Shoes go through a lot daily. With the use of shoes on London pavements, rain-splashed streets and dust, stains, sweat, and general wear and tear, there comes a time when that pair of shoes you like becomes dirty and unpolished.
Although using some cloth for a quick wipe in your house may work for light dirt, there is a need for care in some other cases. This is because using an inappropriate cleaning solution, too much water and the wrong brush might lead to color fading, water marks, or material staining.
When, therefore, should you consider stopping the cleaning of shoes at home and opting for shoe cleaning services in London?
The following are the top five signs.
1. The Stains Are Not Coming Out
Small stains may appear insignificant. But when they dry up or have been subjected to heat, they become harder to get rid of.
The way different items get stained is not the same. Different kinds of leather, suede, canvas, mesh, and others all need to be cleaned in a unique way.
If you tried to wipe the stains off but failed to do so, repeatedly rubbing the same spot can actually worsen the problem.
Professional cleaning of shoes will let the shoe cleaners assess your item before choosing the right technique for getting the stains out of the material.
2. Your Shoes Smell Horrible
The sweat, moisture and bacteria collected by the footwear during its normal use cause smells. The outer part of a trainer can look relatively clean, and the interior can start to smell bad.
Covering up your shoes with perfume or any other odor masker is a temporary solution to the problem.
Proper cleaning of the shoes can help with both removing the dirt from them and freshening them up.
Dry Cleaning Junction offers professional shoe and trainer cleaning that results in clean and fresh-looking footwear.
3. White Trainers Look Grey or Yellow
It is particularly hard to maintain the good looks of white trainers.
Due to constant contact with dirt, water, road dirt, stains, etc., they can slowly lose their appeal. Cleaning of such trainers with bleach or other strong substances might lead to further discoloration or even destroy the product.
However, if your white trainers have lost their original looks despite regular cleaning, then you might want to turn to professionals.
Specialized cleaning will address such parts of the shoe as the upper, midsole, and outsole, considering the type of material.
Not only should the look of the shoes be restored as good as possible but it should also be made safe.
4. Your Shoes Are Crafted Out of Delicate Materials
Shoes are not supposed to all be cleaned in the same way.
There can be many different materials in shoes that will respond differently when exposed to water, cleaning agents, and brushing.
Some materials such as suede could be affected by excessive brushing while other types of leather will be prone to issues caused by exposure to water.
Professional shoe cleaning will help minimize risks associated with using improper at home techniques.
5. The Shoes Look Worn Despite Being in Good Condition
It might not be because of the wear – your footwear just needs proper cleaning and care.
Dusty soles, stained uppers, faded looking surfaces and worn-looking details can make your perfectly good pair of shoes look much older than they actually are.
Professional cleaning will help you restore the fresh appearance of your footwear and in some cases even do necessary repairs on any worn parts.
Depending on the type of footwear we could provide you with such services as cleaning, sole work, heels, laces and material specific cleaning.
Why Is Professional Shoe Cleaning Superior to DIY Shoe Cleaning?
DIY shoe cleaning is quite effective if we are talking about cleaning the surface of your shoes from dust or any other simple dirt. However, footwear gets a bit more complicated if we speak about tough stains, delicate materials, smells or expensive shoes.
There are several benefits of professional shoe cleaning:
- Material specific cleaning techniques
- Stain removal
- Deep cleaning of trainers and shoes
- Soles cleaning
- Deodorizing and air-freshening
- Suede and leather care
- Repairs for certain kinds of footwear
- Professional finishing.
Taking Care of Your Shoes Between Professional Cleaning
Professional cleaning is just one of the ways of making your shoes look great. There are several tips which you might find helpful.
Keep Shoes Dry
Should your shoes get wet, let them dry. It is not recommended to expose your delicate shoes to too much heat as it might affect the fabric and glue.
Clean Them Regularly
Do not leave dirt and mud on your shoes for too long. Getting rid of dirt can save your shoe from future dirt accumulation.
Let Your Shoes Breath
Should you use the same trainers daily, give them time to breathe.
Avoid Using Various Cleaning Agents at Random
Before using any household cleaner, see if it suits the fabric of your shoes. The agent which cleanses canvas may do harm to suede and leather.
Do Not Overdo it When Scrubbing
Excessive scrubbing will not necessarily improve the situation. On the contrary, it might do harm to certain surfaces.
When should shoe cleaning services be scheduled?
There isn’t one schedule that applies to all pairs of shoes.
This will vary depending on your activity, where you are wearing the shoes, the type of material, and how fast they get dirty.
When it comes to trainers used on a daily basis, it may be observed that there are certain points when a professional cleaner will help, such as:
- There is dirt around the sole of the shoe
- After cleaning the shoes there are still some stains left
- Your white trainers aren’t shiny anymore
- There are some unpleasant odours
- The material lost its new look
- You have something special to attend
- You want to clean your favourite pair or expensive shoes.
Professional Shoe & Trainer Cleaning in London
Do not throw away your favorite footwear just because it looks old and needs cleaning.
Dry Cleaning Junction provides professional shoe and trainer cleaning services in London, which includes cleaning and caring for all types of footwear materials. Other services that we provide include trainer sole repair, leather shoe repair, suede cleaning, heel repair, and replacement of laces.
We offer convenient collection and delivery services, making it easier for you to avail of our professional shoe cleaning services without having to make another trip.
No matter whether you want to clean your dirty everyday trainers, suede shoes or simply refresh your favorite pair of shoes, professional care for your footwear can definitely do wonders to their appearance.
Give Your Favorite Footwear a New Lease of Life
Do not let your footwear get to a state where no amount of cleaning will save them.
When you notice that your shoes suffer from discoloration, smell, dirty soles, and other similar issues, professional cleaning is definitely the best option.
Get in touch with us at Dry Cleaning Junction and book your Shoe & Trainer Cleaning Service today.