One of the best investments you can make is on quality leather shoes. The only catch is that you must take care of those shoes religiously. A quality pair of shoes will last you a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Also, the products you use on your leather footwear do not have to cost more than the price of the shoes. There are a number of tips to help you maintain those leather shoes so they will not only last longer, but will maintain a great look.

The first thing to remember is that two pairs of good quality leather shoes will last more than twice as long as one pair. This mathematical impossibility is nonetheless true, because by purchasing two pair of leather shoes, you can wear one pair every other day and allow the shoes to dry on a cedar shoe tree to absorb the moisture from your skin and from the leather while still holding the shoe in the correct shape. In this case, 1 + 1 = 3.

Cleaning your leather shoes is largely a matter of daily care and daily attention to any blemishes. Using all natural shoe care products allows the leather to breathe. Suggested cleaning products include those made specifically for leather, such as saddle soap. If you use saddle soap, and follow the treatment with mink oil, you will almost always have great success in keeping your footwear looking like new. These products can be found in most areas where shoe care items are found. Goop hand cleaner which can be found in most automotive supplies stores is another great product for getting the leather clean, without damaging the product. Goop is waterless and is excellent for removing oil and grease from the surface of the leather. Pine gum will help to restore your shoes when they are the victim of small nicks, scratches and cuts. This product soaks into the leather and serves as an excellent camouflage. If the color of the leather has faded, pine gum will help to restore the color and appearance.

If you often find that you are walking or working where there is a lot of moisture, you can provide some waterproofing for your leather shoes or boots. This will help to protect the footwear from salt stains, snow and from water. If shoes do get damp, store them on a shoe tree to dry, but never place the leather shoes close to direct heat such as a stove or fireplace unit. Beeswax provides excellent water-repellent properties for protecting your leather shoes from the elements. There are also waterproofing type products sold where shoe care products appear that will help protect your shoes against the elements.

Conditioning your footwear helps to maintain soft and supple leather. Preventing cracks in the surface of the leather means that less harmful agents can attack the leather. Keeping the leather soft means the shoes will fit more comfortably too. Lanolin is great for softening the leather, while emu oil restores the natural moisture of the leather by deep penetration into the shoe.

When you are cleaning and conditioning your shoes do not forget to take care of the inside of the shoe. Using Eucalyptus oil or Tea Tree oil prevents the deterioration of the stitching by fighting against mildew and mold in the interior of the shoe as well as in the top stitching.

Keep in mind that specialty leather products such as suede or patent leather have special products intended specifically for their care. For example, you would not want to use some of the oil or cream based products in caring for suede shoes. Often regular, gentle brushing to remove loose soil and a spray on suede cleaner will be just the thing for cleaning that type of leather.

If you find problems developing in the stitching or the soles of the show, or anywhere on the shoe in fact, put the cost of repairing the shoe against the cost of replace them and make a trip to the local repair shop for shoes. The price of a good repairman is well worth it in terms of lengthened shoe life.

Finally, many people have success in caring for their shoes with various household products not specifically created for leather shoes. For example, petroleum jelly rubbed gently into the leather then allowed to sit before a bit before being wiped off keeps leather uniform shoes looking great. Others swear by furniture polish sprayed on lightly and wiped down with a cloth.

The most important part of maintaining leather shoes is the daily condition, cleaning and care.

• Tips For Tennis Shoes Maintenance
• Keep Your Shoes Organized With These Tips

Tennis shoes are now used extensively in other sports such as basketball, jumping and running even though it was originally designed for Tennis. A bit more expensive than normal shoes, tennis shoes require extensive care to last for longer. Here are a few handy tips on how to take care of your tennis shoes.

Clean is keen:

When it comes to tennis shoes, clean is keen-should be the motto. Try your best to keep your tennis shoes from getting dirty. Regular cleaning is a must, weekly washing and thorough drying will help to keep your tennis shoes clean.

Be careful with the fabric:

Watch out for the material of your tennis shoes while cleaning. Tennis shoes made of synthetics are all right for washing. It`s important clean your tennis shoes immediately after getting them dirty, because the strain might be difficult to let go if they stay for longer period and get dried. Tennis shoes of canvas material are easier to clean, just rinse them well with warm water and let them dry properly.

Deodorize your tennis shoes:

Keeping your tennis shoes from smelling bad can be an arduous task. However, there are tips which help your tennis shoes from smelling bad. It`s a good and inexpensive way to dry the smelly tennis shoes in the sun as that will reduce the stink smell to a large extent. You can sprinkle baking soda into the tennis shoes as that will absorb the moisture and helps preventing the smell. Rubbing alcohol spray onto the tennis shoes is a very effective way to prevent the bad smell. However, as they say prevention is better than cure; similarly regular spraying of anti-fungal foot spray into your tennis shoes prevents them becoming smelly.

