Clever Tips to Keep Your Shoes in Great Shape

When you pay good money for a great pair of shoes, of course you want to keep them in the best shape you possibly can. Your goal is to make them last for as long as they possibly can and as long as they're in style. Here are some clever tips you can try to keep your shoes looking their very best and eliminating your need to buy more. Well at least the same style anyway, who doesn't want new shoes?

Keep your shoes in excellent form

You don't need to go out and buy an expensive shoe tree to store your shoes, all you need is a little bubble wrap. Just cut small sections of bubble wrap and roll them up and stick them inside your shoes. This will keep them from collapsing and becoming warped.

When you are ready to go on a trip and you need to pack your shoes, replace the bubble wrap from inside the shoes and pack socks or other small items in the shoes to save space. You can use the bubble wrap that you had inside your shoe to wrap the outsides of the shoes, this way your shoes won't get the rest of your clothes in the suitcase dirty.

Remove wrinkles from high heels

The high heels that you bought a few weeks ago still look great, except for one little thing. The wrinkles in the leather along the heel don't look all that great. This problem is easily fixed; get your hair dryer and some leather glue. Put the hair dryer on the warm setting and direct the air right onto the heel area of the shoe.

This works because the warm air from the hair dryer will help to soften the remaining glue of the shoe and the leather. Now smooth the leather from the top to the bottom of the heel area. To finish just glue down any loose edges and your shoe looks wrinkle free and ready for stepping.

Instant and inexpensive shoeshine

Don't go out and buy expensive shoeshine products when you have what you need right at your fingertips. Get the shine you want at the fraction of the price by using a few drops of olive oil, baby oil, or even some castor oil. Apply to your tired, dull-looking leather shoes and then buff with a clean, soft cloth.

Not only will you have shiny shoes, these lubricants will also soften the leather so the stiff areas and creases will disappear. This method also works for patent leather, belts, briefcases, and jackets as well.

Try these clever tips for keeping your shoes in great shape and you won't need to run to the shoe store as often.

Sources: Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things book