Use a small shoe brush to clean dirt and dust from the concave and convex parts such as the shoe edge or seams.
③ Loosen the shoelaces, then use a small shoe brush to clean dirt from the less visible outer areas.
④ Squeeze a small amount of cleaning oil onto a cloth and apply it evenly over the entire shoe. At this time, it is most important to thoroughly remove old shoe polish residue from the shoe.
⑤ Take another cloth (do not mix with the one used for cleaning oil), apply a small amount of shoe polish, and cover the entire shoe. About the size of a little finger's tip is enough.
⑥ After applying polish over the entire shoe, use a clean soft cloth to buff the whole shoe. Do not neglect the details.
⑦ Finally, spray waterproof mist. Waterproof mist not only protects shoes from water but also helps prevent dirt from sticking.
⑧ After the waterproof mist dries, insert shoe trees into the shoes.
* Maintenance method after getting wet: if shoes are soaked by rain, immediate proper treatment can prevent deformation.
① First, use an absorbent cloth to soak up the water on the shoe surface. Be careful not to rub too hard, as attached dirt may scratch the shoe surface.
② Insert newspaper or tissue paper inside the shoes and replace them frequently to completely absorb moisture.
③ When dry to a certain extent, insert shoe trees to prevent deformation. Then place the shoes in a ventilated area to air dry in the shade.
④ Once completely dry, maintain the shoes according to the general care method.
