If your shoes get wet. How to treat shoes to prevent them from getting wet: home remedies

30.12.202127.05.2017

How nice it is to wear a beautiful and comfortable shoes. You feel like a queen in it. To make your shoes last longer, it is important proper care behind her. Different times of the year have their own rules and features for shoe care.

Rule one - shoe care begins with its purchase.

To prevent leather shoes from staining your tights, rub talcum powder onto the inside of your shoes.

In order for new shoes to last longer, it is important to treat them with water-repellent cream before the first exit, especially if it is autumn or winter shoes.

Rule three - to care for shoes, use cream according to the time of year and type of shoe

Nowadays there are mainly two groups of shoe polish.

First - shoe polishes based on organic solvents (shoe polish is the oldest shoe care product with a sharp, characteristic odor). They contain waxes, paraffin, dyes, ceresin and solvents. These creams are great for caring for autumn and winter shoes, as they create a waterproof film and perfectly protect shoes in wet weather.

Second - emulsion creams , as a rule, contain fewer solvents, therefore they do not have a strong odor, and have a soft consistency, easy to carry with a sponge, cloth, and not a brush. They are available in tubes. Their peculiarity is that they are softer than shoe polishes based on organic solvents and are ideal for processing model, women's shoes. In addition, they form a porous crust on shoes, which easily allows air and moisture to pass through, so use them better in summer or for shoes that are used only in a warm, enclosed area.

There is a third group - this self-shining creams , produced in small jars with a foam sponge. After drying, they form a shiny thin film.

Shoe creams keep leather soft and elastic, restore its original color, and cover up scuffs and scratches. The above-mentioned creams can only be used for leather shoes, and for patent leather shoes and suede shoes, special products are used (foam cleaner, water-repellent impregnation, spray paint).

Rule four - regular shoe care is necessary, then your shoes will last longer.

You need to clean your shoes every day immediately after returning from the street. It needs to be thoroughly washed or wiped with a cloth, dried, lubricated with a suitable cream, and polished in the morning with a brush or velvet cloth.

Shoes smeared with cream just before going outside are completely unprotected from dust, dirt and moisture. The cream cannot be instantly absorbed and create a protective film; for this it needs about 8-12 hours.

In winter, to the “two eternal troubles” a third is added: wet shoes. If you have not experienced this at least once in snow or rain, then you are clearly not walking on our streets. Everyone knows that wet feet are not just an annoying nuisance, but a reason to come down with a fever and runny nose. To prevent this fate from befalling you, you should take care of the problem in advance. As they say, prepare your cart in winter, and prepare your shoes for slushy weather in summer. In this article we will solve the question once and for all: shoes get wet - what to do?

More shoes - lower quality

It’s a paradox: the wider the range of shoes in our stores, the more actively consumers complain about their quality. And there is one simple reason for this. In Soviet times, boots and boots were brought from abroad by Vneshobuvtorg employees. These were specialists who were well versed in quality and knew what to choose for our damp, snowy winters and poorly cleaned streets.

Now shoes are brought from everywhere, by all and sundry. Intermediaries focus less on quality and look more at price - the lower the better. Therefore, when encountering the first puddle, the boots - so comfortable and beautiful - begin to get wet, and tons of curses are rained down on manufacturers and sellers. We have to urgently solve the problem: winter shoes get wet - what to do?

Emergency measures

If trouble has already happened and you come home with damp feet, then you should immediately take emergency measures to try to save your shoes:

Do not place wet boots or shoes on a radiator or other heating devices. Under the influence of high temperatures, any material from which shoes are made will be completely and irrevocably damaged.
The best way to dry your shoes is as follows. Remove all dirt from the surface and fill it with old newspapers or paper. It will absorb excess moisture and retain its shape.
Shoes should be dried at natural temperature conditions. You can place it next to the battery, but at a remote distance. Sometimes it may take two days to dry completely. If you want to save your couple, then you should wait this time.
If it happens that the shoes have dried out and lost their shape, then you need to hold them over steam, then stuff them with newspapers and dry them completely.

Now you need to understand the reasons in order to understand how to prevent your shoes from getting wet:

If your sole has come off, it means that the manufacturer did not pay enough attention to quality, but glued it to the base using the cheapest material. In this situation, only contacting a shoe workshop will help. If you are used to doing everything as much as possible with your own hands, you can try to restore the integrity of the couple with the help of our tips from the article.
If the sole is in place, then it is quite possible that moisture gets inside due to poor-quality seams, or barely noticeable holes and cracks. With such shoes, there is also a road to the workshop, where, if you complain, your boots get wet - what to do, they will ask you to apply patches.
If your shoes are not cheap, and you were guided by a well-known brand when purchasing, then this does not always solve the problem in the bud. The chemicals that are sprinkled in abundance on our streets can “kill” even the strongest boots in one winter. Rescue in in this case- again, a trip to the workshop.
Cracks may appear in your shoes if they are made of synthetic materials. Faux leather simply cracks due to frost, and as a result, shoes lose their “moisture resistance”.

