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Footcare
by - Citywalk
How to clean your shoes
Leather shoes:
Leather can be polished and conditioned with a good leather lotion or
cream. Apply leather cream to the shoes after dusting them. Leave it
for a few minutes, then polish them with a soft cloth. Once they are
dry, spray with Shoe Protector.
Suede and Nubuck leather shoes: Spray the shoes with a Dry Cleaner or
a suede spray and leave to dry. When dry, brush with a Suede and Nubuck
Brush (a clean toothbrush can work just as well). For persistent stains,
spray the shoes again and brush vigorously. Once they are dry, spray
with Shoe Protector.
Oiled-up leather shoes: Apply mink oil evenly to shoes with a dry cloth
after dusting. This will allow the oil to penetrate into the leather
and keep the shoes soft and shiny.
Synthetic material shoes: Wipe shoes with a damp cloth.
Canvas shoes: Wash shoes first and
leave to dry, then apply Shoe White to uppers evenly. Allow to dry well.
Fabric uppers should be sprayed with a stain guard.
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Shoe Care
Tips
- Water-proofing and Stain-proofing
A protective spray is an excellent way to protect your shoes from
water, snow, mud, and spills. The best way to protect your shoes is
to wipe the leather of your new shoes, following the instructions
on the protector spray, and spray shoes before wearing, and on a regular
basis thereafter.
- Maintenance
We highly recommend cleaning your shoes on a regular basis, depending
on frequency of use. The cleaning method depends on the shoe's material.
See above or the best cleaning methods.
In addition, shoes - particularly those made of soft leather - benefit
greatly from shoe trees, or shoe keepers. These are wooden instruments
that are inserted in the shoe, and help to retain the shape and mold
of the shoe. Shoe trees can help you to prolong the life of your shoe.
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Shoe
Fitting Pointers
- When trying on shoes, make sure you're wearing
the appropriate socks. For instance, if you're trying on boots that
you'd wear with heavy socks, don't try them on with thin nylons.
- The best time to try on shoes is usually at
the end of the day, when your feet are most swollen. Waiting until
the end of the day ensures that the footwear can fit you at your widest
- a "worst case scenario" check.
- The first shoe you try on should be on your
larger foot. For most people, their larger foot is the opposite from
the hand they write with. For example, if you're right handed, your
left foot might be bigger.
- Stand up with your new shoes on. Walk around
a bit. You should be able to wiggle your toes in the front of the
shoe. For most footwear, your toes will be able to touch the top of
the shoe, but there should be 3/8" to 1/2" of space between
your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
- Don't buy shoes that are too tight. If you're
at the point where you're praying they will stretch to be comfortable,
they probably won't. It's true that soft leather and suede give slightly,
molding to your foot, but they will not dramatically increase in width
or length. There's a difference between a "snug", comfortable
fit and a "tight", uncomfortable fit.
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Steps
to Better Shoe Care
Start a Home Care program of cleaning, conditioning, polishing and weatherproofing.
Use cedar shoe trees to keep shoes looking their best. Cedar's unique
wicking action absorbs moisture, acid and salt, thereby reducing cracking
and deterioration of leather. In a pinch? Cornstarch will help remove
foot odor. Or for a less messy application use an anti-odor insole,
shoe deodorant powder, or aerosol available at Dave's and other shoe
repair shops.
Extend the life of your shoes with protective soles. These are very
thin rubber soles applied over the sole of the shoe to make it longer
wearing. Practice preventive maintenance. Repair your shoes before everyday
wear turns into damage.
Remove salt stains immediately with easy-to-use salt stain remover available
at Dave's. Buy new shoes in the evening. Feet increase in size by 5-8%
by the end of the day. Have Dave's stretch footwear that is too tight.
Bunion? Hammer toe? Corn? Dave's can adapt your shoes to fit your feet.
Prevent knee, hip, and back problems by keeping shoe heels balanced.
See a shoe repair professional such as Dave's who can offer orthopedic
appliances. Buy quality shoes. In an average day, a man takes about
8,000 steps. If he 170 pounds, the daily force that accumulates on his
feet is 1,000 TONS. Spend a few extra dollars for shoes that will give
you the support you need.
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Leather
Care
Caring for smooth leather is a four-step process. First, clean the shoes
with a leather cleaner to remove the surface dirt. Next, condition the
leather. Conditioners soften and lubricate the leather.
Next, it is time for the polish. A paste polish provides a high-gloss,
long-lasting shine, but takes some time to apply. Liquid polish is quick
and easy to apply, but must be applied more frequently. Cream polishes
provide a happy medium.
After the shoes are shined, weatherproof them. If you live or work in
a messy environment, the protection of a weatherproofer is a must. Ask
Dave's to recommend the product best suited to your needs.
