Wednesday, May 5, 2010

How to Make Shoes Last Longer

First, I want to apologize for the stray post that found its way onto yesterday's blog. It was supposed to attach itself onto the other blog. I wandered where that went.

The strangest thing happened to me the other day. I wore a pair of shoes that I haven't worn a while. It was a pair that I liked a lot, and had very little wear. During the time I was out, the bottom started to deteriorate into small crumbles and the rubber completely fell off of the bottom of one shoe. By the time I got home, the other shoe started to do the same thing. So, the post today is in memory of those well-liked shoes.

1. Avoid wearing shoes two days in a row, an allow shoes to air out for 24 hours.
2. Change into flat shoes when driving to avoid breaking a heel.
3. Be sure leather shoes dry completely if worn on a rainy day.
4. Polish leather shoes when the material loses its luster. Help prevent scuffs by polishing your shoes regularly. Cream shoe polish is a good choice, because it comes in a wide range of colors and has staying power.
5. When necessary, have a shoe repair shop replace the taps on your heels, or resole your shoes when they have worn down.
6. Have shoes refinished and dyed when the color begins to fade.
7. Have another layer of tread added onto tennis shoes.
8. If you walk long distances, wear athletic shoes and change into your other shoes when you reach your destination. This will make your dressier shoes last longer.
9. Avoid dragging your feet or kicking rocks while wearing dress shoes. 
10. Sprinkle the insides of the shoes liberally with bicarbonate or baking soda to remove odors. Leave overnight, and shake out before wearing again.

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