Care and storage of footwear

We're all facing these unforeseen circumstances together and all of us are trying to ensure we keep our houses clean and hygienic and more importantly safe, for our families. However, the one thing that most of us forget is that our shoes can be the biggest carrier of the Covid-19 virus and hence it is of the utmost importance that they are properly cleaned.

Ruchi Sally, MD, Melissa shoes India says, "It is essential to realise that now more so than ever that while shoes protect feet, the soles come into contact with the ground outside. Hence, keeping them clean is a must. The process, is easy, should be added to people's current practice of disinfecting and cleansing."

Ruchi says, "No special equipment or techniques are needed. Just follow a super easy three step routine."

Rinse andclean

Wiping down the shoes with room temperature water and a washcloth is perhaps the easiest way to clean your shoes. You can also add some mild soap to the water to get rid of any dirt or stains. Unless your shoes are of the heavy-duty kind, avoid using a brush to take off stains as the bristles could leave scratch marks. Ensure that you clean all-round the shoes, especially the sole underneath.

Alternatively, for a daily cleanse use alcohol- and fragrance-free wet wipes. Alcohol based wipes, however more effective, are not recommended for regular usage as they can damage the finishing of the footwear.

Footwear made out of fabric could also be tossed in the washing machine for a short cycle using warm water.

Let it dry

Once washed or cleansed, use a plain dry soft tissue or cloth to wipe them dry and them let them air dry. You can also opt to use a hair dryer as some germs can be gotten rid of more effectively through concentrated heat – but avoid doing it for too long.

Wipe and polish

Once the shoes are completely dry, you can polish them using a microfiber cloth. Rubbing slowly in soft circular motions, wipe down the whole shoe to give it a shine.

How to store my shoes?

Use a shoe organiser if possible, most brands provides shoe bags and boxes; restore them to keep the shoes safe if space is not a constraint. Use tissue paper/newspaper stuffing to keep the shoe/sandal shape intact. Make sure to keep them in a climate-controlled environment and let them see moderate sunlight occasionally. Make sure to add a package of silica gel in every pair of shoes to help them remove dampness and absorb the moisture.