How to properly clean sneakers at home and what you should never do?

The period from November to March definitely holds the title of personal hell for anyone who cares about fashion. And the point here is not traditional Russian frosts, but slush and reagents that can easily ruin your favorite shoes. Every year we watch with horror as cracks, stains and wrinkles appear on our boots or sneakers. And leaving the house is more and more reminiscent of the scenario of the movie “Mission Impossible” starring not only Tom Cruise, but also residents of Russian cities.

Of course, you can choose to be happy and wear fur-insulated rubber shoes all winter long. But something tells us that you are not looking for easy ways and plan to create looks with trendy boots and sneakers in the cold season. We support this decision, so together with the NE Clean team – Nikita Efremov dry cleaning experts – we have prepared material with tips on how to care for shoes in the winter so that they serve faithfully for more than one season.

After all, even the most fashionable look will be ruined if the shoes look indescribable. Cracks, wrinkles and casual dirt are a 100% trendy red flag that no fashionista can ignore. Here are step-by-step instructions on caring for your shoes that will definitely come in handy.

How to prepare shoes for cleaning?

Step No. 1. Determine what material the shoes are made of

One of the most important points is to determine the type of material correctly because we will choose brushes and cleaning products accordingly. Sometimes shoes are made from several fabrics. In this case, we use our own capabilities for each type of material.

Step No. 2. Choose a professional product

For home care, it is important to clean shoes only with special chemicals. Each material has its own tools. For example, leather, nubuck and suede are very sensitive to chemicals. Bad creams and water-repellent sprays contain silicone, which causes the material to deteriorate over time. In this case, it is better to use natural candles without dyes. Also, you should not clean suede and nubuck shoes with regular wax and other thick creams. Before using any product, read the instructions carefully to avoid spoiling your favorite pair.

How to clean shoes?

Step #1

The first thing to do before cleaning is to remove the laces and insoles. Then gently wash in warm water using shoe cleaner and a soft brush.

Step #2

We clean the base with a coarser brush. Be careful not to touch the topping. Also forget about washing in the washing machine, traditional cleaning methods (toothpaste, soda and lemon) and any kind of bleach (especially bleach).

Step #3

We clean the upper part of the shoes with a soft bristle brush and a neutral detergent using light circular movements. Treat all parts of the pair and then remove the foam with microfiber. It is necessary to remove moisture and detergent from the surface as much as possible. An important point: Do not wash your shoes under running water or rub them with a well-moistened sponge or cloth. In this case, the couple may be deformed.

Step #4

We dry the shoes at room temperature, away from heating devices. Do not place a pair on the battery: high temperatures can cause the materials to dry out and crack, peeling of the base is also possible. Once dry, put the insoles back on and tie a pair of laces. Finally, you can use a special deodorant for shoes and water-repellent impregnation, which will protect the pair from moisture and dirt.

Step #5

Washing your shoes once or twice a week is enough. And you can delete the pair after each exit. At the same time, try not to wet the material too much. A damp microfiber is suitable for leather products, and a soft brush is suitable for suede products. Additionally, shoes need to be dried after wearing every day. Usually the pair dries completely within 48 hours. In this case, be sure to remove the insoles and use mold holders. To keep your shoes looking fresh and tidy for longer, you can keep them clean at home. However, in order not to spoil the duo, entrust the fight against deep stains to experts.