Important! What can you do to prevent your shoes from getting wet in winter? The easiest way is to take it to a shoe repair shop immediately after purchase. There you will be offered a service such as sole reinforcement. This preventative measure will help seal the sole, protect it from rapid abrasion and provide anti-slip properties. And to give even more strength to your shoes and boots, ask the master to strengthen the seams or, if there are none, then sew the sole to the base. Then many problems can be avoided.

Prevention

To avoid having to urgently solve the problem of how to prevent your shoes from getting wet, take care of solving the problem in advance. Immediately after purchasing shoes. In stores today you can find hundreds various means that will help protect your winter shoes. They differ in composition:

Animal fats are commonly found in various shoe polishes. This rules out bad smell means - it can be used even indoors. When you apply this product, the shoes are covered with a thin film. It is this that repels particles of water, dirt and dust.
Various emulsions produced by manufacturers contain chemical additives. Therefore, such sprays have an unpleasant aroma and are best applied to outdoors. This is about the cons. The main advantage of such products for shoes is that they provide protection not only from moisture and dirt. It is the chemical components that prevent the appearance of small cracks.

Important! If you decide to give preference to store-bought products, take a closer look at the quality products described in our review.

Before using this or that product, it is worth knowing the features of applying a spray or cream specifically to winter shoes:

If you want to avoid getting your boots or shoes wet, then buy a spray based on the fact that you will have to treat your shoes three times. Between applying each layer of water-repellent substance, you need to wait a long pause - a day. But it's worth it, because the triple application method provides maximum protection
Any product must be sprayed at a distance of 20-30 cm from the shoe to ensure uniform application. This must be done until the substance ceases to be actively absorbed into the material.
If you are not using water-repellent products on new shoes, clean and dry the shoes first. It also needs to be dried thoroughly; remember, this should be done away from heating appliances.

Important! It should be remembered that not every product is suitable for every type of shoe. It is worth buying creams and sprays strictly for a specific type:
For example, the cream cannot be used on suede or fabric. A separate rating will help you choose.
Oil or spray does not need to be applied to leatherette, as it does not absorb these substances.

The best store-bought protection products:

Salamander Universal SMS. This spray protects shoes from dirt and moisture, improves appearance. Suitable for leather, textiles and suede. However, it has one drawback - a strong unpleasant odor.
Ecco. This is a unique effective spray that protects against moisture and dirt and does not disturb the air exchange of the material. It dries instantly and is economical to use.
Collonil Nanopro. Revolutionary spray based on fluorocarbon compounds - a real find for leather, textiles, nubuck, velor. Creates the thinnest and most invisible, absolutely impenetrable and deep film on shoes. It is used very economically.
KiwiAquaStop. This spray is suitable for leather and nubuck, as well as suede, textiles and artificial leather. Reliably protects shoes (dirt, moisture and reagents), dries quickly, restores appearance, and easily fits in a bag.
Salamander cream. Fat nourishing skin cream. Powerful water-repellent properties, restore shine, cover up scuffs, cost-effective, natural wax in the composition, no strong chemical odor.
Grangers G-Wax. A very effective impregnation cream for rough skin. Purpose: cleaning and protection from moisture and salt. Created on the basis of beeswax.
SMS Olvist. High-quality Swedish impregnation for 100% protection against moisture and dirt. Designed for leather and textiles. Fully approved by customers.

The best folk remedies

Buyers have been faced with the problem of their shoes getting wet—what to do—for decades now. And during this time a lot has accumulated folk remedies, so-called life hacks today. We have collected the most popular and reliable ones for you:

