Rain, snow, slush - in the cold season, the weather doesn't usually entice us with sun-drenched autumn days and a gentle winter wonderland. Instead, we and our shoes in particular are faced with many a challenge every day. But true to the motto "little tricks, big effect", there are helpful tricks that help us overcome the small everyday obstacles.
The jacket is already on and now it's time to get into your shoes - with winter boots, a shoehorn helps to ensure a smooth entry. But what do you do if you don't have one? Reaching into the wardrobe can help. A leather belt can also be used as a shoehorn substitute. Simply place the belt with the hole end in the shoe, slip it in and pull the belt out again. Simple but ingenious.
If you spend the whole day in your cosy warm shoes when it's cold, your feet usually end up sweating. In the evening, you usually don't get a pleasant floral scent. But there is a quick remedy for smelly shoes. The simplest trick is to air them out. Cold kills bacteria, so it is often enough to simply put your shoes outside in the icy cold for half an hour. In addition, you can of course also resort to fragrant helpers, such as shoe deodorant or scented wipes. These are available at any drugstore. If you can't put your shoes outside or get to the nearest chemist's, you can simply help yourself around the house. For example, a dry tea bag can be placed in the shoes. This also spreads a pleasant fragrance.
When buying outdoor shoes, many people ask themselves which lining material is most suitable. Many people prefer a cosy leather lining for hiking boots. However, as the shoe doesn't have a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane, you're at a bit of a loss in front of the shoe cabinet in muddy weather. Can I still wear my leather-lined outdoor shoes? The answer is yes! If you take good care of and waterproof your leather shoes, you can of course wear them in dirty weather. Although the shoes are not completely waterproof, they are water-repellent. For waterproofing, it is best to use a suitable spray for leather, such as LOWA Waterstop Pro.
GTX - an abbreviation that you often come across at LOWA and one or two customers like to ask about the "LOWA GTX" in the shop. But what do these three letters actually mean and what do they have to do with the shoe name? Quite simply: the abbreviation GTX stands for the GORE-TEX brand. This brand produces high-quality membranes that make the shoe waterproof and breathable. The thin laminate is simply hooked into the inner lining of the shoe. This allows sweat and vapour to escape from the shoe, but prevents water or wind from entering the shoe. The membrane is available in different versions - also as a warm lining. Shoes with a GORE-TEX membrane are therefore perfect for the cold season.
Who hasn't experienced this? It's raining, it's snowing and suddenly your shoelaces come undone. Getting these wet laces back together to form a sensible bow often turns out to be quite a difficult task. There is a practical lacing trick to prevent the loop from coming undone in the first place. This will get you safely through the wet and cold season.
As soon as it has snowed or the temperatures fall below zero, the snow clearance services in the city clear the roads by spreading salt. The somewhat unsightly side effect is the white salt marks on shoes that often appear after a walk in the city. But simple tricks can help here too. For classic leather shoes made of nubuck or smooth leather, water with a light soapy solution is usually sufficient. Shoe cleaning products such as LOWA Shoe Clean are very suitable. This does not attack the leather and ensures that the salt marks disappear gently. With suede leather, the salt marks are usually a little more stubborn. Here, however, special brushes help to work the salt out of the leather. A combination brush made of plastic and brass is best suited. A special eraser can also be used. The LOWA triangular brush, for example, has both of these little helpers. But be careful: only use the brush and eraser on suede leather. With smooth leather, the bristles can leave scratches and damage the leather permanently.
It's raining cats and dogs and the water always somehow gets inside your shoes. At some point, the socks are completely soaked and at home you pull your feet out of the wet shoes, squeaking. Now the question arises "How do I get my beloved shoes dry again?". An old trick helps here, but it's still effective. It's best to put the shoes in a warm place. But be careful: not directly on or under the radiator or next to an oven. This could damage the leather of a leather shoe, making it porous and brittle. It is better to simply dry them near a heater or in a warm room. Then stuff the shoes with newspaper. Just not too tightly, otherwise the shoe will warp. The paper draws the moisture out of the inside of the shoe. Important: remove the wet newspaper from the shoes the next day.
When autumn arrives, it's time to put your summer shoes into hibernation. Now it's the turn of other companions. But how do I store my sandals, trainers and lightweight summer shoes without losing their shape or getting dusty? If you want to enjoy your shoes again next year, you should follow a few simple tricks when storing them. Of course, it is important that the shoes are clean and that a few small things are taken into account when choosing a storage location. Dust-free, cool places are generally suitable. These can also be in the cellar or attic. It is only important that the room is not damp and that fresh air is supplied from time to time so that the shoes do not become mouldy. If the shoes are stored in a cupboard, it doesn't hurt to air it out from time to time. However, if you store your shoes in a shoe box, you can simply cut one or two ventilation slits in the box. Breathable bags made of lightweight fabric are of course also suitable. You can use a shoe tree to ensure that your shoes keep their shape over time. When summer comes around again, you'll be happy to have clean and dust-free shoes that are still in perfect shape.
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