Shopping for a pair of shoes from the thrift shop is the best way to save money while getting your hands on the new shoes with which you can look amazing with your outfit. However, it is good to smooth your footwear before styling out a new look. The used shoes may come with some germs that can cause infection. It is better to be safe by disinfecting the shoes. Different types of shoes like leather boots, suede shoes, etc. can easily be ready to wear by using various methods.
Why do you need to disinfect your shoes?
As germs are present everywhere around us even sometimes you find new shoes with bacteria. The used shoes may be contaminated with some fungus and other micro-organisms that can enter in your feet and cause infections like blisters. So, it is very important to disinfect your shoes before wearing them. Secondly, impression formation happens quickly and has long-lasting effects on attitudes, behavior, and expectations. It is investigated that people judge characteristics of other persons, based solely on their shoes. To leave a good impression, it is important to wear clean shoes.
How to clean fabric shoes?
Fabric shoes either sandals or trainers will get dirty after a while.
Fabric shoes can never be put in the washing machine or dryer because the glue that was used to assemble them will not stand up in that water. These shoes can be cleaned with washing soap, warm water, an old toothbrush, and paper towels. Follow these steps to clean them:
- Wipe the shoes with a paper towel to remove loose dirt on the surface.
- Soap is mixed in warm water in a small bowl.
- Lightly scrub the fiber with the toothbrush by dipping it in the soapy mixture.
- After it, remove the soapy residue with a paper towel and place them to air dry.
How to clean leather shoes?
Following steps should be followed to clean the leather shoes either it is patent or faux:
- To begin, wipe off the dust with a paper towel.
- To remove the winter salt stains, a solution with equal parts of cold water and distilled white vinegar will be used.
- After cleaning, place them somewhere to air dry.
- For patent leather, rub the marks with petroleum jelly and buff it with soft clothes to restore their shine.
How to clean suede shoes?
The key to keeping the suede shoes clean given below:
- The surfaces of suede shoes should be kept as dry as possible.
- To remove the loose dirt from the surface use a soft-bristled brush.
- To remove the small marks, simply rub the pencil eraser.
- For the oily stains, sprinkle the baby powder on them for an hour and then brush away.
- To remove the wet stains, a paper towel is used or placed to air dry.
How to clean rope or cork wedges?
After dealing with uppers either made of leather or fabric, tackle the rope sole or wedges in the following way:
- For this, four cups of warm water mix with a quarter cup of distilled vinegar and one tablespoon of dishwashing soap.
- Rub it by dipping the toothbrush in the above solution.
- After it, clean it with a paper towel to rinse soap residue and placed them to air dry.
How to clean athletic shoes?
Most athletic shoes can be washed in a washing machine at the mild cycle with any good detergent. To control the odor, wash the soles with a vinegar-water solution.
How to clean flip-flop shoes?
Flip-flop shoes can be cleaned them in the following ways:
- Wash them with warm water properly.
- Sprinkle the baking soda on it and then rub it with a brush.
- They can also be washed them in a washing machine using a small amount of detergent and vinegar.
How to disinfect used shoes?
Disinfection of shoes is essential because leftover germs may cause fungal infections.
- Bleach treatment:
Bleach is a strong disinfecting agent so never use it directly on colored surfaces of shoes. Dilute it with water and spray it inside the shoes.
- Use rubbing alcohol:
Soak the footwear in rubbing alcohol and place them to air dry.
If the material of your shoes is delicate, clean it with a piece of cloth by dipping it in alcohol.
Conclusion:
Buying and using used shoes is good economically but never wear them without cleaning and disinfecting because it may cause severe infections. So take help from the above-mentioned steps to clean and disinfect shoes.
Frequently ask questions?
Is it bad to put the shoes in the sunlight?
Too much exposure to sunlight cause discoloration. In the case of leather, it cracks and looks old and worn.
Does water ruin the leather boots?
Because water shrinks the leather and makes your shoes stiff and old.
