How to take care of footwear in summer?

Summer doesn’t bring as much snow or puddles during the thaw like early spring, but that doesn’t mean we can take a more relaxed approach to cleaning our shoes. Instead, we will face slightly different challenges. If we want our new shoes to last for years, there are a few rules to remember, which we will outline in this article.

Shoe care in summer - challenges

One of the basic questions might be what exactly will harm our shoes in the summer. Changing weather (rain and heat), vacations, trips through forests and meadows – all of this strongly affects the shoes. What exactly should we watch out for?

Sweat

The first and quite obvious problem will be sweaty feet during summer trips. A lot depends on the person wearing the shoes, so we don’t want to offer any magic advice on "how not to sweat." First and foremost, the key is choosing the right shoes. Synthetic materials found in mass-market footwear will negatively affect airflow inside the shoe, thus increasing sweating. Sweat creates the perfect environment for bacteria or mildew to grow, not only damaging the shoe but also providing unpleasant odors. The best choice for summer are leather shoes made from full-grain leather, which allow air to pass through perfectly. They are also very elegant, making them suitable for everyday wear, work, and meetings. If you need trekking shoes, sports shoes, or simply casual footwear, it’s worth paying attention to those made from microfiber, which is not only easy to clean but also allows excellent airflow (like our Explorer 2.0 model – made from suede leather and microfiber). Preventing unpleasant odors will also be helped by frequently airing the inside of the shoes. Don’t store them in a basement or stairwell after taking them off, but rather place them outside on the balcony for a few hours.

Dry, hot air

Another external factor affecting shoes will be hot and dry air. This can negatively impact the material of the shoe, causing discoloration or wear. Depending on the type of leather, it’s worth considering a special shoe polish or even a waterproofing spray that, just as it protects shoes from moisture, can also protect them from the sun’s effects. Waterproofing and polishing shoes are not limited to winter only. Natural leather shoes will be much more resistant to high temperatures than those made from synthetic materials, which can deform under the heat.

Dust and particles

This problem accompanies us regardless of the season, but fortunately, the solution is quite simple. Just clean your shoes regularly, and you’re good to go! It’s especially important to take care of this point at the end of summer or fall when we store our summer shoes in the closet. The worst thing you can do for leather shoes is leave them dirty for months in a poorly ventilated room. Much depends on the specific type of leather, but if you store them cleaned in a less humid place, we guarantee they will last longer.

How and with what to clean shoes?

Different types of leather and shoe materials require the use of appropriate products to avoid damage. We’ve already written in detail about shoe care in this article, but let’s briefly remind you what to clean shoes with and how to do it properly.

Leather shoe care
Cleaning leather shoes is a relatively simple procedure. All you need to do is:

Thoroughly clean the surface of the leather, for example, with a damp cloth, and then wipe it dry.
Use a special leather shoe polish or cleaning product.
Waterproof the leather with a polish or a waterproofing product.
And you’re done!

Suede shoe care

The situation with suede shoes is slightly different. Suede is a material that can be easily damaged, so we recommend gentler cleaning and wiping with a cloth.

To protect suede shoes, you can also use a special product that will protect them from water and dirt, such as XNANO PRO.

How to take care of barefoot shoes?

At MagicalShoes, we create footwear exclusively from natural materials – vegan full-grain leather, natural leather, suede, and microfiber. All the methods mentioned above for shoe care will work well for them. This way, you can be sure that they will serve you for at least a few more summers.