From pineapple leaf vegan sandals to vegan sneakers made from recycled plastic, we’ve got you covered on looking after your vegan shoes.

Muddy, messy, and moving their way to the back of the closet. We’ve all been there with a pair of shoes. As tempting as it might be to just buy a new pair, there are a few things you can do instead, which will help maintain sustainable fashion and keep more money in your pocket.

Luckily enough for you, this week we’re bringing you some top tips on how to rescue dirty shoes and advice on how to ensure you can keep your shoes looking great for longer. This way you’ll be able to wear comfortable shoes, which look as fresh as ever. Without further ado, read on to find out just how simple it is…

 

Top tips for cleaning your favorite vegan shoes

For Piñatex (pineapple leaf fibers), Natural Cork (without embroidery), and Vegan Leather shoes

1. Use a dry cloth to lightly wipe any dust or dirt off your shoes.
2. Using soapy water and a cloth, gently clean the shoes. Do not fully submerge them as this could cause irreversible damage.
3. Let your shoes air dry away from direct sunlight.
4. Once dry, apply a small amount of our eco polishing cream using a dry, soft cloth. Rub the cream sparingly over the textile of the shoes in a circular motion until it is fully absorbed.
5. Leave your shoes to dry naturally for 24 hours and they’ll be good to go.

For Organic Cotton, Micro Suede, Re-PET (recycled plastic), and Cork with embroidery shoes

1. Use a dry cloth to lightly wipe any dust or dirt off your shoes.
2. Using soapy water and a cloth, gently clean the shoes. Remember not to fully submerge them unless you want to ruin your shoes…
3. Let your shoes air dry away from direct sunlight.
4. DO NOT apply polishing cream. Your work here is done!

P.S. For any tough stains, swap in a shoe brush instead of a cloth in step 2.

 

For Re-PET sneakers

1. Use a dry cloth or soft brush to get any dust or dirt off your shoes.
2. You will need to wash the different parts of the sneakers separately, so firstly remove the shoelaces and insoles. If necessary, you can wash the shoelaces in the washing machine.
3. Use a soft brush and warm, soapy water to clean the outsoles of the sneakers.
4. Rinse them with a wet towel.
5. Clean the upper and insoles of the shoes with a wet sponge, being sure to scrub gently.
6. Let the shoes air dry away from direct sunlight and they’ll be as good as new!

P.S. Whatever you do please don’t make the mistake of putting the actual sneakers in the washing machine or submerging them in water!

 

 

Storing your shoes (vegan or not)

Whether it’s the winter to summer wardrobe changeover or just a closet tidy up, once your vegan shoes are sparkly clean we’ve got a few suggestions to give you for how best to store them. This should help to make your shoes last longer so that you can get more wear out of them, consume less new, and in doing so help to prevent climate change.

 

Short term: shoe trees & paper

Are you guilty of chucking your shoes in one big pile? Whether it’s vegan boots or vegan sandals, over time gravity takes its toll on shoes and causes issues with their shape. Instead, enough space and shoe trees are a great solution for storing your shoes short term. The shaped blocks inserted into your shoes will help to maintain their structure whilst they aren’t being worn. If you don’t own any shoe trees, stuffing your shoes with paper will also do the same job. Just make sure you opt for a happy medium of stuffing.

 

 

Long term: acid-free tissue & more shoe trees

If you’re planning on storing your shoes for over a week, you’ll be better off using acid-free tissue since this absorbent paper will ensure the correct moisture level is maintained for the shoes. 

For another long-term storage option, shoe trees also work a treat. This time, you just need to make sure you wait 24 hours after wearing your shoes before inserting the shoe trees, to ensures any moisture evaporates before they go away for a while. Make sure you’re also careful to use the correct size of shoe tree for your vegan shoes to avoid stretching them out of shape, and you’re good to go!

 

Climate

One last thing to note about storing your shoes is to try to keep them in a consistent climate. For instance, extreme temperatures will only damage the shoes. We recommend an area removed from direct sunlight that won’t have to face seasonal temperatures.

 

 

Inevitably at some point, you’re not going to want your once favorite shoes. We are challenging you to ensure that you never chuck a pair of shoes in the bin again. Whether this means selling them on if they’ve still got life in them, or recycling them, it is an easy step to take to help save our beautiful planet.

 

Have a great week!

 

The Nae Team