How to Apply Shoe Trees

Preserve – or even slightly stretch – the form of your leather shoes using shoe trees.

Shoes are built around a wooden last, giving each pair its individual shape. Over time, shoes lose their original shape, making them appear less crisp than when they were new. A shoe tree can help prevent the gradual misshaping that occurs over time. Shoe trees also help prevent cracking of the shoe's leather, and those trees made out of cedar absorb moisture and odor, ensuring the long-term life of the shoe's lining. Apply shoe trees to your shoes to preserve the aesthetic appeal of your footwear.

Instructions

1. Insert the foot-shaped portion of the shoe tree into your shoe, ensuring that it goes as far as possible into the toe box.

2. Push in on the spring-loaded metal stem.

3. Push the metal stem down and into your shoe. Slowly release the metal stem, allowing it to press against the heel of your shoe.

References

• NuShoe: Shoe Care Tips
• "Clothes and the Man"; Alan Flusser; 1994