How can I maximize the life span of a beloved pair of boots?

By Michelle Peters

Don't wear the same pair of boots two or more days in a row. Constant dampness will cause damage to the lining and inner sole. Even on the coldest days, your feet can perspire. Your boots need a chance to dry, but they need to dry slowly. Do not use heat. Lay them flat in a cool dry place. This also applies to boots that are wet from rain or snow. Make sure your boots are completely dry before putting them in their storage boxes.

How do I clean my nice leather boots?

Leather boots should be cared for like any other leather item. Keep them clean, but do not use soap. Soaps will remove the natural oils in the leather. This will result in stiffness and cracking. Simply wipe dust and dirt off with a damp cloth or sponge. Use a good leather boot/shoe polish to keep them shiny and supple.

When my wife wears her white vinyl go-go boots, the black edge of the sole/heel has a tendency to drag along the inner side of her foot. This leaves black scuff marks on the white vinyl. How can one remove or prevent scuff marks on white vinyl footwear?

A tip from the garage: Use a light car paint polishing compound! I've used a Turtle Wax brand white paste compound that comes in a round tin (well, it's actually plastic!). Be sure it's a polishing compound! Not anything heavier with a lot of grit! Put a little on a paper towel and rub the scuffed area with your finger under the towel. Once the scuff disappears, buff the residue off with a cotton cloth (like an old bath towel or such). Her boots will be as good as new!

Is there anything I can use to protect vinyl boots?

STP's vinyl protectant seems to work the best without leaving a film.

What is the best way to clean and protect suede boots?

Suede leather can be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge, also. The nap can then be "fluffed" with a brass wire brush. Suede can be protected from light moisture and dirt with Scotch Guard.

Should cardboard boot shapers be used to keep tall boots erect and in shape, and if so, how can I get some?

Art supply stores carry a nice variety of cardboard and posterboard that can be easily cut with an X-acto knife. A pattern can be made or you can just copy one of the "shapers" that came with a pair of new boots! The only problem with cardboard shapers is they do not prevent tall boots from wrinkling around the ankle or drooping. Stuffing tissue paper into the boots will help to hold the whole shape. This, of course, is terribly inconvenient if one wears her boots a lot!

How should boots be stored? Is it better to keep them in the original boxes, or is standing them up on shelves ok? What about those clips with hangers attached?

It's best to store your boots lying flat in their original boxes. This is assuming the boxes are long enough for the boots to fit without having to be folded. This is usually true of knee highs, but thigh highs seem to always to have little boxes! For my thigh highs, I buy under bed storage boxes that are long enough to allow the boots to lie flat. These boxes are great because they will usually hold several pairs!

You should always store your boots in a cool, dry place. Closets are the best, attics are the worst! Heat will dry out and crack leather. Vinyl will get soft and sticky.

Hanging your boots with pant/skirt hangers should be done as a last resort! Yes, this will help keep the wrinkles out, but over the long term damage to the boots may occur! Some leathers and vinyls will stretch (especially suede!) because of the weight of the boot itself. Stiffer materials can usually handle this, but be careful not to mar the boots with the clips.