Here goes!

YOUR FINE SILK

1. Dry-cleaning is the way to go for almost any fabric out there in existence. But honestly, you should always opt-in to hand wash the silk for better sustainability and longevity of the product itself.
   
2. When handwashing your expensive silk products, ensure always to use cool or lukewarm water. Do not go overboard with detergents as they are equally hazardous to your health and so for the silk. Use some mild detergents such as Woolite, Ivory soap or get hold of a hand-cup full of shampoo and dilute it into water and then submerge the silk into it.
   
3. Just like any other natural fibres, silk as well doesn’t tolerate the change in temperature when washing it. Therefore stick to either cold or lukewarm water throughout the washing process.
   
4. Do not even think about wringing it. This won’t dry the fabric, instead would wreck it completely. In its place, make sure that you roll it up in a dry towel and gently put pressure on the sheet to make it dry.
   
5. If your particular silk product has a label on it that says “WASHABLE SILK”, then throw it into a mesh bag and toss it into the washing machine, ensuring you use GENTLE CYCLE only to wash clear the fabric. Use a padded hanger made of sea-foam to dry the silk. This is applicable mostly on underwater, tank tops etc.
   
6. This one is a golden nugget! Now to protect your silk product from discolouration, add about three tablespoons of white vinegar for every two-quarter of water while washing.
   
7. To press your silk product, use the iron at its lowest setting. Silk should always be ironed out when it is damp. STEER CLEAR from using an iron with the steam setting, as steam can leave watermarks on your expensive product.
   
8. Just like us humans, silk needs to breathe as well. No pun intended!
   Make sure to always keep silk in the dark place and not covered in any plastic bags as silk does need to breathe.

EXPENSIVE JEANS

1. Diehard and connoisseurs of Denim very well know that it can take anywhere between 6 to 8 months for it to break-in, and thus these super stiff, no-wash and fade jeans;  should not be washed till then. I am sure you would want to know why? This is because jeans are super comfortable and are designed to fit our body shape. Washing them take away that architecture and thus giving us nothing but a flimsy-looking pair.
   
2. You should only absolutely wash jeans when it has been soiled or stained. Other than that, there is no reason to wash your expensive denim. Most of the manufacturers of jeans nowadays make sure that they pre-wash them to achieve the faded look and do not necessarily need a break-in period.
   
3. Ever heard someone steaming or freezing their favourite pair of jeans.
   
   Here is why!
   
   Jeans can be steamed in a bathroom where you take a shower. Just hang them into the bathroom where you are about to take a steamy shower. This would help them stay fresh and keep you away from washing them over and over, spoiling their look. An even better tip is to toss them into a plastic bag and place it into a freezer for a day or two. Ah! Nothing beats frozen jeans, ready to be worn looking all fresh and healthy.
   
4. Never ever wash your jeans in warm water. Always wash it in cold water and that too with its inside out. Use a lite detergent such as Woolite. I personally still prefer to wash my Denim by hand instead of resorting to cleaning them in a washing machine. But if you absolutely mush wash it in the machine, then ensure to use GENTLE CYCLE settings.
   
   If you want to destroy your jeans by submitting it to FADE quickly, then wash it in warm water. Bye-bye Denims!
   
5. In the final rinse cycle of the washing machine, try putting in ½ a cup of distilled white vinegar into it. This helps preserve the colour of your Dark Denim Jeans.
   
6. It is always recommended not to use the drying option of the machine to dry-out your favourite jeans. If you absolutely must, then turn down the heat setting on the device to the lowest possible and remove it from the dryer right before it is about to dry out completely. Then lay it flat in an open area or hang it upside down to give it its final touches of uniqueness and ambiguity.
   
7. Today you will know how to fold your jeans like a PRO! Lay them straight on a flat surface and start by folding it in half from left to right. Grab the stacked pair of your jean legs and now gently fold them in half, so that the hem of the jeans aligns with the waistband. Now the final step is to wrap the jeans into half one last time.
   
8. Denim, just like our friend Silk, needs to breathe! Hence never stack up too many clothes on top of your jeans and always keep them away from cluttered stacks.

CASHMERE PRODUCTS

1. This marvellous piece of clothing requires a significant amount of TLC (Tender Love & Caring) to survive. Despite what others say that you should wash it just like any other ordinary cloth, Cashmere should always and only be washed in cold water with either baby shampoo or a lite detergent such as Woolite. This is to ensure it remains soft and comfy.
   
