What to Do With Old Shoes: A Resourceful Guide

Repairing Old Shoes

Most people don't bother to repair old shoes, but there are actually a lot of very simple ways to make quick fixes that will allow your shoes to stay in wearable condition for a lot longer.

The environmental benefit of repairing your old shoes:

Repairing your shoes is the best way to keep them on your feet for longer, reducing your carbon footprint.

When you repair your old shoes you also minimise the volume of waste destined for landfill. By choosing to repair an old pair of shoes instead of replacing them you’ll be lowering the demand for new footwear to be produced.

According to WRAP, extending the lifespan of shoes by just nine months could reduce their carbon footprint by 20-30%.

The financial benefit of repairing your old shoes:

Shoes are a pretty expensive investment, so when you find a good pair, you're going to want to keep those for the longest time possible. Investing in shoe repair services or even doing a DIY repair yourself can save you some serious dollar. Repairing shoes instead of chucking them out could save the UK up to £300 million each year, according to The Guardian... So why not keep your cash in your pocket and keep your favourite pair of shoes on your feet?

How to Repair Old Shoes

There are a ton of different issues or breakages that can happen when your shoes have been around the block a few times. Some of these can easily be fixed at home with a little bit of glue, leather paint or a fresh heel cap, but others are more of a specialist job.

Some of the common issues you might find with shoes that are needing repairs are worn-out soles, loose stitching, scuffed leather or broken heels. These are all fixable issues, so hold on a second before you reach for the bin bag.

Your local cobbler will be able to perform actual magic tricks when it comes to fixing shoes so definitely don't underestimate their skill in transforming a beaten up pair of trainers or heels that have danced to the night away.

Supporting your local cobbler is also supporting local business and putting money back into the economy and the pocket of someone who will be very grateful for it.

Cleaning your shoes should always be the first step when you want to repair them. Use a gentle shoe cleaner that's suitable for the material of your shoes like a leather cleaner for leather shoes or a mild detergent for any Canvas OR fabric shoes like trainers.

If your soles are damaged, consider applying a layer of shoe glue to reinforce any weak areas or attaching a sole protector on top of your current soles. If the sole damage feels pretty serious then it’s time to contact your cobbler, who’ll be able to re-sole them for you.

For loose or broken stitching, you'll need a strong needle and strong thread that are suitable for shoe repair. Your local Haberdashery will be able to advise you. Stitch along the existing seam, ensuring each stitch is secured evenly spaced. Knot the thread tightly at the end to prevent any unravelling, and dab with a little bit of strong glue to hold in place.

Scuffed or beaten up looking leather shoes are actually really easy to repair. For cuffed leather just gently buff the damaged area with a leather conditioner or polish to restore the appearance. You'll be so surprised at how easily they look brand new. For deeper scratches or gouges you can find leather repair kits with colour match filler and touch up dye.

If your shoe heels are worn down or damaged just remove the old heel caps - some pliers will usually do the trick, don't be afraid to give them a good yank. Press some new heel caps firmly into place and voila, good as new.

For shoes that are just generally looking a little bit grubby and creased, some good cleaning should do the trick to get these looking fresh again. For shoe creases, microwave a damp towel or flannel for 30 seconds and rub on the creases to remove them. Stuff your shoes with newspaper so they stay in the new shape as they cool down.

To spot clean shoes made from multiple fabrics like trainers, you can use a damp cloth or old toothbrush and make a paste of bicarbonate soda and water to rub on the stains. Be careful though, sometimes this will change the colour of a dyed pair of shoes, but in general, it will help to get rid of any dirt.

Refresh white laces by popping them in bleach mixed with warm water for 5 minutes. Rinse in cold water and they'll be bright white again.

If you are suffering with the dreaded stinky shoe problem then don't worry there's a solution. Stuff your shoes with newspaper plus tea bags or bicarbonate of soda to keep them smelling fresh. Make sure you always dry them indoors if they're wet in a warm spot, avoiding direct heat or sunlight which can warp or discolour your shoes.

And a PSA: if your shoes feel unfixable, or you've attempted to fix them and it's gone a little bit wrong, please do not put them in the bin.

Even if they're totally unwearable, we still don't want them going to landfill and there are still usable components that can be recycled or reused by someone else.

Send Your Old Shoes To Us

So you've got some old shoes that you just don't want anymore or you never wear? There's no point having them taking up space in your home when you know for a fact they don't make you feel good.

