Walk a Mile in Her Shoes!

By Bee Lindquist:

Photo courtesy of http://farm4.static.flickr.com/

We love our shoes and as such we want them to look fantastic forever. Years ago there was a saying if you want to know a man’s status look at the condition of his shoes. I believe that still holds true today. Your hair maybe perfectly coifed and your outfit may look like a million dollars but if your shoes are beat-up and dirty you will too.

Picture Courtesy of http://www.lifein2suitcases.com/

Here are some simple tips to keeping even that $9.99 flip flops looking fantastic

• Neaten up the frayed ends of shoelaces (and make it easier to lace them) by dipping them in clear nail polish.
• Store shoes that aren’t worn often by stuffing the toe box with tissue paper and place in a pillow case as a shoe cover.
• Remove scuff marks on shoes by rubbing with a baking-soda paste.
• Use petroleum jelly to shine leather shoes. Apply with a soft cloth, wipe off the excess, and buff with a clean cloth.
• You should keep waterproofing solution on hand for your new shoes, to be applied before exposing them to the elements.
• Use a light coating of spray starch or Scotch Guard on new fabric tennis shoes before wearing them -- dirt can't become embedded in the canvas, and the shoes will always be easy to clean.
• Clean the rubber on athletic shoes with baking soda sprinkled on a sponge or washcloth.
• Use lemon juice to clean and shine black or tan leathers. Apply with a soft cloth. 
• Clean the salt residue common on winter boots with a cloth dipped in a solution of 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vinegar. This will work on leather and vinyl.
• Use a soft cloth dipped in vinegar to shine a pair of patent-leather shoes or any patent-leather item.
• Shoes that are starting to smell can be helped by sprinkling with a little salt. Let sit overnight. The salt will help control moisture, which contributes to odors.
• Put shoes in freezer to kill the odor causing bacteria.
• Keep odor at bay by sprinkling baking soda into shoes to control odor and moisture.
• Cobblers may strenghten the soles of more delicate dress shoes with a specially cut half-sole of leather or thin plastic. These extra layers for the bottom of the shoe provide extra traction and extend the life of the shoe. You can also have the Cobbler replace zippers, buttons, clasps and straps on pumps, along with replacing or shortening the heels and replacing the heel tips.

Remember­ Bill Connelly said “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares?... He's a mile away and you've got his shoes.”