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Care
of Shoes and Other Leather Goods
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*A
monthly column devoted to helping women and men
be their best and most confident in any situation.
Topics include dress, body language, attitude and
etiquette.
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Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert |
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Shoe
care is simple by extremely important. While the price of leather
has soared, the quality of shoes has gone down. Shoes don't last
years; if they are not cared for, they won't last even one year.
- The key to keeping your shoes and other leather goods
in tip-top condition is polish. Polish protects the leather
from drying out or being ruined by a sudden rain.
- Avoid quick-drying liquid polishes: these contain
alcohol, which can dry out the leather. Instead, use cream polishes
such as Meltonian, which cleans and shines shoes in one step.
- When you purchase new shoes, a new bag, or a new briefcase,
treat the item to a past-polish rubdown toward off soil penetration.
- After wearing, brush shoes and give them at least
a day's rest. This allows them to air out and foot perspiration
to dry.
- While shoes are at rest, preserve their shape with
shoe-trees. When you travel, place shoes in bags to protect
them and your clothing.
- If you do get caught in the rain, let your shoes dry
naturally away from any direct heat source, such as a radiator.
Stuff the toe area with some paper towels to absorb moisture
and to help retain the shape of the shoe. Remove any salt or
stains with white vinegar and water mixed in equal parts. Once
the shoes have dried, condition and polish them.
- Check shoes heels and soles periodically. Are the
heels worn through? Send them to a repair shop immediately.
Or perhaps the heel of your shoe gets caught on something and
the leather tears. Send them to the repair shop. Don't wait
until they're ready to be thrown away to get them repair. At
the price of shoes today, proper care is essential.
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Victoria
Seitz, PhD is a professor of Marketing at California
State University, San Bernardino and is author of Your
Executive Image, AdamsMedia, Inc, 2000 and Power
Dressing, DonJon Publishing, 1991. In addition to teaching,
Dr. Seitz was a fashion coordinator for Burdines, Florida
and in retail management for Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ. Clients of Dr. Seitz have included Abbott Laboratories,
Northern Telecom, Texas Instruments, Yellow Freight Systems,
Sally Beauty Company, the United States Armed Forces, Travellife
magazine, YWCA and Accountants Overload, in addition to
law firms, hotels, newspapers, universities, banks, credit
unions, national and local community and professional organizations
nationwide.
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To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.
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