2. Never ever hold the cashmere sweater from its shoulders after you wash it! It is bound to stretch out in no time and would leave you with a bad investment. In fact, I always try keeping it in lump whenever you go to pick it up when it is wet.
   
3. Got a salad spinner at home? Get one if you are into Cashmere sweaters.  Toss your sweater into the salad spinner, and voila! You have removed all the excess water from it. What if you are reading this article when you are just planning on washing your cashmere sweater and do not have access to the salad spinner! Oh no, then to make it dry; throw it on a flat surface and use a dry towel to squeeze out water from the sweater gently.
   
4. Always, I repeat ever! Make sure that you fold the cashmere sweater into three folds. This is to ensure that you don’t get that ugly looking crease line in the front of your sweater when you unfold and trot away.
   
5. Always ensure that you clean your cashmere products before storing them for winter. As you never know the uninvited guests and cashmere killers, namely “MOTHS” can get attracted to it and beat the heck out of it.
   
6. If you do decide to get your cashmere dry-cleaned, then as soon as you receive it to make sure you remove it from the plastic bags and wrap them into tissue paper while placing it in a cedar scented bags. Wow, the wonders!

COTTON

1. Our long-lasting friend, the “COTTON”. Cotton has high durability and hence can be washed in any detergent with the inclusion of a cloth friendly bleach. Cotton can take on the beating from a washing machine with great ease.
   
2. For the optimum results, always wash cotton in warm water with a standard to medium wash cycle setting on your washing machine.
   
3. This is a tricky one, make sure you always tumble dry on a low setting.
   
4. If your cotton product is white, then you can very well use it with bleach in a warm water setting of the machine.
   
5. If you are like me and always prefer your cotton be soft and fluffy, always use half the quantity of detergent you usually use for other fabrics in a machine setting. And run the cotton in a new cycle of warm water. This is especially applicable when you are washing your bathrobes, towels and other fluffy mushy cotton products. You can definitely see my love for cotton there!
   
6. Cotton tends to wrinkle a lot quicker than any other fabric. But fret not, you can always iron out cloth at the highest heat setting.

VISCOSE RAYON

1. Viscose rayon is structurally similar to cotton and is produced from a plant such as that of soy, bamboo and even the sugar canes. It is lightweight, can easily be draped and it indeed breathes like a cotton product. On the other than, it too wrinkles quite easily, therefore, you would need to use an iron at its medium-heat setting paired with STEAM to make sure you do not wreck the product while removing any crease from it.
   
2. If you know that your viscose is a special one and has intricate draping, then avoid washing it in a machine. Instead wash it in a cool to a warm water setting.
   
3. Never think about wringing out the viscose garment. As soon as you are done with washing it, take it out as wet as it is; and hang it soaking in an open-air environment. This helps remove creasing while washing and also maintains its shape.

LEATHER JACKETS

1. Before you even think about washing your leather jacket, get your hands on a scotch guard fabric protector and spray it all over the jacket. This helps to reduce water ingress into the leather, thus protecting it from damage.
   
2. The only way known to clean a leather jacket while preserving its shape and quality is by using a damp cloth for cleaning it.
   
3. Whenever you remove your jacket, or when not in use; always hang the jacket in a closet making sure the hanger is either a wooden one with a decent frame size; or at least a hanger with sea-foam as its bedding.
   
4. Just like any other leather product, a leather jacket also stains easily when taken out and worn during a rainy day. It is always important to wipe your jacket with a dry towel as soon as you are done wearing it and hang it in a dry well-ventilated closet.
   
5. Always apply leather conditioner on the areas of your jacket which have gone dry or are beginning to. One additional tip here is that salt tends to stain any leather product. So if your jacket or any your other leather goods have got salt on it, make sure to remove it with a damp cloth and then dry it out thoroughly before re-using them.
   
   To top it all, you must hand in your leather jacket to a professional leather cleaner at least once a year to ensure your jacket stays top-notch. This not only protects your jacket but also extends the life on it.
   
6. Stay far away from hair blow-dryers. These should not be brought close to your leather jacket.

POLYESTER

1. Polyester is known for its cling-effect. So almost all of your products that are made up of or have the composition of polyester in it, always wash them in the machine with a fabric softener and in WARM WATER. This is a must! There are however specific polyester blends that need to be dry cleaned hence it is always advised to check the label on the particular product before you proceed with washing them at home.
   
