My shoes are my hardest working apparel category. They've been known to lap eight to ten miles a day over wood, concrete and brick. My shoes and I have survived snapped heels, severed peep toes, and serious gashes. While there are jobs best left to a professional, (my favorite shoe hospital being Lambs Shoe Repair and not just because they have the cutest vintage lamb screened on the window) there are also basic first aid procedures which every stiletto slinging lady should familiarize herself with.
one. Stain Removal
Patent Leather-Nail Polish Remover
Your manicure supplies can also rescue your patent leather pointies. Douse a cotton pad in nail polish remover and gently buff the shoe bruise. Air dry and store where in the cool and dry.
Suede-Emery Board
Next unsheathe your emery board (plain and not too abrasive) and lightly rub the suede injury in a back and forth motion. This procedure can remove the effects of everything from jilted beverages to unexpected rain spots.
Leather-Vinegar
Salty shoe-d winters are difficult to avoid, but also easy enough to repair. Dip a soft cloth in a small dish of distilled white vinegar and wipe clean. Spot test an inconspicuous area first and use only use on leather not fabric or suede.
two. Broken Heel
On the Go
Between your lip balm and nail clippers, keep a strong tube of glue in your handbag for on the run calamities. If the heel was nailed to the sole, coat the protruding nails with glue, slide the nails back into the original hole and hold the heel in place until the glue dries. When a glued-on heel detaches from a sole, scrape off the dried glue, coat with fresh glue and hold in place until a bond is formed. If a high heel snaps in two, coat one piece with glue at the site of the break and try to reattach the other section. Stay off your feet as much as possible until you can change to another pair of shoes.
At Home
For an at-home glue job, try a shoe adhesive such as Shoe Goo. Be sure the area to be repaired is clean, dry and free of oils, old glue and polishes. Gently sand the sole and heel to roughen up the surfaces. Apply a layer of Shoe Goo to both the heel and the sole and allow the solvents to evaporate for five to 10 minutes before pressing together. Apply pressure by using rubber bands, string or a heavy object for at least 24 hours. The longer the glue cures, the stronger the bond.
one. Stain Removal
Patent Leather-Nail Polish Remover
Your manicure supplies can also rescue your patent leather pointies. Douse a cotton pad in nail polish remover and gently buff the shoe bruise. Air dry and store where in the cool and dry.
Suede-Emery Board
Next unsheathe your emery board (plain and not too abrasive) and lightly rub the suede injury in a back and forth motion. This procedure can remove the effects of everything from jilted beverages to unexpected rain spots.
Leather-Vinegar
Salty shoe-d winters are difficult to avoid, but also easy enough to repair. Dip a soft cloth in a small dish of distilled white vinegar and wipe clean. Spot test an inconspicuous area first and use only use on leather not fabric or suede.
two. Broken Heel
On the Go
Between your lip balm and nail clippers, keep a strong tube of glue in your handbag for on the run calamities. If the heel was nailed to the sole, coat the protruding nails with glue, slide the nails back into the original hole and hold the heel in place until the glue dries. When a glued-on heel detaches from a sole, scrape off the dried glue, coat with fresh glue and hold in place until a bond is formed. If a high heel snaps in two, coat one piece with glue at the site of the break and try to reattach the other section. Stay off your feet as much as possible until you can change to another pair of shoes.
At Home
For an at-home glue job, try a shoe adhesive such as Shoe Goo. Be sure the area to be repaired is clean, dry and free of oils, old glue and polishes. Gently sand the sole and heel to roughen up the surfaces. Apply a layer of Shoe Goo to both the heel and the sole and allow the solvents to evaporate for five to 10 minutes before pressing together. Apply pressure by using rubber bands, string or a heavy object for at least 24 hours. The longer the glue cures, the stronger the bond.
OH my gosh!!! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteI have these awesome suede boots I don't wear often for fear of nicking and staining...the emery board is PERFECT! thanx!
Is there any solution when the rubber cap on the end of a heel comes off or wears through? I have many heels which wear through the rubber to the metal post inside which then makes them very uncomfortable. Some shoes come with replacement caps that can be screwed in, others don't. Wish I knew a way they could be re-heeled in an effective way.
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