Mix 50 g of lamb fat, the same amount of linseed oil and 1 g of regular turpentine. The lard must first be melted. Apply the still warm mixture to your shoes using a soft cloth and wait until the mixture is absorbed.
For this method, you can use wax or paraffin - you need to take 30 g of it. Then melt it over low heat and pour flax oil into the mass. We also apply the composition to the shoes with a soft cloth and wait for it to be absorbed.
If your boots or shoes are made of rough leather, then it can be treated with regular castor oil. Rub it into the surface and polish. This product should not be used for thin skin; castor oil will ruin it.
For the following recipe you will need 20 g of beeswax, 15 g of turpentine and 50 g of crushed rosin. Mix all the ingredients and rub them into the surface of your shoes.
The fifth method includes 4 components: about 20 g of glycerin, 40 g fish oil, 30 g turpentine, 10 g beeswax. Mix the last 3 ingredients and melt the mixture over low heat. After that, add glycerin and treat your boots or boots.
Any animal fat needs to be melted over low heat, then add the same amount to it castor oil. Apply the mixture to shoes and seams, thoroughly saturating the surface.
Probably the easiest way. Take wax or paraffin and rub the candle over the entire surface of your shoes. Then we heat this film with a hairdryer, it is absorbed, and we get a kind of mask. The recipe is quick and reliable. But it needs to be repeated constantly.

Important! There is another old-fashioned way to prevent shoes from getting wet in winter and retain their original appearance. Suitable for skin only and not suitable for smokers. Wet shoes should be wiped with kerosene. After drying, the shoes or boots will shine like new.

How to choose winter shoes?

The best advice if your shoes get wet is to buy two or three pairs of shoes for the winter. If your budget does not allow you to fork out, then you need to be extremely careful when choosing one pair - practical, high-quality, and protecting from dampness. Therefore, remember the main rules:

Thick and dense leather will provide more reliable protection from moisture;
The thick and high sole also reduces the likelihood of moisture getting inside;
The high edge at the sole also provides high moisture resistance;
If the shoe fits your foot too tightly, it means that it will quickly stretch and, accordingly, will lose moisture resistance.

International footwear quality standards do not provide for testing the moisture resistance of manufactured products. But you can conduct a similar test yourself right at the counter. It is enough to pay attention to the way the sole is attached to the top of the boot. According to experts, this very joint is the most vulnerable spot.

The glue-stitching method is incompatible with moisture and dampness. The seam that goes around the entire perimeter leaves small holes. Moisture gets inside through them. This stitching, especially when done with contrasting threads, looks very stylish. However, it is not intended for wet weather.
Most often, manufacturers use the adhesive method. The sole in this case is simply glued to the upper part of the shoe. The tightness is good, but moisture resistance with this method is average. In autumn or winter, such shoes are good if they have thick soles. The moisture simply does not reach the joint.
Shoes that are made using the glue-moulding method cause the least problems. Experts call it the liquid molding method. In the process, the upper part of the shoe is first made, then it is lowered into a special mold, and the sole is formed in it. The tightness of such boots or shoes is excellent.

Now you know what to do to keep your shoes from getting wet in winter. We introduced you to both emergency methods and prevention. If you adhere not only to expert opinion, but also people's councils, your winter shoes can last you several seasons and still look like new.

Rain, snow, slush, ice, sidewalks sprinkled with salt are a difficult test for shoes. But the weather shouldn't stop you from wearing your favorite pair of shoes. Here are some little tricks you can use to keep your feet warm and dry and protect your shoes from the elements. unfavorable factors.

Do not use water repellent spray

Water repellent spray may seem like a great idea, but don't rush into using it. In fact, it can make your feet sweat. This spray creates a barrier so that nothing can penetrate the material, which also means your shoes will not be breathable or breathable. This will cause hot air to concentrate around your feet. If you definitely want to have shoes that do not get wet when it rains, then give preference to rubber boots.

Pay attention to the material

Each material requires an individual approach to protection. Whatever shoe care product you choose, make sure it is multi-purpose and can be used on multiple materials, such as leather and suede.

Keep your shoes clean

Before using the protective product, make sure your shoes are clean. Otherwise, you'll just set the dirt underneath the spray. You can use a special cloth to remove dirt and dust, and then use a cleaning solution. Some experts recommend using regular dishwashing detergent. You can also purchase special care products to clean expensive shoes. If you are dealing with leather shoes, use a conditioner to moisturize the leather to prevent the material from cracking.

Use vinegar to remove salt stains

Sometimes there are stains on shoes from the salt that is sprinkled on the ice. You can reduce the harm from this by using vinegar. Experts recommend mixing 1 cup of cold water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Use a white towel or cotton pads to apply the solution to the salt stains. The acidic solution will promote the decomposition of the salt, and the stains will disappear. It should be noted that this method is most effective when removing fresh stains, so try to take care of this as soon as possible.

Use a shoe brush

You should regularly clean dirt from your shoes - ideally every time you go outside. This will remove dirt and salt before it accumulates on the material and begins to deteriorate it. This may seem like a time-consuming procedure, but you should realize that this will save you time in the future by cleaning older stains.