2. Always dry your polyester garment in a low-heat setting of the machine. You may also use a moderately warm iron to iron out the clothing.
   
3. Unlike other fabrics, polyester is easy to take care of. But you must know that it locks in the dirt quite quickly. Therefore before you resort to washing it, it is always advisable to use a stain remover on the garment for 15 to 20 minutes before washing.
   
4. Now God forbid if your garment is white in colour; then it is best to soak the garment in a gallon of water mixed with 1/3 cup of automatic dishwashing soap before you toss it into the washing machine for a good wash.

SWIMWEAR

1. This is more of a hygiene tip rather than a washing one, to be honest. You should not always toss your swimwear into the washing machine loaded with other clothing and detergents, but it is always advised to make sure you rinse it under COLD running water after you take it off. This is so that any chlorine, sweat, dirt, sunscreen lotions get washed away after a long swim or sun’ing.
   
2. If it has been a few times that you have worn your particular swimwear, then you may wash it in cold water filled in a sink with one tablespoon of liquid detergent. Swish away for a few minutes and then rinse it thoroughly under running water.
   
3. Do not, I repeat do not wring or twist your favourite swimwear. It won’t be left being so fancy if you extract it to dry. Always lay it flat to dry.
   
4. On the contrary, there has been a common practice adopted throughout the world to dry out the swimwear by laying them flat under the sun. Well, that is a big no! Since sun can easily break down the fibres in your suit. So always dry your swimwear by laying them flat indoors or in shades.
   
5. You should never, and I mean never use a washing machine to wash your swimwear. However, there is yet one teeny.. Tiny.. Exception to it! You may wash them in your machine if you are at the end of the summer or your vacation. In this scenario, you may wash them in lingerie bags and that too on the machine’s lowest and gentlest cycle. Add in a bit of Woolite to give it that pleasant softening fragrance. Only resort to doing this if your swimsuit has been worn many times before the wash.

VESTS & DOWN COATS & YOUR FAVORITE BLANKETS

1. For down-items, it is best to use a front-loading machine as opposed to a top-loading setting. The latter can easily damage the down items.
   
2. Always stick to using the permanent press cycle for down-items. Use a proper amount of soap as per the directions on the bottle.
   
3. Adding more soap into the washing machine to wash your down-items doesn’t help! Extra soap leaves its residues which in result destroys the fluffiness of your product.
   
4. If your garment is actually filthy, then instead of adding more soap into the machine. Stop the machine mid-way into the wash, and leave the clothing to soak in the water for an hour. Then turn on the machine to let it continue with the rest of the roll.
   
5. To ensure that the fabric is thoroughly washed and to ensure all the extra residue from the soap has been cleared, run the machine with a new cycle of pure water and no detergent.
   
6. Drying such garments in a machine is a painful and a long process. It also wrecks the product if high heat is used to dry them out.
   
7. But drying is necessary as it would take ages if not dried using a machine.
   
8. On a standard dryer, use the low temperate setting and leave it in for some time.
   
9. Frustration should be at its peak now since low-heat setting doesn’t dry out the down-items completely. But fret not, run it in the machine again; and this time back on the low-heat configuration. This is to avoid any unnecessary damage to the fabric that would otherwise be possible if you run it on a high-temperature.
   
10. Got some tennis balls laying around? Toss them into the dryer along with the fabric. This dramatically helps to break the clumps from the material.
    
11. After a few minutes into drying, stop the dryer and take out the product. Try to unclutter and break the clumps with your hands to give it that extra boost while drying.

DELICATE LINGERIE

1. Lingerie made primarily out of silk, satin and lace should never be machine washed. These delicate fabrics become severely damaged if not hand-washed.
   
2. Fill your sink with cold water and throw in one to two cup full of mild liquid detergent. Give it a foamy texture.
   
3. Toss your delicate into the water and gently swirl it around in the soapy water. Now individually rinse each product separately.
   
4. Always ensure to rinse out the detergent from the fabric as any excess left could damage the materials present in the delicate fibre.
   
5. Lightly wring out the water from the fabric, and lay them flat on a dry towel. Let them sit till they are dry.
   
6. If your dark-coloured lingerie is tagged “HAND DYED” make sure you wash them separately as bleeding is a normal thing with such products. And always wash the light-coloured products in a separate batch. This is to ensure the colours don’t overlap the ones that are light-toned.
   
