As monsoon is about to hit the city, caring for your leather can seem quite a task. There is definitely a little effort required to keep your favourite pair of shoes in a great condition. There are few basic rules that simply cannot be overlooked when it comes to maintaining leather in the rainy season. Neha Kumthekar, managing director, Oceedee, shares some simple hacks to make the life of your leather shoes longer.
Get natural as you air-dry your shoes: Don’t ever forget to let your shoes dry naturally! Of course that is whenever they get wet, even a teensy bit wet. This is the key to basic hygiene and to make your shoes last for long. Also, never make the mistake of drying them with a hair dryer or using extreme heat on your delicate leather because it may
crack up. Air-dry your shoes naturally under a fan at normal room temperature for the best result.
Store them right: They should be kept comfy-cozy to avoid moisture from sinking in and causing heavy damage. If you are not using some shoes regularly, be sure to stuff them with newspaper and put them in a heavy cloth bag. Be careful as your wooden cupboards might also absorb moisture in this wet season. To further avoid moisture retention by leather shoes, keep sachets of silica gel or place a bowl of soda bicarbonate in your wooden cabinets.
Fight the mould: If your shoes grow fungus on them, you don’t need to throw them off right away. The best chance of recovering them is by scrubbing them gently with an old toothbrush. However, you have to ensure that nothing is left behind, not even in the smallest crevices of the shoe, since it will all grow back. So clean them properly and air-dry them naturally to avoid further attacks of the mould.
Polish them to a shine: Polishing your shoes not only maintains the quality but also protects it from the moisture. Additionally, your shoes shine high and dazzle brightly that add on to your overall look. You may use a leather conditioner or an expensive leather polish to replenish the oil in your leather shoes. Ideally, one should take a small amount of the conditioner on a soft cotton cloth and gently rub it onto the shoes in circular motions.
No damp! No mud! Do not ever let mud stay onto your footwear after a walk in the rain. The clumps of hardened mud that form on the shoes after drying can prove to be taxing for your shoes. Ensure that you take a brush and shed off any mud before it dries off.
Take care : Keep leather shoes dry.
