Tips for Caring and Cleaning for Your Shoes

Having shiny shoes is a vital component of any job interview, and if you want to know the mark of a man, look at his shoes. It doesn't matter how smart his suit, how well ironed his shirt: if his shoes aren't clean, he will look like a scruff.

As well as aesthetics, it makes practical sense to look after your shoes. On the average, we spend four hours on our feet and take about thousands of steps each day.

Before wearing a new pair of leather shoes, clean them with shoe cream. Shoe creams contain lanolin, which will nourish the leather and give it a protective coating. Fabric, suede, and nubuck shoes should be treated with a protective spray. Do not wear new shoes in wet weather.

Do not wear the same pair of shoes day in, day out. They need time for the leather to dry. Store on racks. If you do not have enough room for shoe racks, put your shoes in one of the drawers in the base of the bed - they make useful and accessible storage for shoes.

If you prefer to keep your shoes in boxes, a favorite trick of the fashion tribe is to take a Polaroid of the shoes and stick it on the end of the box, so you can see at a glance what it contains. However, it is far simpler to buy transparent boxes. Trawl the clothes care department of large stores and internet sites for suitable options.

When traveling, stuff shoes with socks to help them keep their shape and also helps economize on space. Put into shoe bags before packing. Some of the designer brands of shoes are sold with felt storage bags. Do not throw these away. They are very useful for packing shoes when going on holiday.

Clean shoes after every wearing and before putting them away. If they are wet or muddy, stuff with newspaper and allow them to dry naturally in a warm, dry place. Do not put them in front of a radiator, or the leather may crack or dry out and become stiff.

Brush the mud off when it is dry, using a stiff brush. If the shoes are still dirty, wipe all over with a barely damp cloth before polishing. For really dirty shoes, an old-fashioned remedy that works well is to clean them with saddle soap before polishing. As well as cleaning, it will condition and preserve the leather.

Once any dirt is remove, polish the shoes. Apply a small amount of polish with a soft cloth. Start at the toe and rub the polish in, using a circular motion. Fold the cloth and lightly buff the shoe, then insert a shoetree and put the shoe away. Before wearing, buff the surface again with a soft, clean cloth.

Use a soft damp cloth to clean patent leather shoes. Use a little vinegar to remove finger marks. Patent leather is covered with a fine plastic film. Do not leave it in contact with patterned or colored polythene bags - they can leave a permanent imprint.

To clean suede and nubuck shoes, brush gently with a suede brush. Go easy or you will remove the top layer. Use short, quick strokes to raise the nap. Or suede, wrap sticky parcel tape round your hand, sticky-side up and pat the shoe all over the remove dust and bring up the nap. This is useful for delicate suede that might be damaged by a wire brush. For oily spots, use a suede stick. To remove worn suede, put the little on and hold the shoes over the steam. Allow them to dry and ten brush well.