7. For your delicate bras and camis, do not just fold them up and chuck them into the drawer. Make sure you fold them in nicely and organise them in your drawers to ensure the cups don’t get pressed.
   
8. For the bras that have got an extra bit of padding or underwiring, ensure to fold them in half with their straps tucked firmly under the cups.
   
9. Almost each of your undergarments should be replaced every six to eight months. This is the period after use when your delicate start wearing out and lose their shape and support.
   
10. Always keep an extra pair of bras with you, since wearing one bra two days in a row isn’t healthy. Bra on its own requires time to regain its shape after it has been used.
    
11. The same rule applies to the underwears and camis.

WORKOUT CLOTHING & SHOES

1. After a long workout and a sweaty session at the gym, your sneakers need time to rest and recover too. So shake in two to three tablespoon of Baking soda into each of the pairs and leave them aside for a day. Ideally, you should have more than 1 pair of shoes for your workout and gym use.
   
2. The lifespan on a sneaker dramatically varies from one brand to another. We have discussed this extensively in another article on WalkOnFoam.com. Realistically, a person who is an active exerciser should replace their shoes every three to six months max.
   
3. Never leave your sweaty gear lying around on your couch or left hanging in the bathroom. Almost immediately when you have removed your workout clothes, was them immediately. If access to a washing machine is not possible at the setting, then resort to washing them in running water to avoid them from staining and draining our lousy smell from the kit.
   
4. Always resort to washing your workout gear after your workout. But in worst-case scenarios, if you are not able to do either, then it is best to hang them for some time instead of bunching them up and throwing them into the hamper, as this would create mildew which is both eeky and disgusting.
   
5. Once you are at home, and this tip is mainly for my lady readers; wash your sports bras and clothing in running water. Soak them straight into the sink filled with water. Toss in a concoction of one part vinegar with four parts of water and let them soak in the solution for some time. You may also use a cup of borax powder with water instead of the vinegar. Either way, leave your bras and clothes soaked in for a good one hour and then regularly wash them.
   
6. For technical workout clothing, it is ok to wash them in a machine setting. But always ensure to wash them in cold water to preserve their life.
   
7. Lycra and spandex should be air-dried to maintain and prolong their elasticity. But if you absolutely have no choice then to resort to a standard dryer, then make sure it’s kept to the lowest setting.
   
8. You can also follow a universal rule to turn every workout garment inside out before washing. This is so to protect the colours and the fabric from the beating of your washing machine.

WOOL COATS, SWEATERS & YOUR FAVORITE PANTS

1. Especially during winter’s, you should always use lint or suede brush to treat your wool coats after wearing. This is to ensure that you remove any surface oils and dust.
   
2. Always hang the woollen coats on wooden framed hangers, so to avoid the weight of the coat itself from destroying the shoulders of the coat if hung on a metal hanger.
   
3. Blotting should be the only way to clear your coat from any marks and blemishes. This should be done using cold water. Do not ever think about rubbing your coat with water. Use an absorbent piece of cloth and soak it with water and do the blotting. You may also substitute water with soda-water.
   
4. Before the beginning of winter’s, you should always have your favourite wool coats dry-cleaned.
   
5. After removing your coat and pants, always ensure that you remove excessive items from it; to ensure the fabric doesn’t lose its shape when not being in use.
   
6. Some of the light-woollen sweaters are labelled as “HAND WASH”. If that’s the case with your sweater, then always ensure to wash them by hand. You may also in such cases, use the “HANDWASH” or “WOOL-CYCLE” option of your machine to get away with washing them. But if it says HANDWASH, then I would never toss them into a washing machine.
   
7. If you are like me and have followed the point above religiously, then the only honest way of washing your expensive sweat by hands is by soaking the garment in a lukewarm warm filled in a sink with a mild detergent. Let the fabric dipped into the solution in your sink for ten to fifteen minutes before rinsing it in cold water. To dry out the garment, gently wring it and lay it flat on the surface and wait!
   
8. Steer clear from scalding hot water and never think about using bleach on your woollen items. EVER!
   
9. Hanging is never an option in drying out woollen products. Just squeeze them gently after a gentle wash, and lay them flat on the ground or any clear and clean surface.
   
10. Once you are done wearing your favourite sweater, coat or in fact any other woollen product that you admire the most; it is best advised to leave the garment rest for 24 hours at minimum. This allows the wrinkles to dissipate and the elasticity of the fabric bounces back naturally. Winner tip isn’t it!

