Shoe care

Rosemary7391

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to move towards buying nicer leather shoes and looking after them in the hope that they last. I do remember mom and dad teaching me how to polish my school shoes, but I'm not sure what else needs doing to them or how often? Should I polish boots every so often even if I haven't worn them for a while (esp in summer)?

I managed to dredge up a tin of neutral shoe polish eventually (purple boots ) but it seems to be quite hard to find, supermarkets don't stock as much as I remember as a kid. Where do you buy things like that?

Thanks for any tips!
Rosemary

camelot1001

Try Home Bargains, I'm sure I've seen shoe polish there, otherwise Amazon will be your friend!

Clarks sell a good leather cream (in a tube) that always makes shoes look better.

I usually polish up winter shoes before I put them away for the summer.

Chris25

I think for boots, it's a good idea to stuff them with paper to help them keep shape. Don't do what I did one year and stuff them with boxes of Quality Street to hide until Christmas - we had a mild winter that year & I forgot about the sweets!

Also, some of the composite leather sandals (in particular) say not to polish them but just to wipe with a damp cloth, then a dry one.

Saddle soap is another lovely cleaner for a strong leather.

jackieblack

Last time I needed shoe polish I bought it in Poundland, Cherry Blossom brand, their website only shows black but instore they also had neutral, 2 for £1
http://www.poundland.co.uk/cherry-blossom-black-polish-50ml

Rosemary7391

Thanks everyone!

Camelot, does the cream work the same way as polish?

Chris, I'll have to get some newspaper or something for that thanks for the tip about sandals - I'm umming and ahhing about buying some so I'll make sure to check if I do! (£49 :eek: but they are nice, and proper leather, and ought to last several summers I hope!).

There's a poundland just down the road from me! I'll look there for polish

[Deleted User]

I always check to see if they need repairing before they get put away until winter,a few quid getting soled or heeled saves you buying new ones,and stuff the toes up with paper to keep their shape, always get my winter coat cleaned as well before putting it away as well, and check all the buttons are secure Old habits die hard :):)

Rosemary7391

Thanks Jackie Roughly how often do you find things need resoling/heeling?

FluffityBunny

Wilkos sells the Cherry Blossom neutral polish (bought some only a few months ago for my little girls shoes).

[Deleted User]

Well probably heeling at least once a year ,but soling not so much. But worth it when you think how much new boots cost.My boots are about 5 years old, and very comfortable to wear so I look after them

I uses ordinary neutral polish or even furniture polish if I have run out a good polish or cream from perhaps a decent shoe shop will pay for itself as if you look after good boots they will look after you

LameWolf

I think Mr LW buys shoe polish in T!mpsons - it's his job to keep our shoes polished, as it's a job I loathe with a passion.

How often they need repairing really depends how hard you are on them; as a wheelchair user, mine don't wear out as such, but I did need a couple of pairs of shoes and a pair of boots re-heeled because the ancient heels (the bottom bits that the shoe repairer replaces) disintegrated with age (I'm talking about 30 year old footwear here, btw). I had the boots and one pair of shoes re-soled as well, as the soles were also very thin (I bought these before I became disabled, when I used to walk to and from work, so they have seen some wear); we are fortunate to still have an independent shoe repairer nearby, who does a wonderful job.

camelot1001

The cream is worked in with a soft cloth, doesn't buff up quite as well as polish but definitely stops water/slush staining if you use it regularly.

For suede I buy a spray that protects them and brusy/respray when necessary.