- Use beeswax to waterproof canvas shoes. Don't forget to set the wax with a blow dryer.
- Use a mixture of vinegar and water to scrub salt and water stains off leather shoes.
- Clean dirt off suede by rubbing it with a stale crust of bread.
- Make patent shoes shiny again using window cleaner such as Windex.
- Remove scratches on leather shoes with a tiny bit of moisturizer.
- Break your shoes in by wearing them with socks and making them more pliable by blowdrying them.
- Look for stitching in shoe soles to determine if they can get re-soled. This is especially important when shopping for vintage shoes.
- Throw canvas sneakers into the washing machine to clean them. Let them air dry.
- When traveling, pack your shoes in a plastic bag or shower cap to keep the soles from touching your clothes and other belongings.
- Put wadded newspaper into shoes when you're not wearing them to absorb odor and moisture.
- Use your shoe to open a bottle of wine in a pinch. See the video here.
- Air dry your socks to make them last longer.
- Use pant hangers (the kind with clips) to store tall boots. It'll reduce mess and keep the boots from slumping.
- Add a colored pom pom clip to your shoes to add some flair to your next holiday (St. Paddy's, Christmas, or Independence Day).
- Add a pop of color to your oxfords by spray painting the soles.
- Use iron-on fabric to replace the insoles of your shoes once they get old, if you purchased a vintage pair, or if you just want to liven up the pattern.
- Once the heels of your high heels or stilettos are damaged to the point where you can no longer wear them, add glitter to the heels to cover it up and get more mileage out of them.
- Spray tights and leggings with hairspray to prevent runs.
- Use a ladder to store your high heels.
- Reduce the look of small nicks by using a similarly colored nail polish.
- Use a metallic spray paint to add a shiny tip to ballet flats.
- If you get a run in your pantyhose, use nail polish to prevent it from running further.
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Nicole Greener