DRESS SHOES

1. You wouldn’t want your shoes to be scuffed and damaged just because you weren’t careful enough when they were not being worn. To prolong their life and quality, it is better and always a best practice to keep your shoes in your closet. Whether you keep them up on the floor in the closet or kept safely in pairs slid into the shoe-sleeve hangers, shoes should always have a special place in your wardrobe. Whatever the case may be, never jumble up your boots and chuck them into big bins or big bags when not in use. I know I would get a mini heart attack if my favourite “Ecco” shoes end up getting damaged just because I wasn’t careful.
   
2. When a particular pair of your shoes is not going to be used for more extended periods, always tuck in a handful of tissue papers into them. This is especially applicable to lose leather and suede leather shoes.
   
3. You should not be using your dress shoes for walking around in your home or going out into the supermarket to pick up a grocery. Dress shoes are delicate shoes and to prolong their life, heel and shape; they are best advised to be used for the purpose they were bought for.
   
4. Never keep your leather and suede shoes out under the direct sunlight. You can kiss your favourite pair goodbye after they are done taking a beating from the sun. Always keep in a cool dry place.
   
5. After wearing your favourite leather pair, it is best advised to keep them aside for a full day. No, not for them to take rest! But for the shoes to dry out completely as the sweat from the feet tends to build moisture into the shoe. Prolong use of the same pair without a break in the middle can severely damage the pump.
   
6. Use a damp cloth with a touch of ivory soap on it to wipe clean the leather shoes. Using SOAP on the shoes directly will damage the shoe.
   
7. Make it a regular practice to always take your expensive leather shoes to a professional shoe cleaner and have them perform their magic on them. This should be done every six to eight months. A professional shoe cleaner has access to all the products that we usually don’t at our home and would ensure that your boots or shoes do not die at the hands of cracks and drying.
   
8. Do not run after fancy kits to polish your shoes. A regular shoe polish at your local store is enough to keep your elegant shoes spiffy.
   
9. If you know that it is going to be a wet day out, then let me be the bearer of bad news here for your suede shoes. Its one and only arch-enemy is the WATER! So if you are confident your shoes are going to get wet, always spray them with silicon-based protecting sprays.

VELVET

1. Ah, the beautiful velvet! Always ensure that you read the label on each individual velvet product before you resort to washing or cleaning them. Some velvet fabrics are labelled as “DRY-CLEAN ONLY”, and some velvet products, such as “crushed velvet” can be washed at home in your regular machine setting.
   
2. Never ever iron your velvet garment. The heat from the iron crushes the fibres and is bound to leave imprints on your favourite fabric.
   
3. If you have access to a steamer at home, then use that instead of the iron to wrinkle out the garment. But be wary, this should only be done with your velvet garment turned inside out.
   
4. One other tip that has worked wonders for me is to hang the creased velvet garment in a steamy bathroom. This helps to remove the wrinkles and creases with ease.
   
5. Do not think about folding your favourite velvet garment when storing them. Instead, you should tuck tissue papers into the clothing and gently nestle them away in garment boxes to preserve the life of the product.
   
6. Velvet garments tend to get pressed easily, ending up in a de-shaped product. So best is to avoid pressing it. If it gets stained, always try to shake off the excess and clean it with a damp cloth. If the stain is a major one, then resort to the cleaning instructions as labelled on the garment.

SOME BONUS TIPS

If your clothes get stained with red-wine, then worry not! Throw white-wine on it. And watch the magic.

Got some vintage and thrift-clothing? Fret not! Spritz them with a concoction of one part vodka with two parts water. And voila!

This one is a golden nugget! If you have got deodorant stains on your shirts, then rubbing the stained part with the protective foam used on the hangers will clear them off.

The best Do It Yourself (DIY) for cleaning your beloved “Diamonds” at home is liquid dishwasher liquid and an old toothbrush.

After ironing out your favourite clothing, never wear it on immediately. Since this would cause the garment to yet again form creases. Instead, leave it for a good five to ten minutes to rest, and then put them on.

To clean your suede in a smidgen, remove the crust from a piece of bread in your fridge and let it stale outside. Now gently rub the dirt and the stains that are on your suede pair using the edge of the stale bread and voila! They’ll disappear. Now to de-scuff your suede, use a regular eraser to do the job.

