How to Get The Most Out of Your Footwear

Ken Gusner, Cobber/Owner

By Ken Gusner and Seethong Yang, Monona Shoe Repair

Over the past seven years that I have been a cobbler, I noticed a few things that each of us can do to preserve and prolong the life of our shoes and in turn, improve the well-being of our feet.  Well, a good and comfortable pair of shoes adds to the quality of our overall health.  We ought to take the time to care for them.  When a pair of shoes lasts longer and it is comfortable to wear, we spend less money and not to mention, our feet are happier.  When our feet are happier, so do we! 

The first thing anyone can do to care for their shoes is to clean them.  In the case of your Allen Edmonds, Alden, Cole Haan, other leather shoes and boots, polish them.  This is the single most important thing you can do to get the most out of your footwear.  When you polish your shoes, it is recommended that you use a cream polish, which soaks into the leather to keep it soft and flexible.  A good cream polish will condition the leather and extends its life and usage.  It prevents the leather from drying and cracking.  A paste polish may also work, but it won’t penetrate into the leather as well.

The second thing is to avoid getting your shoes wet.  Getting your leather shoes wet and dry several times can crack the leather.  You can keep your shoes dry by wearing an overshoes, which is a pair of thin rubber shoes that fits right over your shoes.  Especially, when it’s raining or snowing.  The other alternative is to wear your crappy shoes in crappy weather.  

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If your leather shoes get wet, don’t put them in the oven or by the fireplace to dry.  Doing this will ruin the shoes.  Wipe them with a clean cloth, hang them upside down on a broomstick and let them dry naturally.  This will allow the moisture in the soles to evaporate.  Once the shoes are dry, polish them with a cream polish.  Remember that leather is a skin and it needs to be conditioned and cared for.      
 
The third thing is to wear your footwear appropriately.  Don’t wear your Allen Edmonds to mow the lawn or plow the snow.  Your good quality shoes are not made to withstand such abuse.  If you must do manual labor around the house or in the yard, wear something that is made for that purpose.  Your shoes protect your feet, which is the foundation upon which you stand.  How well those shoes fit your feet will affect your posture, movement and overall health.  Your shoes add a lot to your health and well-being, you should care for them just as you would care for your hands or your feet.  And remember, they’re shoes, they need love too.          

Ken Gusner is the owner of Monona Shoe Repair, 4517 Monona Drive - a proud sponsor of LENA!  Ken is also a resident in the Lake Edge neighborhood.