Tips For Longer Lasting Shoes

11th November 2008
Buying new shoes can put a strain on yor wallet especially if you have a large family. There are, however, several things you can do to make your shoes last longer and get better value for your hard earned money.

One of the most overlooked ways of saving money is to purchase well-made, high quality shoes. You may be able to find shoes at lower prices at discount stores and bargain department stores but they are likely to be made cheaply out of man made materials that disintegrate with daily use. The money you save by buying cheap shoes will be lost when you need to replace them often. Purchasing shoes that are well made out of durable materials may cost more but the shoes will last much longer.

One of the first areas to wear out is the sole. Shoes soles can be protected from wear in advance by gluing a layer of rubber on the bottom of the shoe. This can be done at a shoe repair shop or on your own if you can obtain the rubber.

Gluing rubber onto the sole of the shoe is an inexpensive preventive care method that can be repeated as the rubber wears down. Rubber also will give extra traction to your leather sole shoes.

Dragging your feet when you walk will make short work of the soles of your shoes. Pay attention on the way you walk and be sure to pick up your feet with each step.

Using shoe inserts is another great way to prolong the life of your shoes. Shoes insert can absorb odour and moisture and protest the inside of your shoes. When the shoe inserts get soiled you can simply replace them. If you are extremely thrifty, you can even make your own shoe inserts out of carboard or scrap clothes. Storing your shoes with newspaper stuffed inside can keep your shoes from losing its shape. The newspaper also absorbs excess moisture.

Sneakers can be given new lease with a bit of bleach. Most sneakers soil can be removed with a mixture of half bleach and half water and a soft cloth. Take of the shoes laces and toss them into the washing machine with some bleach and they will emerge as good as new. Any scuffs or scratches in your sneakers that cant remove with bleach can be buffed away with a bit of white shoe polish.

If your shoes are leather or suede, you can protect them from the elements with a protective spray or saddle soap. Periodically treating your shoes with one of these products will keep them from being stained and damaged by water. Always wipe your shoes down when you come in from bad weather to keep moisture from settling into the surface of your shoes and to keep any salt from drying into a crust that is hard to remove.

Removing your shoes incorrectly can actually cause unnecessary wear and tear. Always unlace your shoes and remove them with yor hands rather then kicking them off by pressing down on the backs of them with your other foot. While it may take a few extra seconds the remove your shoes, your toes and heels will get less abuse.

The way you sit and stand can wear away the toes of your shoes. Pay attention to the way you sit when you are at your desk or on the train. Do you cross your ankles and rest your toes on the ground? Do you sit with your toes bend under? Most of us do oneif these things wihout even realising it. Try to sit and stand with your feet flat on the ground at all times. Not only will this save wear and tear on the toes of your shoes but you will have better posture.