How To Care For Your Shoes

According to a study by Vivo Barefoot, 23 billion pairs of shoes are made every single year, and 22 billion pairs are thrown into landfill. A huge 149 million of those shoes come from the UK. That’s a crazy number to visualise, isn’t it?

The majority of our shoes are made from materials that are tricky to recycle, like plastic, synthetic rubber and nylon. Especially when they’re combined, it can be near impossible to split up the components and recycle them all separately. That’s why only 5% of our shoes actually end up getting recycled at their end of life (a number we’re working hard to change).

Taking care of our wardrobe is one of the best ways to make a sustainable impact - and that extends to our shoe-drobe too! These handy tips will help you keep your kicks in top condition, so they last for as long as possible. Not only will they save you money on buying new shoes, but you will be able to keep more shoes out of the bin, and in circulation - saving the planet at the same time.

A Few Tips For Shoe Care

Rotate Your Shoes to Prevent Quick Wear and Tear

Wearing one pair of shoes at a time is a sure-fire way to see them wearing out in record time. To keep your favourites in the best condition, make sure you’re having a break between wears. And if that means spending a day in your slippers every so often, don’t worry - we won’t tell.

Protect shoes from the Elements

Once upon a time, someone, somewhere invented weather-proofing spray, and we’ve been singing their praises ever since. We’re not sure what’s inside this miracle concoction, but it’s saved many a pair from the damage of an unscheduled downpour.

It only takes five minutes to weather-proof your shoes, and you’ll be free to hop, skip and jump through the puddles on your way home.

Say YES to socks in shoes

Sweaty feet equal sweaty shoes, and there’s nothing worse than finding out that your favourite pair has an embarrassing pong that doesn’t seem to go away, even when you air them out.

Hey, it happens to the best of us, but you can avoid any unnecessary embarrassment by keeping your socks on, especially in the summer months, and when your shoes are made of canvas or fabric.

Take Them off (and Put Them On) Properly

Kicking your shoes off after a long day is tempting, but it can cause damage that’s tricky to repair. Try to avoid choosing the lazy route if you want to keep your shoes in good nick.

The same goes for putting them on - leaving laces tied can save those valuable few seconds, but it could take years off the life of your favourite shoes.

Master Your Shoe Storage

Keep your shoes in a dark, cool, dry place when you’re not wearing them. Direct sunlight can cause discolouration, and heat and moisture can transform your shoes into the breeding ground for some nasty bacteria.

And for those really fancy ones - the ones you probably don’t wear all that much - keep them in a shoe bag, and you’ll protect them even more.

Bonus: you’ll feel fancy too.

Choose Shoes Cleaning Products Wisely

We’ve all been there - quickly grabbing for the nearest bottle of whatever soapy thing is available to douse your shoes after a spillage. Sometimes it’s fine, but sometimes using the wrong cleaner on your shoes can spell disaster.

Always take your time to read packaging, and when in doubt try out a cleaning solution on a little patch before you apply it all over.

Get Friendly With Your Local Cobbler

Yes, it might sound like a career from the 1800s, but cobblers are still very much in business, and can work magic on your shoes.

From resoling to colour restoration and making impossible scratches disappear, even shoes in dire condition can be revived with a trip to the cobbler.

You’ll also be supporting a local business, which, in today’s day and age, is something we need a lot more of.

Don’t Ignore the Signs

With shoe care, the quicker you deal with a problem, the better the chances of restoring them back to full health.

So when you see the first signs of a sole coming away, or a hole starting to form, please don’t just ignore it.

Caring For Different Kinds Of Shoes

Different shoes need different care, and it’s important to take that into consideration when you’re looking after them. Using the wrong chemical or cleaning method could be the difference between the perfect revival and a serious issue.

Leather Shoes

Looking after leather shoes can be a bit of an art form. They need regular TLC to stay in the best condition, but the good news is that with a bit of love they can live a long and sustainable life. Here are our top leather shoe tips:

• Wipe them regularly with a damp soft cloth to remove dirt and dust build up.
• Invest in a high quality leather cleaner for any deeper stains.
• Use a leather conditioner sparingly and regularly to prevent cracks.
• Invest in a shoe tree (channel your grandad here) to keep the heels in shape.

Suede Shoes

Suede shoes struggle with getting wet, and in a country like the UK, that can be a bit of a problem. Here are our top care tips for suede.