- Suede and Nubuck
The key to keeping these materials in top shape is preventive maintenance.
Before you wear the shoes, protect them with a water and stain repellent
designed specifically for suede and nubuck. As soon as the water isn't
beading up on the shoes, spray them again.
Use a plastic or rubber-tipped brush regularly to restore the nap
and remove surface dirt before it sets in. Be gentle brushing nubuck.
It is softer than suede and easily damaged. With oiled nubuck, use
a nubuck conditioner regularly to replace the oils that wear takes
out. If you get a stain, remove it immediately with a solvent-based
cleaner made specifically for suede or nubuck. Oil absorbing blocks
are available for this purpose.
- Exotic Leathers
Use mild cleaner and conditioner for exotic leathers such as reptile
or snakeskin. Using products for smooth leather may leave a residue
that will build up around the base of the scales and cause them to
crack or fall off.
- Athletic Shoes
If you have shoes with fabric or suede on the uppers, follow the steps
outlined for suede care. Leather uppers can be cleaned with sneaker
shampoos that remove stains and dirt. If the shoes become scuffed,
whitening products restore the original color. Shoe repair professionals
can also use a white spray dye for a like-new finish. The big problem
is controlling odor. These shoes are constructed with materials that
make ideal places for bacteria to live and grow. Use a deodorizing
product that absorbs odor causing bacteria and counteracts it.
Finally, you can keep athletic shoes looking and feeling new with
replacement parts. New laces do wonders for the appearance and new
insoles are often better than the originals.
SHOE S.M.A.R.T.S.
SHINE
MAINTAIN
AND
REPAIR
THOSE
SHOES
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Finding
the Right Shoe For You
The wrong shoes can cause or aggravate foot ailments. The right shoes
can often prevent - but cannot correct - problems. So wearing the right
shoes is vital to foot health. Follow this checklist when you buy shoes.
Be sure they measure up.
- Construction
Soles should be strong and flexible with a good gripping surface.
Insoles should be cushioned to absorb the jolts of walking on hard
surfaces. Arch supports distribute weight over a wider area. Rigid
shanks also give added support. High heels are fun and look good,
but they should not be worn too long at a stretch or for much walking.
Besides cramping the toes, they change body posture, making backaches
more likely.
- Fit
Only you can tell if shoes fit. If they aren't comfortable, don't
buy them! Don't plan on shoes stretching with wear. If you already
own shoes that are too tight, ask your shoe repair shop if they can
be stretched. Because feet spread with age, have your feet measured
every time you buy shoes. Both feet should be measured, as they are
often different sizes. Always buy shoes for the BIGGEST foot. Go shoe
shopping late in the afternoon. Feet swell to their largest then size
depends on shoe make and style, too. Don't insist you always wear
one size if the next feels better. The toe box should be roomy enough
so you can wiggle all your toes. Your forefoot should NOT be wider
than your shoe. The heel should fit snugly and the instep should not
gape open. If you can't find shoes that fit, ask your doctor for advice.
- Shoes for Children
Good shoes are especially important to avoid problems in developing
feet. Because shoes serve only to protect children's feet from injury,
none are needed before a child walks. High-topped infant shoes do
not support ankles - oxfords and tennis shoes are equally good. Check
OFTEN to be sure shoes aren't too small. Children's feet are so flexible
they can be crammed into shoes two sizes too small - and the child
may not complain. Don't have children wear hand-me-down shoes. They
are permanently molded to the original owner's foot.
Unfortunately, most shoes today are narrower in the front than the
foot is. You can check this by standing on paper and tracing around
your bare foot. Compare the outline of your foot with the sole of
your shoe. If your shoe appears too narrow, you may be inviting foot
problems. Choose only shoes that feel comfortable - you are the best
judge of that. Our marvelous feet evolved for flexibility and strength
- not to be stuffed into shoes. When people roamed the earth barefoot
4,000 years ago, foot problems were not the rule. Today, we need shoes
to protect our feet from cold, injury, disease, and pounding on hard
pavement. But too often we choose shoes for style rather than comfort
and function. Remember: good shoes are part of the good care your
feet deserve.
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How
to take care of your sneakers
You have to keep your shoes very neat and clean. This is a big problem
for me since I'm not very good at keeping anything clean. To keep your
shoes in mint condition you have to clean them every day. This is how
you do it.
You want to make sure your good look goes from your head
down to your toes. Take proper care of your shoes to make sure you're
always looking your very best. Cleaning your shoes, protecting them
from moisture and getting professional repairs can all extend the life
and look of your shoes.
- What is the best way to care
for my shoes?