How to care for fur at home? You must have a hairbrush at home! Use that regularly on the product. Then use a steamer on it for an added bounce, volume and a perfect shine!

You should not run away from the fact that your feet sweat. Instead, attend to the issue and nip it in the bud. There are two main things that you should address almost on a daily basis to avoid having sweaty feet.

1. Your feet themselves
2. Socks and the shoes that you wear

WHAT IS BROMODOSIS?

A prevalent condition and a medical name for sweaty feet is “bromodosis”. This happens when the sweat builds up and in result causes bacteria to grow on top of your skin. Which in effect causes bad smell and odour that we have previously spoken about. There is yet another issue that can propagate the sweat feet condition, that is the Athlete’s foot.

But don’t be scared of Bromodosis. Since I have researched very thoroughly on this topic and have come up with remedies that would help you eliminate the odour almost permanently.

SOME FACTS ON SMELLY FEET

Below are some key points that would help you understand in a brief what causes smelly feet. More precise details are given in the article below.

1. The main culprit behind smelly feet is the inception of moisture which causes bacteria.
2. Although this isn’t a medical concern, this condition in its own is a major self-conscious killer, and it affects a person’s ability to socialise with others.
3. Bacteria is always present on the skin naturally.
4. The smell originates when this bacteria breaks down from the breakdown of dead skin cells.

I hope this wasn’t too much of a biology lesson.

HOW TO TACKLE A STINKY FEET PROBLEM?

Well, the two main offenders in a stinky feet situation are your feet and the shoes. To get rid of the smell permanently, it is vital that you

1. Improve your personal hygiene
2. Rotate your shoes off and on

Few other remedies listed below are narrowed down into two categories. One is the stuff you can do at home yourself to counter the smelly feet issue and the second one being the usage of the commercial product.

HOME REMEDIES FOR TREATING SMELLY FEET

1. Every time you take a shower, make sure to use regular soap and a scrubbing brush. Pour warm water onto your feet and scrub away mildly with soap in hand.
2. Always ensure that your toenails are clipped and kept clean at all times.
3. Make sure to remove the hard skin that gets accumulated on your feet with a foot file. To successfully conduct this process, ensure that your feet are wet. Since when the skin is damp, using a foot filer on it enhances its effect almost 5 times.
4. Make it a habit to change your socks at least once a day. Do not be like me, who uses the same pair of socks for 10 days. I bet you had a good laugh reading this one.
5. Always keep two pair of shoes that you can switch to and fro every alternative day. Doing this helps the pair that you had been wearing throughout the day, to dry out the next day. This helps eliminate moisture and excess sweat that accumulates into it due to prolonged usage.
6. Always go for the socks that absorb moisture. Sport socks and or socks made from the thick fibre are the way to go to counter the sweat produced.
7. If it is warm outside, go for open-toed sandals over closed shoes. There are a variety of sandals available in the market these days that help eliminate odour and sweat, but we are not discussing those type of shoes in this article.
8. Always steer clear of shoes that are “too” tight. Since wearing tight shoes not only enhances moisture creation but also is a different ball-game altogether. Tight shoe article has been covered in great lengths. You may click here to read more about it.
9. Alcohol is not only for drinking. So is said. You can use a bit of alcohol on a cotton swab and run it across your toe fingers. This dramatically helps to dry your feet out. Be careful not to apply alcohol directly onto cracked skin as you would start seeing adverse effects.
10. Use a medicated powder that you have lying around. If not, any cosmetic powder does the job. This helps keep the feet dry.
11. Use of anti-fungal or anti-bacterial soaps also helps eliminate odour from your feet. Keep on shifting to a particular brand and make that you find useful.

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS TO COUNTER SWEATY FEET PROBLEM

There are several products made available to us, but to be reasonably honest; one should always seek the assistance of a doctor before trying out any medication or prescriptive alternatives for a better and safe approach. Almost all of these products would help you eliminate the odour in your feet but do keep in mind that there are certain cons to them as well. I have arrived at this conclusion purely by exercising the use of these products myself.

Commercial products should only be used given the advice of the doctor. These products are known to have premium quality ingredients that help you eliminate foot odours in no time. You should always consider using products that are FDA approved. Or are tested and passed by your local regulatory authority. Given the use of these products, they also leave your skin feeling fresh, healthy and a bit young if I put it right. I even tried using one of the commercial products directly on my hands since these puppy’s sweat too. But God was I wrong! It started itching. So make sure you keep the intent to use of these products solely for what they have been manufactured for.