Tips to wash in washing machine:

Washing your tennis shoes in washing machine helps in letting go of the horrible smell. However, some points ought to be considered while washing your favourite shoes in washing machine. Always opt for warm water for washing.

Tennis shoes of quality brands won`t suffer any damage from this washing, but it`s a good idea wash mid standard shoes along with regular white load as the soft material of towels etc. will provide a sort of cushion to the shoes as they tumble. Before washing, make sure to remove the laces and insoles out of your tennis shoes to prevent them from tangling up in the agitator. After washing, put them out in the sun to dry. This is an inexpensive method to get all new looking tennis shoes.

Benefits of using shoe cleaner:

For the longevity of your tennis shoes, it`s a good idea to use shoe cleaner such as Sport Shoe Stuff Scrub-Off Heavy Duty Cleaner. Some washing liquid and liquid bleach can also be used for giving your tennis shoes a shiny look.

Drying plays an important role:

After washing your tennis shoes, it`s good to dry it in the sun. However, I recommend drying them in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. Dry your wet tennis shoes with a white towel. For next phase of drying, stuff the tennis shoes with white porous paper (don`t go for newspaper as it can bleed ink) or a quick dry towel, but before that make sure to remove the shoe pad, sock-liner or orthotics from your tennis shoes. Replacing the paper towels in regular interval will help letting go of the extra water if any.

Storage of tennis shoes:

Storage of your tennis shoe is also very important as cleaning them. Always keep your tennis shoes in a dry, cool place. Wooden or plastic shoe shapers are ideal to keep tennis shoes.

Follow the above mentioned tips to preserve your expensive tennis shoes for a longer period.

• How to Buy Tennis Shoes
• White Heels Pumps

Wandering the vast landscapes, ancient man had to endure hot sand, freezing snow and rugged terrain in order to search for food and other resources. Protecting bare feet from harsh elements made shoes an ingenious advancement. As time went on, shoes became more specialized and a variety of styles were created to tackle specific tasks that were to be undertaken. This led to the birth of the shoe fashion industry that created the demand for shoes that emphasized individuality, personal identity and social class.

It was not uncommon for an aristocratic woman in ancient Greece to have more than 20 pairs of shoes and a servant to care for them. This is no different than the stereotypical, shoe-obsessed Carrie Bradshaw character with over $40,000 worth of shoes but no place to live. British women spend over 1,000 pounds per year on shoes and 10% of British admit women to having at least 100 pairs of shoes. Even the obsessed realize that shoes are important to our health and survival.  They know that poorly maintained or shoes that don't fit well can cause pain, blisters and other serious conditions. 

There are many reasons to ignore the pressure to consider shoes a disposable product including:

* Saving money.
* Making a very expensive pair last longer.
* Preserving a favorite pair that is no longer made.
* Reusing a pair for a younger child.
* The opportunity to donate your shoes when you no longer wear them.
* Keeping shoes out of landfills.

The basics of maintaining the condition of shoes depends on the materials used to construct them.  Follow the guidelines below to keep your favorite pair of shoes in good condition.

1.  Leather is a very common, durable, and aesthetically pleasing material used in all kinds of shoes. If not taken care of properly, leather is known to dry out, crack, and fall apart. It is recommended that leather shoes be periodically polished to maintain a healthy level of moisture.  Polishing also provides a protective layer that repels water and dirt, keeping your leather shoes impeccably clean and presentable. Shoe polishing products are very easy to find, but if they are not within arms reach, petroleum jelly or castor oil are great buffers with castor oil providing more effective waterproofing.

2.  Suede and nubuck are very similar to leather in look and texture but they are incredibly delicate and easily damaged by water. To prevent suede and nubuck from becoming damaged waterproof them. When these shoes get dirty a soft bristled brush can be used to lightly lift away dirt. There are other products made to clean these materials such as a suede bar which is a product made of rubber used to rub out dirt marks like an eraser. But common household items like masking tape can be used in a similar fashion and are remarkably effective. Sometimes these materials get so dirty that the only way to clean them is to scrape away the top layer of the material.  Consider using a shoe repair shop for this type of maintenance.
 
