Do not pour salt on me: how to care for shoes in winter

For optimists, the winter season is associated with New Year's Eve fuss, a bag of tangerines, and a gingerbread latte in a bright takeaway glass. But for pessimists, three cold months are directly related to sub-zero temperatures, a huge amount of reagents, and damaged shoes. And no matter how much we would like to attribute ourselves to the first group, the problems of the second take over.

Every year we watch with fear and horror how cracks, stains, and creases appear on our favorite pair of shoes. And leaving the house is more and more reminiscent of the scenario of the film "Mission Impossible", only the main role is not Tom Cruise, but the inhabitants of Russian cities.

This year we decided to approach the winter season with special responsibility and do our best to extend the life of our favorite pair of shoes. To do this, we studied the advice of experts on working with leather and collected everything in one big material. Before are six rules that must be observed so that the boots serve you faithfully for more than one season.

6 PHOTOS

1. Apply protective gear correctly

There is a huge amount of care products for shoes, and in winter your favorite pair needs them more than ever. Sharp temperature changes, salt reagents, and other troubles destroy the structure of the skin and corrode the paint. It is at this point that protective creams come into play. But they also need to be able to apply correctly, otherwise, there will be no result. First, before processing, the shoes must be thoroughly wiped to remove dirt and the old layer of care products. Such a simple action will ensure more effective penetration of the cream or balm.

2. Take care of your shoes on a daily basis

If you think that once a week is enough, you are wrong. Shoes need to be cleaned after each wear (leather models - immediately, and suede ones are best wiped only when they are completely dry) and soak - a few hours before leaving the house. Pay special attention to water-repellent products - it is better to apply them in the evening so that they have time to be absorbed. Otherwise, there will be no effect. And also get a microfiber cloth in the arsenal of shoe care, with its help it is easy to remove dust, dirt, and salt that remains on the surface of the shoe.

3. Different skin types require different approaches

Smooth leather is the easiest to take care of in winter - it absorbs wax, grease, and water-repellent components well. With suede, nubuck, and velour, the situation is somewhat different. For such skin types, classic creams are not suitable, they need to be replaced with sprays. And you can use them only if the shoes are completely dry. By the way, always pay attention to the labels on care products, it says what material it is suitable for.

4. If collisions with reagents could not be avoided

If the mission, code-named "do not collide with the reagent" still turned out to be impossible, you need to try to independently conduct a rescue operation. Leather experts advise first going over with a medium-hard brush, and then wiping the white stains with a soft sponge or cloth, after wetting it in a vinegar solution (in a 1: 1 ratio of bite and water). This is for smooth skin. Now on to suede and nubuck. If the villi have hardened from frequent contact with moisture and cold air, make a so-called steam bath for them and hold the shoes over hot steam for two minutes, and then simply remove the remaining moisture with a napkin and dry the pair naturally.

5. Do not dry shoes on the battery

If an unpleasant situation on the street nevertheless happened, and the shoes got wet, in no case should they be dried on a radiator. Because the temperature is too high for leather products. As a result of such “express drying”, cracks may appear on your favorite pair, and the material can easily dry out. Instead, it is better to use a special shoe dryer or a heated mat. If neither is available, simply insert a wooden block into the shoes and leave them to dry completely. If you don't have that either, use a regular newspaper, it will do a great job of absorbing all the moisture and help keep the shoes in shape.

6. One winter pair is not enough

Two pairs of shoes are needed in winter not at all in order to make stylish looks. Experts advise alternating shoes so that the shoes have time to “rest”, dry completely, and soak in a new layer of care cream. This simple trick will help prolong the life of both couples.