Winter Dress Shoe Care

Winter Shoe Care

Winter is by far the worst season when it comes to wearing shoes. Pretty much everything that can damage a shoe can be found in abundance during the winter season. From the cold to water to salt your shoes are assaulted by a never-ending barrage of potentially damaging elements. By following the proper practices of winter shoe care you can help minimize the cold weather damage that can occur and fix any inadvertent accidents that may have happened.

When they get Wet
In the winter snow happens. There is no avoiding it and if you plan on going outside in your shoes they are going to get wet. When this happens the number one rule to avoid damaging your shoes is to let them dry naturally. Under no circumstances should you take an artificial heat source to your shoes and attempt to dry them more quickly. Simply stuff the shoe with newspaper or place it on a shoe rack and let it dry naturally.

When they get Salty
Much like water damage, salt damage is unavoidable in the winter. To correct salt stains that are marring up the surface of your shoe simply makes a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water and gently work the solution into the salt stains. Then, dab away any excess moisture with paper towel and allow the shoe to dry naturally.

When they are finally dry
Once your shoes are finally dry and all the stains have been removed it is time to recondition your shoe with the proper shoe conditioner. The type of shoe conditioner you choose will depend upon whether your shoe is made of leather or suede. After picking the proper conditioner apply it following the manufacturers recommended steps, and follow up with a all whether protective coating.

The Best Offense is a Good Defense
While there are steps that can be taken to repair almost any winter damage to a shoe it is important to prevent if not minimize the damage that can potentially occur. The only way to do this is to use a leather sealant on your shoe to make sure that when they do get wet the water doesn’t penetrate deep and salt stains stay near the surface.

Besides using water repellent spray on upper and lower leather, you may also want to visit a shoe-maker to get your footwear ready for the season. This is especially important when wearing dress shoes with a leather sole. Ask your shoe-maker to glue a thin strip of rubber on the front part of your shoes. Not only will this prefect water damage, but your feet will stay warmer and dryer. In addition it will add extra traction.

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(Post last updated: June 2018)