How to Care for Your Shoes

Now that you have a new fancy pair of custom shoes it's time to learn how to take care of them so they can last for years to come!

The first method we recommend is hand washing, it's the least harsh way to keep them clean just following the simple steps below:

First, you will need:

• A bucket
• Warm water
• Mild laundry detergent
• A toothbrush, or a washing-up sponge
• An old towel
• Waste paper

How to do it:

1. Fill a bucket with warm water, and make a lather with 1-2 tbsp (15-30 ml) of mild laundry detergent – a liquid detergent suitable for delicates, like Persil Non-Bio for Silk and Wool, is ideal. If you are using a powdered detergent, swirl it around until it is mostly dissolved and bubbles appear.
2. Hold each shoe above the bucket and scrub the outside, including the soles, with a toothbrush or washing-up sponge. Gently dip the shoes in the water to wash off the dirt and continue scrubbing – avoid submerging the shoes entirely
3. Rinse your shoes with warm, clean water.
4. Use an old towel to squeeze any excess water from the shoes.
5. Stuff your shoes with paper or similar to preserve their shape.
6. Leave the shoes to dry in the sun (if possible) or in a warm, dry place indoors – away from any direct heat source. Direct heat can weaken the glue used to hold this kind of shoe together, and affect the texture of the canvas.

How to Clean Your Shoes in The Washing Machine

You will need:

• A washing machine
• Mild laundry detergent
• A mild pre-wash treatment for any major stains
• Waste paper

How to do it:

1. Pre-treat any stains if present, following the instructions on the label of your chosen product. Depending on the stain, you may not have to buy a specialist cleaner: some liquid laundry detergents can be used as a mild but effective pre-treatment.
2. Set your washing machine to a gentle cycle with cool water.
3. Add half the usual dose of mild detergent.
4. Allow machine to finish its cycle as normal.
5. Remove your shoes from the washing machine and allow them to dry in the sun, stuffed with paper or similar to preserve their shape. It’s possible to dry shoes in a tumble dryer with some old towels, but bear in mind this is tough on both dryer and shoes, and may weaken the glue holding the shoes together.

That’s it – just remember to let your newly clean shoes dry properly before wearing them!