When it comes to buying shoes, a lot of people like to indulge themselves and buy new shoes every other week or so; once the color begins to fade and those scuff marks begin to show, it's obviously time for a trip to the local shoes store. But sometimes, the pair of shoes you have to throw away just happens to be your favorite pair - irreplaceable and at the worst, also out of stock. To help you hang on to those shoes you love just a little longer, here are four tips to keep them looking new and shiny.



Tip #1: Always clean your shoes after using them. You don't have to go all out and give them a full-blown polish every time, but running a damp cloth over the scuffed parts can do no harm. This doesn't prevent the scuff marks that eventually appear on every shoe, but it does help keep them away. Cleaning the dust and sand off will make them shine without much effort.

Tip #2: Polishing liquid is your best friend. Before you know it, there will be so many of them that your shoes almost look grey. Again, this does not need a colored polish. Simply buy some clear polishing liquid for leather shoes, both fake and real. For those hard-to-clean suede shoes, medium textured sandpaper can clean up the material and make it look almost as good as new. For stains that are harder to remove, a dash of vinegar on a piece of damp cloth works wonders as a homemade polishing aid!

Tip #3: Take care of the inside as well as the outside. No matter how expensive your shoes are, your feet will still sweat in them. If you happen to own a small handheld vacuum cleaner, run it gently on the inside of the shoe to remove any sand or dust residues. To keep your shoes smelling pleasant, pick up a couple of concentrated shoe fresheners and place them inside your shoes. These can be found both at supermarkets and shoe stores.

Tip #4: Rub some color into them. Clear polish won't always be enough to remove tough scuffs and stains. When that happens, buy a colored polish and gently rub it into the leather. You don't need to use too much of it; just a little polish goes a very long way. Make sure you spread it evenly!