Every woman knows how difficult it is to find the ideal pair of shoes that look and feel wonderful. So, when you finally get your hands on the grail of footwear, you want to make the most of it. We asked the pros what they wished their customers knew about shoe care, whether you found your dream heels, shoes you could live in, or ballet flats you wear every day. Here is the list of shoe repair shop secrets.
Top Seven Secrets of Shoe Repair Shop:
#1 – Before you start wearing new shoes, take them to the cobbler.
Preventive care can go a long way toward extending the life of your shoes. Before you hit the streets with a new pair of leather-soled shoes, have rubber soles fitted by your shoe repair shop (or even after one or two initial wears).
Leather is a fabric that fades quickly. Thin rubber soles in various colours will match your heels or flats perfectly. They’ll keep the leather from fading, but they’ll also block water seeping into the soles and harming the shoe’s upper part.
#2 – Don’t buy shoes to repair them.
A wonderful pair of antique pumps can seem valuable for old kicks, but it’s not worth having them fixed. They’re nearly impossible to refurbish at a reasonable price due to dried-out leather and worn-in soles. It’s similar to repairing old shoes. You’ll fix A, but then B will fail. After that, you fix B, and C falls apart. It’s a never-ending cycle because as one area of the shoe becomes stronger, the rest of the shoe weakens in comparison.
#3 – There’s some wiggle room in terms of shoe size.
As per the shoe repair shop, don’t pass up a fantastic pair of shoes because they’re too tight or loose. Many shoes cobblers can make them fit if the size is too small. Stretching machines can stretch specific areas, such as too-tight toes, and improve length and width (though lengthening is best effective on flat shoes).
Also Read: How To Choose The Right Running Shoes
#4 – Avoid using gel shoe pads.
Gel inserts may appear comforting initially, especially on aching, swollen feet, but they aren’t the best option. Within a month, they will no longer be at ease. The material breaks down and spreads out, leaving a small cushion between your foot and the sole. Latex foam is another material to avoid because it degrades quickly. Instead, he suggests buying pads made of long-lasting Poron, which is commonly used in high-end orthotics. Foot Petals has a choice of Poron pads in various sizes and colours.
#5 – Tall boots can be altered to some extent.
New generation cobbler and founder of Hello Laundry in London say that too-loose pairs can be taken in, while snug shoes can be stretched about 1/2 inch in the calf. Inner soles, tongue pads, and heel grips, on the other hand, can tighten up the fit if you’re slipping around in your shoes. Customers have told me they got shoes at a bargain and then spent £25 on padding, yet they are still uncomfortable. Don’t buy them if you’re in the store and can slip your finger inside the heel.
#6 – Store your shoes in the shoe bags that came with them.
Many shoes come with a storage case because you can avoid structural damage by keeping them in the soft bag between uses. When shoes are stored in hot or dry environments (such as a plastic bin), the leather might dry out and crack. Keep your pairs away from direct sunlight and heating vents to keep the material intact. Applying a leather conditioner to maintain the material’s integrity is another way to keep leather from cracking.
Also Read: How Shoe Repair Shop Fixed Your Punctured Boots
#7 – Know what you can and cannot do at home.
Bring your shoes to a shoe cobbler for repairs like stretching or anything to do with the soles to avoid costly blunders. However, there are a few simple DIY solutions that anyone can perform. Patent leather can be shined using a glass cleaner, and small nicks can be repaired with a dab of nail paint in a comparable colour.
If your shoes are suede, avoid applying baby powder because it will absorb oil stains. To remove salt stains from shoes, the shoe repair shop suggests combining one part white vinegar with three parts water and dabbing the solution over the affected area with a paper towel. They claim that once the fluid dries, the salt will escape.
So we hope you like these shoe repair shop secrets, so it is time to give some shine to your shoe. Hire Hello Laundry, an online shoe cobbler in London helps you make your shoes like a pro.