Some of the cons of commercial products include but not limited to, sticky feeling on their feet. Feet were becoming chalky after the application, but this is highly possible in case of hyperhidrosis condition. If you are allergic to strong smells, then do make sure that you discuss this with your dermatologist; doctor, and get hold of the prescription that is well suited and tailored according to your needs. You may not get as close to what you are looking for, but the way modernisation and globalisation are taking place; you just may be lucky to find a perfect fit of a prescription that would help you get rid of those smelly feet once and for all.

I personally am a huge fan of resorting to home remedies.

REPLACING INSOLES TO COUNTER SMELLY FEET

You may try replacing your current insoles and switching them with odour-reducing or antibacterial insoles. These are known to work wonders.

Another option is to opt-in for anti-bacterial sprays and disinfecting sprays that can be used directly onto the insoles of your shoes. However, this particular option requires you to spray the insoles and leave them to dry for a more extended period before they can be inserted into your shoes for use. I am impatient I know!

NEUTRALIZE FOOT ODOR WITH VINEGAR

Mix 1/3 cup of the apple vinegar into a bucket filled with warm or cold water. Soak your feet into the bucket and let them sit and relax in it for 20 to 30 minutes every day. The acid in the vinegar helps neutralise the odour and kills the bacteria on your feet. Apple cider vinegar is not only useful for neutralising foot smell but also has great health benefits if consumed solely every day. You can spray it on top of your next Quinoa dish or freshly diced green salad.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS TO HELP ELIMINATE SMELLY FEET

It is not so common to resort to medical treatments to help eliminate the foot odour, but at times when everything else in existence is not helping you to get rid of that pungent stench; then you may resort to a doctor for a more detailed examination and treatment. These include

IONTOPHORESIS

This is something that scares the bejesus out of me! This process involves running a mild electric current in the water and then soaking your feet into the solution. This helps reduce the incidence of sweat.

This method is reported to help almost 90% of the people who were suffering from sweaty feet. If done correctly, this treatment can help you get rid of sweating on the areas where the procedure is performed. Yes, this can also be done on your hands; and other parts of your bodies capable of producing sweat, but I would stay yet far away from them till more scientific evidence, and backing has been done.

In all aspects and scenarios, do not try this at home! I am being dead honest here.

BOTOX TREATMENT

If you are scared of an injection, then this option is not suitable for you. Botulinum toxin is the full form for the word BOTOX, and hence this treatment involves injecting the serum via a syringe into your feet by a means known as the plantar injection.

High endurance to pain is required to withstand the discomfort this particular treatment brings with it. And the result that you get with it only lasts for a couple of months. Reportedly, 3 to 4 months in total. And then it’s the same rinse and repeat process. So if you are really someone who wants to endure the pain just to be sweat-free, then please feel free to seek your doctor for consultation and book this session of botox treatment.

THE TAKEAWAY

In the majority of the cases, Bromodosis can easily be eliminated by the continuous use of home remedy tips that we have read above. But in case of stubborn conditions, where the stench is prevalent and is not diminishing by the use of the home remedies, it is best to see a doctor as there could be severe underlying conditions that are not open to the naked eye and can cause further damage to your feet and health.

Occasionally a funky smell from your feet can also be a sign to a more significant medical problem that you should not ignore. If you see there is excessive swelling, cuts or bruises in between your toes and or redness; then this is a clear sign of a problem and following the home remedies is not advised in this particular scenario. One should immediately seek assistance from a medical practitioner or a dermatologist and get hold of the prescriptions tailored to your condition. Make sure that you do not neglect the use of these medications as not heeding enough caution can result in severe impacts to your well-being.

People who are diabetics should be conscientious and should be on a continuous lookout for foot odour. If you have diabetes, then neglecting your foot odour can have a severe impact on your health. Foot odour in a diabetic patient is a sign of a severe problem and should not be overlooked.

WHAT PROBLEMS CAN ARISE DUE TO STANDING ALL DAY AT WORK

To name a few; discomfort, fatigue, tiredness, numbness, soreness and backaches are a common thing that are reported due to standing all day at work wearing shoes that aren’t comfortable. Those of us whose job revolves around standing all day at work, are much more prone to having pains in shin, calves, knees, joints and other lower muscles of the body. There is another study that claims that majority of the work-related injuries reported were due to the musculoskeletal disorders, and out of which 17 percent were connected directly to the lower body muscles. That’s a staggering number!