Luckily our takeback scheme has the answer. If you have shoes from one of our brand partners you can send them to us in any condition and we will rehome or recycle them so that they never end up in landfill.

The added bonus is that you’ll also receive a voucher for one of your favourite shops, so you can buy a new pair to replace the old one at a fraction of the price.

By sending your old shoes to us you can contribute to a sustainable cycle of footwear consumption, and you'll be helping someone else buy a pair of shoes that they love at a price they can afford.

You can find out all about our brand partners here, with an easy step-by-step guide for sending your shoes to us.

Recycle Your Old Shoes

Footwear recycling is actually a bit of a tricky topic because shoes are very challenging things to break down.

“The quick answer is that shoes can't be recycled. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors around it due to the various components you need to shred them and split them into those parts which are about 15 to 20 different components. Often a lot of these components can't be recycled at all.”

Ross Barry - Founder, Reskinned

So how do we keep shoes out of landfill, if there's no way to recycle them?

Luckily the recycling world is moving at a fast pace and there are some companies that are attempting to do what was originally impossible. Fast Foot Grinded are one of the only companies that can actually break down shoes. However they won't do it for just any pair, they actually only work with brands and mainly focus on deadstock, which is the old stock that brands can't sell anymore.

In reality most shoes actually do get fixed and resold if they have the opportunity, but old and badly broken shoes usually end up in landfill or being incinerated. Most of the shoes that end up in landfill could definitely be rehomed and reworn for years to come, which is why it's so important never to put your shoes in the bin.

There are some great ways to recycle parts of worn out shoes though, that are easy and widely accessible. For example we recycle the rubber from shoes to make playground surfaces, sports fields and they can even be used to create asphalt for road construction (recyclingbins.co.uk).

How and Where to Recycle Old Shoes

If you've got a pair of shoes you want to get rid of that are from one of our brand partners then you can send them to us and we'll find the best way to reuse, repair or recycle them.

But if the shoes you have are not from one of our brand partners, then there are still other ways to make sure your shoes don't end up in landfill.

The TerraCycle Shoe Recycling Program offers free shoe recycling in partnership with various retailers and brands across the UK. They have designated collection points like shops and community drop off locations, where you can drop off your old shoes and they'll be recycled or reused. Terracycle process your shoes, extracting the valuable materials for reuse or recycling, so that they can be made into new products.

Recycle Now has a handy textile recycling locator so you can find the nearest place that accepts shoes for recycling. Just enter your postcode into the locator and you'll be able to access a full list of textile recycling banks and collection points in your area that accept shoes for recycling. Just drop off your old shoes at the designated location and they will be sorted and processed.

Sell Your Old Shoes

If you have shoes from a brand that isn't one of our partners and they're still in really good condition, you should be able to sell them and make yourself some extra cash.

Selling your old shoes is a great way to declutter your space and reap the financial benefits. You’ll be offering someone else a bargain price on a pair of amazing shoes, and giving yourself a little bit of extra pocket money to put towards something you will love and keep for years to come.

Whether through an online marketplace, a garage sale or jumble sale, or a consignment store the proceeds from selling your old shoes can provide a welcome boost to your budget.

Not to mention by clearing out your old shoes you'll be able to minimise clutter in your home and create room for the items that really align with your current style preferences and lifestyle needs.

How and Where to Sell Old Shoes

Want to sell your old shoes but not sure where to start?

eBay is a great and easy platform to use to sell your old shoes to a wide audience of potential buyers. We won't go into the details because we reckon most of you know how to use the platform and how easy it is to create a listing for your shoes and watch those bids come through.

Depop or Vinted is another great online marketplace for selling your pre-loved items, especially for a more fashion-forward community.

Be aware that sometimes your shoes aren't going to sell for the price that you want them to or they could take a long time to sell on a platform like the above.

Our takeback scheme gives you a voucher instantly once we receive your shoes, which makes the whole process that little bit easier.

Hopefully we've inspired you with some ideas for how to look after your old shoes, spruce them up or find a new home for them.

Dealing with footwear waste is crucial for minimising the environmental impact of the fashion industry and our own wardrobes. By extending the lifespan of your footwear through repair, donation, recycling or selling you can reduce your waste, conserve your resources and support the circular economy.

Fancy browsing for a new pair of pre-loved shoes that are bargain price? We've got some unique one-offs from Kickers, Penelope Chilvers, Finisterre, Salt-Water sandals… and the list goes on. Shop our footwear here.