Tuesday Shoesday – How to make your footwear last forever..!

With wet weather comes muddy boots and just having tidemarks from tiptoeing through puddles is enough to make you feel like a right mess, even though the rest of your outfit is perfectly clean. So if you find yourself caught in an April shower, just take a moment to give your shoes a quick wipe with a damp cloth when you get home. This simple action could be enough to lift your spirits on a grey day – and it might make you feel better about the way you look – as looking after your garments when you get home guarantees you’ll look your best the next time you head out the door.Leaving mud to dry on leather is pretty bad, and can actually damage your boots, creating cracks and horrid stains. So whether you’ve spent a fortune on those leather boots or have even just picked them up from a car-boot sale it makes sense to prolong their life by giving them a quick polish.You don’t need any special equipment; just one pot of clear shoe polish will clean up every pair of shoes you own. You can buy a brush if you wish or just use a soft nail brush or even an old toothbrush to apply the polish. Spread it all over your footwear and pay attention to any faded or well-worn areas. Now here’s another money-saving tip…Buff it up to a brilliant shine with a clean cloth. In fact any old rag will do, so long as it’s clean. I’ll tell you what I use: old socks! I can put them over my hand to give the shoes a thorough wipe down and then hold each end to buff across my boots until the leather looks its lustrous best.Just a few minutes work can actually save you money. You’ll prolong the life of your footwear and – if you keep up all the good work – you won’t have to invest in a new pair for years. Feel free to invest in a few products to look after your footwear too; Okay, they may cost you a couple of pounds now but they will keep your shoes looking good for longer. Add waterproofing to walking boots, protect suede with the correct spray and pick a matching coloured polish for leather items. These are all quick and easy to use but again they will saving you money in the long term if you just put in a bit of effort now.Let me know if you have any tips for cleaning up your shoes and tell me what products you use on your footwear. Leave me a comment below or tweet me @Cassiefairy.