Things You'll Need:
- Shoe trees
- Waterproofing spray
- Shoe polish
- Polishing rag or brush
- Shoehorn
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Step 1
Insert shoe trees into your shoes or boots when not in use. Not only will the wood from the shoe tree absorb moisture, but it will help your shoes or boots maintain their original shape.
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Step 2
Waterproof the outside of your shoes or boots. This will help repel water, which is especially useful for increasing the life of hiking boots or any other shoes that are likely to get wet. There are several different waterproofing systems, although a waterproofing spray may be the easiest.
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Step 3
Dry you shoes or boots if they do get wet. Air-dry your footwear, as drying them under high heat is bad for the material. Footwear that is left wet will become moldy.
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Step 4
Polish your shoes or boots regularly to keep the material in good shape. How you polish will depend on the material. For example, leather shoes or boots should be polished with a soft cloth, while suede shoes should be brushed.
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Step 5
Use a shoehorn when removing or putting on your boots or shoes. This helps prevent wearing out the backs of your shoes.
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Step 6
Rotate your shoes or boots regularly. This is especially important if, for example, you have a pair of boots that you are particularly hard on. Switching to another pair of boots regularly will let the first pair dry out and will stop the material from being worn through too quickly.
