Shoes that last

So, have you bought an expensive pair of shoes lately? Have you wondered what you can do to best take care of them? Of course, you love your new shoes and would wear them everyday so perserving them by not wearing them is not an option. Well, here's what shoe experts say you should do. You should think of it as protecting your investment Without proper conditioning and care, leather can dry out until it eventually cracks and falls apart.

There are four steps in the process for properly caring for your smooth leather shoes. By the way, you should not use these steps on suede or exotic skin shoes.

• Clean
• Condition
• Polish
• Preserve or Weatherproof

These are all steps that you can do yourself but you can also seek out help from a good shoe repair shop. Ask them to Clean, Polish and Condition your shoes. If you want to do it yourself, here are the steps:

Before you begin, you'll want to make sure you're prepared for the shoe care process. Work on top of newspaper, wear gloves, and work in a well-ventilated area. These precautions are essential, as many shoe care products contain toxic chemicals that can be very harmful.

1. Remove dirt by cleaning with a leather cleaner made specifically for smooth leathers. You can use saddle soap or a smooth leather shoe cleaner. After cleaning, let the shoes dry for a few minutes and begin shining the shoes with a soft cotton cloth.
2. Rub small amounts of conditioner into the shoe, until the entire shoe has been covered with conditioner. After a couple of minutes, wipe any remaining conditioner off of the shoes, as the leather will only absorb what it can. Look for a conditioner that is a natural conditioner that is absorbed into the material of the shoe, as opposed to a synthetic conditioner that sits on top of the surface. Also look for a conditioner that is made for the specific type of shoes that you are working on.
3. You need to get the appropriate color of polish for you shoes. Apply the polish to a small, less conspicous area of the shoe to test and be sure the color is right. Rub the polish into the shoe with a soft cloth, and allow it to dry thoroughly. After the shoe polish is dry, shine your shoes by buffing them with a soft cloth or brush made specifically for shining shoes.
4. Preserving and weatherproofing can be handled in two ways. I think the best solution is not to wear your favorite shoes when the weather conditions are not good. Get a great pair of rubber boots instead...even Chanel has rubber boots now! If you choose to weatherproof your shoes use caution because weatherproof products can change the appearance of the leather. Spray on products tend to be better because they are invisible on the shoe.

Believe it or not, shoe experts advise that you should condition your shoes before you wear them the first time! How about that. Here's a link to help you find a shoe repair shop in your area.

http://www.ssia.info/consumers/index.asp