Watch the seams

To better protect your shoes, pay attention to the places where the sole connects to the shoe material, as well as to the seams, as this is where moisture first gets in. In this case, it is best to use beeswax-based products, which will very effectively protect the seams from moisture.

Apply products correctly

Please read the instructions for use carefully before you start using protective products. Thus, most sprays should be sprayed at a distance of approximately 15 centimeters from the shoes to ensure more uniform distribution protective substance. After spraying, be sure to let your shoes dry thoroughly. How long the protective properties of the spray will last depends on the material from which the shoes are made, as well as on weather conditions. Most often, the packaging with the product states how long it is active after spraying.

Do you know the easiest way to get sick in spring or summer? Enough to get your feet wet! Remember how many times you, instead of enjoying the warmth, wiped your nose and took pills? This fate befalls me every year. But this time I am determined to stay healthy. I’m sure you don’t intend to catch a fever either, and you certainly don’t want your children to catch a cold. Let's make our shoes waterproof for this!

After a way was found to avoid slipping in icy conditions, I decided not to stop and protect my boots from moisture penetration. Since my friends and colleagues became interested in my experiments, I had to look for methods suitable for their shoes. After all, you need to save boots from moisture depending on the material that was used to sew them.

After studying a bunch of sources, I came to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter whether your shoes are new or old. Both of them, unfortunately, get wet. The only difference is that cheaper boots get wet faster due to poor-quality seams and the lack of special impregnation.

The methods of protecting shoes from moisture, which I will now discuss, should first be tested on a small and inconspicuous area of the material. This is of little concern to boots made of natural materials, but owners of leatherette shoes should take precautions.

I'll start with the most basic thing - store-bought methods of protecting shoes. Everything is very simple here. If you have leather shoes, wax and cream treatment will suit you. The wax has no odor, and the coloring pigment that is added to it allows you to cover up scratches. The main disadvantage of the product is the short-term effect. You will have to lubricate your shoes before each time you go outside, which, you must admit, you don’t always have time for.

In addition to wax, shoe stores can offer you special water-repellent creams. They are divided into two types: emulsion and organic. Emulsion ones, with the addition of various chemicals, should be used in the warm season, so that if moisture gets on the shoes, the leather does not crack from direct sunlight.

You can easily recognize organic shoe polish by its characteristic smell. It contains organic fats, oils and waxes, which create a special film and protect our shoes from moisture.

For suede shoes, you can easily find water-repellent sprays and aerosols in specialty stores. When purchasing such a product, pay attention to the label. The composition must necessarily contain substances such as photocarbon resins and propane-butane. They are the ones who prevent moisture from penetrating inside suede or nubuck shoes.

In my experience, cheap store-bought products do not work or their effect is too short-lived. And not everyone can afford to buy expensive water-repellent sprays or creams for all family members. Therefore, I offer you several effective folk recipes, which were tested by me and my family.

To prepare a homemade water-repellent product for leather and leatherette shoes you will need: 4 teaspoons of castor oil, 4 teaspoons of linseed oil and 2 tsp. grated paraffin (you can rub a regular paraffin candle). All components should be thoroughly mixed and melted in a water bath. Pour the prepared mixture into a glass container and keep it away from children so that they do not spill it.

Before applying the product to your shoes, be sure to dry them and clean them of dirt. Then use a hairdryer to direct a stream of warm air onto the boots. When their surface warms up a little, using a regular sponge or cotton pads, apply homemade ointment. It is better to do this in the evening, 6-8 hours before leaving the house, so that the product has time to be absorbed.

The second remedy is perfect for men, since you don’t have to bother with its preparation. You only need 100 milliliters of purified gasoline (easy to buy at a hardware store) and a teaspoon of grated paraffin. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until the chips are completely dissolved.

The downside of the product is that it is not suitable for smokers, but the big advantage is that the protective film it forms will repel not only water, but also dirt. If dust or dirt gets on your shoes, it will be enough to wipe them with a napkin - and your shoes will be as good as new!

Pay attention! The prepared products only protect the surface of the material from which your shoes are made. Water-repellent ointment will not save cracked seams or fabric inserts.

If your children don't like to walk around puddles, and you're sure that any water repellent won't help, then you should buy a special shoe dryer and a spare pair of boots. Otherwise, the child risks not only putting on wet shoes and catching a cold, but also catching a fungus and then infecting all family members with it.

I'll start with the most basic thing - store-bought methods of protecting shoes. Everything is very simple here. If you have leather shoes, waxing and creaming will suit you. The wax has no odor, and the coloring pigment that is added to it allows you to cover up scratches. The main disadvantage of the product is the short-term effect. You will have to lubricate your shoes before each time you go outside, which, you must admit, you don’t always have time for.