Easy Hacks on How to Care for Your Leather Shoes in Summer

Maintaining leather boots is an easy task for the most part. All you have to do is know what you’re doing. Well, there’s a tiny problem. Most of us don’t really know what we’re doing, especially when it is summer and the shoes need a little extra care.

Leather shoes are a seriously good investment for your closet. They’re classy, versatile, and even travel-friendly. Whether you’re enjoying the best of France or checking things off your “must-do in Goa” checklist, your leather shoes can save you if you pack smartly. And you know what they say about leather shoes. They last for a long, long time. Well, there’s a little condition attached. Your leather shoes will only be the best if you put effort into taking care of them.

Taking care of your leather shoes is pretty easy. Ensure you’re cleaning them properly and stay away from mud– these are the most important rules for maintenance. But sometimes they need more, like when summer rolls around. Your shoes can dehydrate and shrivel up if you don’t follow a good maintenance routine. And that’s why we’re here to help you. 

Here are some easy hacks to keep your leather shoes shiny in the summer. Don’t worry. These don’t involve making special shining potions for the shoes. What it does involve are some very easy tips you can remember.

How to Care for Your Leather Shoes in Summer: 4 Hacks You Should Know

No one wants their favorite leather pair to become dull or lose shine. Understandable, really. That ruins the versatility of the shoes. You can do some very easy things to take care of your shoes and stop that from happening. Here are 4 easy hacks that can save your shoes from the merciless summer heat.

Follow a Cleaning Routine

You’re probably already thinking, “seriously? That’s a big idea?” but this is important. Cleaning your shoes regularly will add the look and make them last longer.

No one should be wearing leather shoes every day. This can reduce the lasting time of your shoes, not to mention the extra dust collection it does. But what you should do is follow a proper cleaning routine. You don’t have to clean your shoes every day, you can do it every one or two weeks.

The best idea is to count your wear. Use a cloth or something similar to dust off your shoes every time you wear them and go for a full-blown, thorough cleaning routine after every 6 wears. Make sure to add polishing and conditioning to your cleaning routine. This will make your shoes last longer, look good, and later save extra cleaning time.

Use Dust Covers

Let’s face it, no matter how versatile leather shoes are, you don’t wear them daily. At least not the same pair. Your leather shoes are laid off from the mission most of the time. Then when you see the right occasion, you pull them out from your shoe storage and see they’re in pretty bad shape. There’s dust, and somehow it has caught mold. Oh, that’s an emergency if we’ve ever seen one.

Summer means the air has more dust and 50 other particles like pollen. All this extra dirt and other particles can make your shoes dusty quicker. The best way to stop that from happening is to use a cover. Wait, there’s something you need to be careful about. Leather shoes don’t do well with plastics, so don’t wrap your shoes in plastic films or covers.

Plastic won’t let your dishes breathe. Air needs to pass through the storage space and the shoes for leather shoes. Plastic bags limit that scope, so the shoes have a higher chance of catching mold. No one wants a mold community in their shoe storage, right? The best way to prevent that is to use dust covers for your shoes. They’re more breathable and better organized. If you aren’t using dust covers, use a cloth instead of plastic.

Switch to Smart Storage

No, we don’t mean you have to get an AI-operated storage system. What we mean is carefully plan your shoe storage. Of course, you need to store your shoes in a well-ventilated space, but there are other things to worry about too. Losing shape, for one.

That’s right, the rarely worn shoes in the back of your closet need attention too. Leather shoes need a well-planned storage spot because they tend to be more vulnerable to environmental factors. Your shoes can lose moisture and crumble, not get enough air and catch mold, or worse, lose shape because you just threw them on top of each other.

Make sure your shoes are in a well-ventilated space. If your storage is a wooden cupboard, your shoes will lose moisture quicker since wood tends to retain moisture. You can keep silica gel pouches to avoid that from happening. And the most important part– switch to vertical storage if you can. That way, your shoes won’t pile up, and the shape will stay intact. Try getting shoe trees if you’re looking for a different option and are okay with investing a little. They maintain moisture and keep the shape– a win-win situation.

Avoid sunlight, rain, and mud

Water is a big no for leather shoes. We all know that. But did you know mud and sunlight are big no too? Water almost ruins the shoes. It breaks down the leather texture and reduces the lasting time of shoes. But that’s not the only thing that makes it worse. Water can also trigger mold on the shoes, not to mention the moisture imbalance it can cause. Water will also stain your shoes faster than you’ll realize.

Sunlight is another threat to leather shoes. Do you know how some leather shoes look dried out and crumpled? Sunlight exposure does that. And if you’re one of the unlucky ones, sunlight exposure will crack the leather on your shoes. So, ensure you’re storing them away from sunlight and not using the sun (or heat) to dry them. Choose air drying over several days instead.

Make sure to not wear your leather shoes when it is raining outside. Mud on your leather can trigger mold, not to mention the extra cleaning hassle. If you know, you’ll have to wear leather shoes on a rainy day, use galoshes or swims to protect them.

Conclusion

Maintaining leather shoes will take time and effort, but that’s something everything you love will take. Keep your shoes in a well-ventilated area, keep them away from sunlight, and follow a regular cleaning routine. Do this, and you will be all set!