Guide: How to care for your work and safety shoes
Caring for footwear is important for longevity
Safety shoes are essential for your protection in the workplace, but they also require careful maintenance to ensure they continue to provide optimum protection and comfort.
Here are some important tips to keep your safety shoes in good condition.
1. Clean and dry your shoes regularly: After a long day at work, your safety shoes can get dirty and wet. It is important to clean them with a brush or cloth to remove dirt and dust. After cleaning, make sure they are completely dry before using them again. Wet shoes can cause discomfort and damage the materials.
2. Avoid extreme temperatures: Store your safety shoes in a place where the temperature is moderate. Extreme heat or cold can affect the materials and glue that hold the shoes together.
3. Replace insoles: The insoles in your safety shoes can wear down over time. Replace them regularly to maintain comfort and support for your feet.
4. Watch for wear: Inspection of the soles and uppers of the shoes for signs of wear is essential. If you see cracks, holes or loose stitching, consider replacing the shoes.
5. Use appropriate care products: Some safety shoes can benefit from specific care products, such as impregnation spray for waterproofing or leather conditioner for leather shoes. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
6. Update the shoes as needed: If you have changed needs at the workplace, e.g. need more support or a different type of protection, consider upgrading your safety shoes to match.
How to care for grain leather
A full grain leather boot or shoe must have wax or grease to maintain the natural waterproofing. Apply the leather grease or wax with your finger or a cloth. The boot must have a good layer, and if you have the opportunity to heat the boot, for example in an oven at approximately 50 degrees, the fat will penetrate further into the leather and the result will be better.
How to care for suede and nubuck
If you use grease on a pair of suede or nubuck boots, the leather will seal off completely, so the breathability disappears. For this type of leather, you must instead buy a spray impregnation, which is designed specifically for nubuck - an incorrect impregnation, for example silicone impregnation, will seal the leather off, just like grease and wax. Read about material selection
How to care for synthetic material
A synthetic shoe or boot must also be impregnated, but here you must pay attention to whether there is a membrane in the inner shoe. If there is, it is important that you use an impregnation that is especially suitable for this boot – otherwise the impregnation will remove the last vestige of breathability.
With synthetic membrane boots or boots that are a mixture of suede and nylon, you have to think about the many pores that are easily filled with dust and dirt. Therefore, you should always wipe the boot with a damp cloth or otherwise clean the boot before impregnating it.
Remember to maintain your shoes
In general, the cleaner and better impregnated a boot is, the more water and dirt will bead off, and the membrane can thus be kept clean more easily.
Maintaining your safety shoes is essential to extend their life and ensure your safety and comfort in the workplace. Follow these simple tips and your safety shoes will serve you well for a long time.