3.  Shoes made of textile or canvas are not as hard to keep clean. These include your common sport shoes, tennis shoes, or casual walking shoes. These shoes are normally machine or hand washable which makes life very easy. Keeping your shoes clean in general will leave them in wearable condition making you less likely to throw them out. The only drawback to a textile or canvas shoe is that its durability is nowhere near leather. These shoes are produced with the intent of being a disposable product and they do not repair well. Taking care of them by interchanging them with other pairs of shoes will lower the wear and tear compared to a situation where they are used on a daily basis.

There are other generic methods of keeping your shoes in good shape. Using a shoe horn will allow you to avoid breaking down the collar of your shoe, which is the area that wraps around your foot above your heel. Also, a more expensive pair might make it worth the effort of finding a good repair shop.

Even those not obsessed with shoes can benefit by keeping them well maintained.  You can reduce the environmental impact by keeping shoes out of a landfill as long as possible, you will save money and you will be happy to know that your favorite pair of shoes that are no longer made can be worn for years. Your shoes are vitally important in your everyday life, so there is no shame in taking a little extra care of them. 

(c) 2008, Odd Shoe Finder.  Reprints welcomed so long as the article and by-line are not changed and all links are made live.

• Keep Your Shoes Organized With These Tips
• Zoom Kobe

Shoes may put the finishing touch on your outfit, but they should not be the cause for chaos in your closet. It is very easy for shoes to take over your closet, and even your home. Remember, for every person, there are at least two shoes. It is very easy to kick off your shoes and leave them where they lay, but that is the first step into cluttering your home or closet with shoes.

The best tip you may ever get about keeping your shoes organized is to put them away. That means designating a certain place in your home or closet for your shoes. You can determine where the best place for your shoes is by thinking about what the shoes are for.

A great way to choose the best spot for your shoes is to think about it strategically. For example, if you do a lot of gardening or yard work, you may want to keep the shoes you wear on a shoe rack in the garage, possibly by the gardening tools. This way, you will always know where your shoes are and you won’t track dirt, mud, and grass into the house from the yard.

Beyond your gardening shoes, you may have several other pairs to deal with, which most likely are kept in your closet with the rest of your clothes. One of the first things you should do when attempting to organize your shoes is to take all of your shoes (yes ALL of them) out of the closet and line them up. Sort through your shoes and get rid of any shoes that you don’t wear. You should donate all the shoes you don’t wear to charity. Worn out or old shoes you don’t wear anymore may be the nicest shoes in the world to someone who is less fortunate.

Once you have sorted through your shoes and decided which pairs to keep, your next step is to think about how often you wear each pair. The shoes you wear daily or most frequently should be the most accessible in your closet. You can even think about organizing your shoes by season as well. Keep all the winter boots in one area and summer sandals in another. If you want to get crazy, try sorting shoes by color.

After you have sorted all of your shoes, next you will need to place them in your closet in an orderly fashion. Keeping shoes on the floor of your closet is not recommended, doing this makes it way too easy to just kick them off, and back onto the floor. Doing this for a week will lead to the same closet clutter we are trying to avoid. When your shoes have a designated place, it is just easier for you to find your way around your closet.

A great way to keep your shoes organized, once you have sorted them, is to use stackable shoe cabinets or shoe racks. These organizational products allow you to place shoes neatly within a concentrated area. Using these items to house your shoes will guarantee that you will never search high and low for that pair of black strappy sandals again.

If you have a smaller closet with a lot less floor space, hanging shoe racks are very handy. Most hanging shoe racks will hold up to ten pairs of shoes and can hang easily from the closet bar. There are even hanging shoe racks for the back of the closet door, or even your bedroom door. A shoe tower is also a good alternative to the hanging rack or stackable cabinet.

If you have plenty of closet space, think about using shelf dividers to keep your shoes in order. The shelf dividers will also make it possible for you to have shoes on one part of the shelf while storing other items, such as sweaters or jeans on another shelf. Placing your shoes on shelves will also make them very accessible and visible.

Clear, plastic shoe boxes are an excellent way to keep your shoes organized within your closet. These simple storage boxes are also a wonderful way to preserve your shoes and save money from having to purchase replacement pairs that have been exposed to the elements of your closet.

As long as you follow these simple tips to organizing your shoe collection you should never have to trip over those high heels when reaching for that shirt in the morning. It will also help ease the frustration of finding that perfect pair of shoes to complement your outfit for that date or that job interview. Just remember, once you have gone through all the trouble of organizing your shoes, simply putting them back in their proper place when not wearing them will help you keep them that way! It’s just like what Mom said when you were five, “When you’re finished with them put them back where you found them!”

• Got Shoes? Keep Your Favorite Pair Longer With These Shoe Care Tips
• Tips For Tennis Shoes Maintenance