Take care of your shoes

In order for your shoes, boots and rain boots to last a long time, it is important to take care of them – they need to be cleaned, lubricated and waterproofed to keep them looking nice and working well. At Outnorth we want your shoes to last for many years to come, so we have collected some tips and tricks on how to treat them for the best possible results.

Keep your shoes clean, dry and fresh

Clean shoes

No shoe is happy with too much dirt – they wear out unnecessarily fast and generally function worse. You should therefore periodically clean your shoes. Pull out the shoelaces and insoles and poke away any pebbles, gravel and the like in the soles. Then dust off the shoes with a little lukewarm water, a soft brush or a damp cloth, depending on the material, to remove most of the dirt. You can also brush and rinse the inside of the shoes to get rid of salt crystals, bacteria and bad smells. Remember that you should always clean your shoes before treating them, otherwise the treatment will not have any effect.

When you put your shoes away for an extended period fo time, it is beneficial to clean them and make sure they are dry. Regarding leather shoes, it is beneficial to wax or grease them if you are not going to use them for a while, so that they do not dry out and begin to crack when stored.

Dry shoes

If your shoes get wet during use, we recommend removing the insoles and drying the shoes at room temperature. For a faster and more effective result, you can fill the shoes with regular newspaper, the paper will absorb the moisture. Unfortunately, drying the shoes next to a radiator or in a drying cabinet can cause the shoes to dry out, crack or lose their shape.

Fresh shoes

If your shoes smell bad, you can try using scented bags. The scented bags are placed in the shoes during the night and absorb moisture and remove bad odors. To help the shoes keep their shape, you can invest in a shoe block. A cedar shoe block not only holds its shape, the wood also absorbs bad odors so your shoes stay fresh until the next time they are used.

Treat the shoes regularly 

Waterproofing

Some shoes have a water-repellent or waterproof surface when you buy them, others don't. To provide or maintain a water-repellent surface, you need to waterproof the shoes. This should be done before using them for the first time and periodically thereafter. Shoes with a membrane, for example GORE-TEX, also need to be waterproofed at regular intervals to maintain their waterproof surface. The most common is to waterproof outdoor shoes and winter shoes, but it works just as well to waterproof other shoes that you want to resist getting wet as well. The only shoes you should not waterproof are patent leather and rubber boots.

There are different ways to waterproof shoes – the most common are by spray or detergent. Impregnation spray is easy as it goes very quickly; just spray on the shoe and let it dry. If you want extra protection, you can repeat and let the shoes dry again. Detergent is also convenient as you let the washing machine do the work. Remember to choose the right impregnation for the right material, there are, for example, impregnation sprays that work on leather, but which do not work on synthetic materials as they can destroy the surface of the shoes.

Wax and grease

Continuously waxing and greasing your leather boots and shoes means that they will resist getting wet and last for many years to come. The wax settles on the surface and forms a thin layer that protects against moisture and water, while the fat penetrates deep into the leather where it both saturates and softens. Always be extra careful at seams and joints, don't forget the tongue and remember to wax the hooks of the shoe as well, as it can counteract and protect against rust.

Treating rubber

Rain boots that are made of rubber are naturally waterproof and therefore do not need to be waterproofed, but you can take care of them in other ways. For example, you should rinse them with soap and water after each use and then let them dry at room temperature. Soap contains glycerin, which helps keep the rubber soft and supple. Remember not to dry rubber boots near radiators or in a drying cabinet.

Rubber boots should be treated with special products intended for rubber. Caring for your rubber boots restores the natural finish of the rubber – you prevent them from drying out, minimize the appearance of white spots and restore the shine so they will last for years to come.