CARE of ACCESSORIES

General Care of Footwear

• Use a shoe horn to put on shoes if snug. Untie laces and loosen before removing shoe from your foot.
• Use boot trees or stuff boots will crumple paper to retain their shape.
• Use shoe racks or a shoe bag.
• Wear waterproof footwear in wet weather to prevent shoe damage. Treat leather boots and shoes that you wear in wet weather or in snow with a water protectant. Protectant should be re-applied on a regular basis.
• Dry damp leather and suede shoes slowly. Remove mud and dirt from leather shoes as soon as possible to prevent damage. Mud and dirt is easier to remove from running shoes once the shoes are dry. Brush dirt away using a shoe brush.
• Keep footwear in good condition by keeping boots and shoes polished.
• Restore the nap on suede footwear by brushing with a soft brush.

Cleaning Leather/Suede Shoes

1. Cover work area with newspaper.
2. Gather everything you need: shoes, damp cloth, shoe brush (for suede), polish and soft cloth.
3. Undo buckles or remove laces.
4. Remove heavy soil with a damp cloth; remove soil on suede with a brush.
5. Apply polish following directions on container.
6. Polish with brush followed by soft cloth. Holding suede shoes over steaming kettle brings up the nap. You can also purchase specially constructed suede brushes.
7. Allow to air dry.

Source: Saskatchewan 4-H Council