Always buy shoes that fit properly. Shoes that are too tight or too
loose can wear prematurely. Keep your shoes relatively clean, and
go over them on a fairly regular basis to remove dirt, mud, plant
matter, stones or other material that could damage your shoes if left
unattended. If your shoes are leather, clean and polish them regularly
with an approved polish or cleaning agent.
- How can I take care of my
sneakers?
Though you can generally treat sneakers like other shoes, some require
other specialized care. If you need to wash your shoes, try to wash
them in a bowl of water, as opposed to the washing machine. You can
use a toothbrush or steel wool to get out spots.
- How can I protect my shoes
from moisture?
Nothing does more damage to shoes than water. A good bet is to treat
your shoes with a waterproof solution. When you come in from the rain,
try to lightly brush or wipe off excess water and then let them dry
naturally. Don't dry them in front of a heat source, or they can warp
or have the upper portion of the shoe pull away from the sole. Also
remember that shoes are not waterproof unless clearly marked as such.
Never wash your shoes in a washing machine.
- Should
I get my shoes repaired?
You may be tempted to simply toss out a pair of damaged shoes. It
is often cheaper to have a shoe repaired than to buy a new pair, particularly
if the pair is hard to find or expensive. A good cobbler can extend
the life of your shoes greatly by resoling them, repairing holes or
rips, keeping them clean, and generally extending their lifespan.
Try to find a cobbler in your area with a good reputation, and do
some comparison-shopping to get good prices. Ask friends and family
for recommendations or simply look for one in the phone book.
To some, shoes are the most important part of an outfit. Keep your
shoes clean and in good shape. Protect them from the elements, and
have a professional repair and care for them. If you're shoes are
in great shape, you'll be walking in style!
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Summer
Tips
The arrival of summer brings many things-among them swimming pools,
vacations, beach trips and bare feet. What many people do not realize
is that with each of these summertime activities comes a variety of
potential foot problems. To help Americans protect their feet this summer,
the podiatric physicians of the American Podiatric Medical Association
offer the following summer foot care tips:
- Wear shoes, flip flops or aqua shoes around the pool,
on the beach and in the locker room to prevent injuries and conditions
such as athlete's foot and warts. Avoid walking barefoot whenever
possible.
- When applying sunscreen, remember your feet-especially
the tops.
- Keep feet dry and clean when out of the water, and
apply a topical anti-fungal medication on any cracking or peeling
of the skin. Be sure to wash feet daily and examine them for signs
of injury or infection.
- Take advantage of the warm weather and walk. This
is the best form of exercise for your feet.
- When traveling in a car or plane, periodically flex
your feet at the ankles, wiggle your toes, unlace your shoes if your
feet swell and keep your legs uncrossed. Move around if possible.
- When exercising, wear socks made of acrylic fiber
and lightly powder your feet to keep them dry. Choose shoes that are
comfortable and fit properly, and do not wear the same shoes every
day. Shoes need a 24-hour time frame to completely dry out from wear.
- Treat your feet well after a long day of sightseeing,
shopping or hiking: massage them, soak them in lukewarm water and
keep them elevated for ten minutes to take some of the stress off
your circulatory system.
- For a special treat, store vitamin E cream in the
refrigerator and apply it to your feet at the end of the day.
- Trim toenails straight across, leaving the nails slightly
longer than the ends of your toes. Use nail polish only for special
occasions.
- At the first sign of an injury or infection in the
foot or ankle, seek medical attention from a podiatric physician.
The foot is not just a beauty concern, and foot pain is not normal!
People with diabetes should take extra precautions to protect their
feet. Minor injuries can quickly become infected and, if left untreated,
can lead to amputation. If you have diabetes, NEVER walk barefoot
and see a podiatric physician at least yearly for a checkup.
Your feet can suffer greatly during travel! There are
lots of soothing products on the market you can easily pack to provide
yourself relief at the end of a long day. I find that the Body Shop
has a particularly good line of footcare, including refreshing sprays,
soothing gels, foot soaking granules, peppermint lotions, etc. Often,
they'll give you a sample of 1 or 2 products if you ask the sales clerk.
Then you can have a tiny container of just enough product to relieve
your aching feet. I'm sure other stores and brands have similar products.
I find it very rewarding to take care of my feet, especially if I'm
on them all day sightseeing!
Laura Methvin
Condition - Ingrown Toenail: Results
in redness, swelling, soreness and possible infection; often painful.
Recommendation: Soak the foot in warm
water and remove the ingrown part of the nail. If pain and/or redness
persists, contact a podiatric surgeon.
Condition - Corns & Calluses: Frequently caused
by ill-fitting shoes, poor quality shoes, or various foot deformities.
Recommendation: Purchase well constructed shoes that fit
properly, allowing ample space between the toe and the end of the shoe
to prevent irritation.
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