Shoes are a unique way for people to express themselves. But life gets to us along with our shoes and before we know it they are completely destroyed. We take a lot of time to pick the perfect pair so we want to keep them as long as possible. No one wants to continuously go out and spend their hard earned money on new shoes. Along with that, new models come out and you don’t want to let go of your favorite pair but now you won’t have to.

Here are 3 tips I have been following for years to keep all of my shoes looking new after years of wear.

Water proof them

No matter what kind of shoes you own, you should water proof them. We all get caught in the rain without shoes and water is usually harmless but we can never avoid those spills where all people can say is, “oops, sorry.” Waterproofing your shoes can help protect them from these accidents. I use an inexpensive spray from footlocker which helps keep my shoes protected at all times. One can usually can water proof 4 pairs of shoes with 2 coats on each pair. Whenever a spill occurs, the liquid just beads right off and food never sticks or leaves a stain.

Clean them using a shoe cleaner

Just like you do for your clothes, you need to clean your shoes. You wouldn’t let a stain sit in your clothes forever and you shouldn’t do it with your shoes either. I deep clean my shoes whenever they start to become dirty with a product known as Jason Markk. With this I have been able to get any dirt and grime off all of my shoes whatever the material of the shoe. It works on all materials but I would not recommend this on fine leather dress shoes. With leather dress shoes, it is crucial to use a high quality polish and brush to insure your shoes are at their top when hitting that fancy night out.

Give them a rest and invest.

You should never wear your shoes for multiple days in a row. Most do not know, but shoes require a breathing time of around 24 hours. When wearing your shoes all day you build up moisture within them that needs to be aired out. If you wear your shoes for multiple days in a row, your shoes do not have time to breath and release that moisture. This causes them to breakdown faster causing you to have to buy new ones sooner. It is best to try and wear a different pair of shoes in order to let them rest. Another way to help with the moisture is to buy cedar shoe trees. This product will help absorb the moisture in the shoes and leave them with a fresh cedar scent. The shoes trees also help the shoe keep its shape. These can be purchased at many retailers such as Nordstrom.