Natural Shoe Care for Leather Shoes

My daughter recently grew into a pair of white patent leather shoes that were a gift (she does not care for the After Labor Day rule). Cute little shoes that they are after a day’s wearing her cute little shoes were covered with ugly black scuffs. Nobody wants to walk around with unsightly marks on their pretty shoes least of all a growing fashionista. So mom to the rescue. Heres how I solved that little issue with some shoe care tips. 

Daily Care:

At the end of the work day wipe down your nice shoes with a cloth or a brush.  Let them air for a few hours before putting them away. If your shoes are suede use a suede brush to buff up the nap and remove surface dirt on them.

Long Term Care:

When you first get your shoes take them to your local shoe peddler (you have one don’t you) after a few wearings and have them put a more durable sole on them. Check them regularly for wear and have the heel lifts replaced before the damage gets to the heel itself. 

Issues:

If your shoes get soaked stuff them with newspapers and let them air dry but not near a heat source that can dry them out and make them crack. 

Shining Shoes:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Apply to shoes with a soft cloth and rub in well. Follow with a dry cloth. The lemon juice helps clean the leather as well.

2. Apply coconut oil to your shoes with a soft cloth, rub in well, and buff with a dry cloth.

• Petroleum jelly is said to be good at preventing leather from cracking. Rub it in and buff.
• You can also buff patent leather shoes with a little (and I do mean little) dab of petroleum jelly to bring out a shine and keep them from sticking to each other as you go about your day.
• Use an eraser to remove dirt and oil from a suede shoe. And to buff it back up.

Deodorizing Shoes:

Make a homemade foot powder using 1 part baking soda, 2 parts cornstarch, and the essential oil of your choice (2-4 drops per cup of powder). Peppermint and lavender are lovely scents that also help to kill germs. Shake thoroughly and dust on your feet before wearing your shoes. 

Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 4 drops grapefruit seed extract and 2-4 drops of your favorite essential oil. Spray this inside your shoes each time you take them off, but don’t oversaturate, and before putting them away at night. This is a good anti-fungal, drying-out spritz that smells great.