5 tips to maintain your shoes
Every pair of shoes needs maintenance from time to time. With the right care, you can make your dull shoes shine again and ensure they last longer. Removing stains from suede, concealing scratches on leather, and tackling stubborn stains on fabric—all these types of maintenance require a different approach. Therefore, it's important to know which products to use on which type of shoes and materials. At Maxime Schoenen, you'll find a wide range of care products to make your favorite shoes shine again!
Protect shoes
Leather shoes, nubuck boots, suede ankle boots, and fabric sneakers all require a different approach to remove stains or make them look like new again. The same goes for shoes: prevention is better than cure! That's why we've compiled five tips for protecting every pair of shoes. Then we'll explain how to:
- make leather shoes shine again;
- suede shoe maintenance;
- cleans textile shoes.
1. Water-repellent and dirt-repellent spray
To protect your new shoes from moisture and dirt, it's best to spray them with a water-repellent and dirt-repellent spray . This will make your shoes splash-resistant, allowing you to wear them without worrying about stains and moisture spots. The spray is suitable for almost any shoe material, except patent leather and stretch materials. Prevent stains that won't come out of your beautiful shoes and care for them with a good protective spray!
2. Grease leather shoes
Good leather shoes are not only beautiful but also last a long time with proper care. Therefore, it's important to properly maintain the leather and keep it supple for the longevity of your leather lace-up boots, ankle boots, or sneakers. Regularly lubricate your leather shoes with a greasy care product, such as a leather shoe cleaning gel . Lubricating your leather shoes not only cleans them but also nourishes them. This prevents wrinkles and cracks. Another advantage: Lubricating your shoes makes breaking them in much more pleasant!
3. Get the shoehorn out of the closet!
Putting on shoes in a hurry can quickly turn into sliding your foot into the shoe, standing on the heel, and then trying to straighten it with your finger. This dents the heel. If you do this often, you can seriously damage your sneakers, loafers, or lace-up shoes. To prevent this, it's best to use an old-fashioned shoehorn. Using a shoehorn can protect the heel of your shoes from wear and tear. So, when it comes to caring for your low-top shoes, prevention is better than cure!
4. Loosen the laces
Another thing that can cause your shoes to wear out faster is not untying the laces when taking them off. You may already know this, but untying your laces when taking them off is really important to prevent wrinkles and cracks in your sneakers and lace-up shoes. If you notice that your leather sneakers are wrinkled from being put on or taken off too quickly, use the oily cleaning gel to soften the leather and reduce wrinkles.
5. Let shoes dry
Water is harmful to the material of many shoes, so it's important to maintain them with a water-repellent spray. However, a water-repellent spray won't always protect your shoes during a heavy downpour. If your shoes get very wet, it's important to dry them properly to prevent damage. Never place wet leather or suede shoes near a heater, but fabric shoes can also stain if left to dry near a heater. The best way to dry shoes is to stuff them with newspaper, which will absorb the moisture.
Removing stains from shoes
Did you get a stain on your favorite pair of shoes? Use the right products and materials to remove the stain, so you don't make it worse and it won't come out. How do you remove stains from different materials?
- The great thing about smooth leather shoes is that stains are relatively easy to remove. Simply take a damp cloth and wipe the dirt off your shoes. Have you noticed any scratches or cracks in the leather? Then use a greasy gel to soften the leather and make it shine again.
- With suede shoes, it's important to be a little more careful. Suede doesn't mix well with water, and shoe polish is also a no-go. Therefore, protect suede shoes from water stains with a water- and dirt-repellent spray. Dry dirt on suede can be removed by gently brushing it off with a suede brush;
- Cleaning fabric shoes in the washing machine? While some people think it's harmless, it can cause the soles of your favorite sneakers to shrink, making them unfit. Therefore, always clean fabric shoes by hand with soapy water. Is there a stubborn stain? Then use a intensive stain remover especially for shoes.
Maintain your shoes for longer enjoyment!
Different shoe materials not only require different cleaning methods, but the maintenance also varies depending on the material. Protect your shoes by occasionally spraying them with a protective spray, prevent wrinkles by putting them on and taking them off correctly, and use the right products to remove stains. Need advice on the best products for your shoes or the best way to care for your sneakers , lace-up boots , or boots? Feel free to contact us or ask one of our staff members at Maxime Schoenen in Maastricht for tips on caring for your shoes!