• Keep a suede brush on hand for cleaning off dirt when you get home.
• For stubborn stains use warm water and mild soap, and gently dab, dab, dab.
• Suede protector is a great way to keep your suede shoes looking fresh, we would recommend applying it as soon as you get new shoes home.
• Inevitably, your suede shoes will start to look flat and shiny over time. A suede brush is also a brilliant solution to restore that fluffy brand new look.

Fabric Shoes and Trainers

Fabric shoes like trainers can be a little bit easier to clean than leather and suede shoes, so they’re able to withstand more muddy walks. Each pair will be slightly different in how’s best to care for them, but in general, here are a few pointers:

• Keep a handy stain-remover pen in your bag for quick fixes on the go, especially for light coloured shoes.
• A mild soap solution will help combat most stubborn stains - but usually only to an extent.
• To air dry shoes after washing, or if they get wet, stuff them with newspaper so they keep their shape.
• And if you’re thinking about drying them quicker - make sure to avoid tumble dryers (at all costs).

Machine Washing Your Shoes

We wouldn’t recommend machine washing your shoes, because you never know what could happen (and we’d rather not be held accountable if something bad does).

Sometimes it can transform a beaten up old pair of canvas trainers so they look like they’re brand new. And other times things can go quite badly wrong.

We’re talking soles completely removed from the fabric, or worst case scenario - a broken washing machine.

But if you’re feeling wild, and you do want to give it a go, then the materials that will benefit most from a washing machine clean are nylon, cotton and polyester. Leather, suede, rubber and vinyl will usually not react well, so it’s best to wash them by hand.

Okay, risk taker, the first step is to remove the insoles and shoe laces, pop your shoes inside a garment bag or pillowcase, and wash them on a delicate cold wash.

This is going to give your shoes and your washing machine the best chance of coming out the other side safely.

And after you’re finished, always air dry your shoes - don’t tumble dry them, as the direct heat can melt certain types of glue and cause permanent damage.

Side note: if this does happen, then the cobbler might know how to fix it.

The Shoe Care Toolkit

Creating a shoe care toolkit is a great idea for making sure your shoes look good as new for as long as possible. Equip yourself with these essentials and you’ll never be caught off guard with a broken heel again.

• Shoe Trees - To keep shoes in shape when they’re not being worn, and stop them getting flat and floppy. Especially important for leather shoes and boots.
• Cleaning Brushes - Perfect for a good scrub to remove dirt and dust.
• Polish - Keep your shiny shoes shiny.
• Shoe Protector - This super power spray will weatherproof and dirt-proof most shoes.
• Shoe Horn - For putting your shoes on and taking them off, a shoe horn is a vital handy helper.
• Shoe Conditioner - Leather shoes will thank you for regular conditioning to stay supple.
• Soap - Shoe specific soap or a light gentle detergent is a must have.
• Rubber Sole Replacements - A handy solution for sole problems. We usually recommend seeing a professional, but rubber replacements can keep your shoes in action when you don't have the time.
• Heel Replacement Tips - Stop high heels from wearing down with screw on replacement tips.
• Super Glue - This one is a quick fix for night-out shoe disasters. A broken heel or strap can be secured for the evening, but when you get home, you might need to reassess the problem.

Have you got shoes you don’t want any more?

Sometimes our shoes are battered and bruised and it’s time to let them go.

We’ve teamed up with some of your favourite footwear brands like Dune London, Penelope Chilvers, and Kickers to offer you an exclusive voucher to spend on a new pair to replace them.

We get it, trends change, and sometimes the shoes you used to love are still in good condition but you just don’t wear them any more. That’s why takeback schemes like ours are so important, for keeping good shoes in circulation. We’ll rehome them with someone who will love them for years to come, and you can pick up a new pair at a discounted price.

With our team of expert recyclers and our constant research into the very best ways to recycle shoes (and everything else), we’re happy to accept shoes in any condition at all, and we’ll responsibly recycle them for you.

The planet is footing the bill for our frivolities when it comes to buying and getting rid of shoes.

It’s time to start thinking very carefully about how we can look after our shoes and keep them out of landfill, and ideally on our feet for the longest possible time.

With some care, some consideration, and the phone number of the local cobbler saved to our favourites, we might just be okay.

Shop our womens pre-loved shoes here.