Monsoon-Proof Your Leather Shoes

Nisha Samson

“I’m walking on sunshine, woooah; I’m walking on sunshine, woooah; I’m walking on sunshine, woooah; and doesn’t it feel good!!” And, SQUISH!

You can be walking on sunshine whether it rains or shines, but the good, ol’ pothole riddled pavements and roads bring you back to a rather crashing reality peppered with monsoon woes. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that monsoons and leather shoes are as compatible as a snowflake and the raging fires of hell.

The not so fashionable world suggests shelving your shoes this season, however, no one pays attention to the unfashionable! You can use them but you’ve got to be smart about where you wear them, and of course, after-use care is absolutely imperative. MensXP give you a few tips, tricks and how-to’s to ensure that you look as stylish as possible while making sure that your precious leather footwear remains as dry as a toast!

Be Wary of Exposure

Say what you will, you cannot escape the monsoons. However, you can protect your shoes. If all that your shoes are exposed to is the walk from your home to the car in your driveway to the office, barring any other exposure, then you’re good to go. But, if you spend a better part of your day exposing your shoes to the elements, then you should opt to use leather shoes that come with a waterproofing agent. And, if you’re someone condemned to using public transport, then it’s best to carry that precious pair to office in the safe confines of your bag while you use a * shudder * use a rubber pair to tide the journey. But once in office, clean and dry you feet and slide into that gorgeous pair of leather!

Dry Your Shoes

In case you get your shoes wet, and it’s very likely given the season, ensure that you dry your shoes very well. Stuff them with newspaper and allow your shoes to air dry. You can also sprinkle a little talcum powder to absorb extra moisture once you’ve taken out the newspapers. Use the fan to hasten the drying process, but, DO NOT expose them to direct heat such as heat from a hairdryer. This will dry your shoes too fast causing the leather to crack. And once this happens, you might as well bin your precious pair.

Shoe trees are an essential investment. These allow your shoes to dry and retain their original shape.

Brush Away the Grime

Brushing your shoes is as important as brushing your teeth. It’s simple, really. Irrespective of the amount of usage, ensure that your brush your shoes with a shoe brush to rid your shoes of the thin layers of dust and grime. In the monsoons, wet mud has a tendency to make itself at home on your shoes. In this case, be extra careful and brush that area off first.

Polish to a Tee

Now that the dust is off, nothing spruces up leathers shoes like a good coat of polish. Invest in a good brand and polish your shoes in a circular rubbing motion. The more you rub, the better it is for your shoes. Allow you shoes to dry, and then, buff your shoes with a polishing brush.

Let Them Breathe

Whether it rains, snows or shines, you’ve got to allow your leather shoes to breathe once you’ve used them. Refrain from putting them in your shoe closet immediately after use. Let them air out for at least a couple of hours, if not more, after you’ve used them. This will help the sweat and dampness evaporate and naturally dry you shoes. In the monsoons, ensure than you allow your shoes to breathe thrice a week to keep dampness and moisture at bay.

Store Well

If you have a shoe closet, stuff your shoes with newspaper so that your pairs retain their shape. If you store them in shoe boxes, please put them into cloth shoe bag first and then box them. Most, if not all shoe stores, will give you shoe bags when you buy your pair. If not, you can ask them for it.

Tips from the Shoe Bible

·         Take them off and air-dry them before using a damp rag to wipe off the dirt and oil.

·         Apply a leather conditioner and start with areas that are wet.

·         Always allow your shoes to dry at room temperature.

·         DO NOT dry attempt to dry your shoes with a hair dryer.

·         Always condition and polish in a circular motion.

Source: Monsoon-Proof Your Leather Shoes