Types of Shoes

[Livingston]

Never thought of washing my shoes after a long day. But, I do try very hard not to wear the same pair two days in a row so that they have time to breath and relax.

[Dall_Piobaire]

I think he meant the outside, didn't he?

Those Doc whatever inserts the back savers with the charcoal....huge help!!1

[dfmacliam]

I keep a shine kit in the kitchen, and give my proper shoes a good going over, after they get mucked up a bit. Spray them down with foot powder, and a quick dab of polish.. If I have something going on, I am usually going over my outfit the night before, checking for any mending, spit polishing the shoes, and pressing, I being raised military and serving... old habits are hard to break.

As for the shoes, I am actually looking for wingtips/brogues for myself. I am currently wearing a more informal shoe at the moment, but it works for my informal wear.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Peacekeeper.

You gotta check out the goodwill! I've been in and seen hords of classic oxfords, some brand new!

[Bugbear]

I have a rayon cloth that is meant for use on shiney surfaces, for example, on my black bluchers, and I do make sure the surface is clean before I put them away. I have to have my shoes polished by a shoe polishing shop, so I am very careful when I wear them.I use shoe trees in all of my good shoes.

Most of my life is spent digging ditchis, turning compost, and working with clay, so I don't often wear my nice shoes.

I have been planning to get a pair of patent leather evening pumps, and I think those are cleaned and cared for A bit differently.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think he meant the outside, didn't he?

Those Doc whatever inserts the back savers with the charcoal....huge help!!1

Nope. I meant the inside which, no matter how little your feet may sweat, still absorbs perspiration into the lining (called the sock) of the shoe. The perspiration contains salts which will, over time, damage the leather and the stitching of the shoe. It also causes the bacteria to breed that create shoe odor.

On a hot day when I take my shoes off I immediately rinse out the inside with about a quarter cup of cool water (I do this by guess and by golly under the tap), swirl it around a few times, and dump it out. I then rest the shoes against the wall, toes up and soles facing out. This allows the shoes to drain out any remaining water. After a few minutes you can either wipe out any residual dampness with a towel, stuff the shoes with newspaper or, if they are suitably dry inside, put wooden shoe trees in them and they will be fresh and ready to wear the next morning (after you've given them a bit of a brush up with a dab of polish).

You do have wooden shoe trees, don't you?

[Jock Scot]

Wooden shoe trees, I have.

[bikeolounger]

My grandmother always told us to put our best money in our everyday shoes. I am loathe to spend a hundred dollars or more on a pair of shoes I'll wear at most once every six months or so. Wing tips or similar shoes in my size are not available at the discount shoe place, for the most part. Ghillie Brogues? I've not seen them online in my size, period. I would suppose that someone makes them to fit me, but I would also expect the price to reflect the almost-custom nature of such shoes.

That said, yes, I have a couple pair of what some on this list would consider barely half-way decent-looking shoes to wear on the very-odd dress-up occasion.

I even keep them protected when I'm not wearing them, air them out before putting them away, wipe them down with an appropriate cloth before storing them, etc. but for wear with my contemporary kilts, nothing beats New Balance outdoor walking shoes (since they come in my size, 12EEEE).

Not just wooden shoe trees, but cedar--even better.

[Bugbear]

No. I put thick cotton socks over the plastic shoe trees with a fresh sprig of rosemary from the garden inside or a splash of Listerine. Best I can do for now...

[Zardoz]

A quick rinse won't hurt a good pair of shoes, I've done it from time to time. But if you are not comfy with that, just stuff a loosly wadded hunk of newspaper in them, it will absorb a lot of the moisture. Or go hi-tech and get one of these; http://www.peetshoedryer.com/products.html they work great.