Not to scare you off, but this is not the end of it. Other problems that may arise due to prolonged standing include worsening of your coronary conditions, varclose veins and other problems such as chronic venous insufficiency. Another study claims that those who tend to sit all day at work are less likely to pick up a lower back pain as compared to those who stand all day at work.

For example sake, try to stand all day at work if you are normally accustomed sit all day at work. And the opposite for those who stand all day at work, try sitting and working. You would if not immediately but at the end of the day, see a difference between how your body is reacting to this change. Standing all day at work is never comfortable and that too if what you have on your feet isn’t suited or adjusted to mitigate the environment.

Few of the problems that arise due to standing all day at work are:

1. Lower back pain
2. Varclsoe veins
3. Plantar fasciitis
4. Sore muscles
5. Fatigue
6. High blood pressure
7. Arthritis
8. Bunions
9. Hammertoes
10. Pregnancy complications
11. Stiffness in your neck and the shoulders
12. Chronic cardiovascular diseases
13. A plethora of other foot problems
14. Swollen legs
15. Poor blood flow
16. Damage in your joints

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR THE RIGHT SHOE

The normal myth behind choosing a shoe for comfort is that one should always opt-in for a flat shoe. Well, that’s not the case in its entirety. Since these shoes aren’t as comfortable as one thinks they might be. Especially if your job involves you standing a lot or carrying out your tasks while standing. According to a recent study done by Canada’s Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., your shoes should have a bare minimum heel between the ranges of ¼ and 2 inches.

On top of this, the shoes that you choose for work should always have decent arch support. This helps you to reduce weakness and soreness in both your legs and the feet. But worry not, if your current shoes aren’t providing enough arch support, then you can get away with buying yourself a decent pair of arch support insoles. These are however inexpensive but do keep in mind their longevity. These tend to wear out at a rapid pace and thus you would need to keep at least a pair or two to be able to sustain.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR SHOES FIT YOUR SIZE

Do not be like me, who always goes for shoes that are small. Nah! Kidding. I always strive to go for a pair that is measured by the clerks at the shoe store and pick up a pair that fits my size. Since each pair of shoe is of a different design and size, and hence there is no one-size-that-fits-all formula applicable especially when you’re buying shoes. Wearing small shoes not only makes you uncomfortable but also cuts off the circulation of blood to your feet. And it’s a big NO to wear these shoes if you are required to stand all day at work. Small shoes cause blisters, make your walking and or standing uncomfortable and thus inviting the uninvited guest; BLISTERS

WHO IS MORE AT RISK?

Foot pain is not dependent on one’s age or gender. This bugger ensures that it makes its place into our live’s if we aren’t careful of what shoes we wear for the task that is at hand. Now I am not saying we should have 100 pairs for different things that we do at work, but essentially the choice of picking up a shoe should primarily not only be its aesthetics and looks. Your first and foremost priority should be to ask yourself, is this pair comfortable when I wear it? If yes, then proceed with the looks and other fancy bells and whistles it comes with. If the shoe is even the slightest of uncomfortable, then steer clear from it and start searching for another pair.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR FEET FEEL COMFORTABLE AT WORK

ALWAYS STRETCH WHEN YOU CAN

This is a very straightforward way of ensuring that you don’t end up with a stiff muscle. If your job involves standing all day in one place, then take a break every 45 minutes to walk around for few minutes. This would not only give your legs and feet a break, but also allow you to cool down and get some fresh air. Always ensure to stretch your feet, your legs and lower back muscles to ensure enough of blood circulation occurs keeping you away from stiffness which results into pain and discomfort.

CALF RAISES

Try to some calf lift ups while you are on a break. This helps you mobilize the blood that has been stuck in this area due to you standing all day at work. Do this for 5 to 10 times to ensure enough blood circulation happens for you to be able to get the loathed feeling of tiredness.

RUNNER’S STRETCH

Stand right next to a wall with your face toward it. Now place your hands against the wall and extend one leg behind your body. Now make sure to apply enough pressure to force your heel onto the floor and try to extend it as much as you can.

Hold onto the stretch for as long as you can. Now rinse and repeat this process for the other leg.

AFTER WORK

This is especially helpful when you are home after a long day at work. Get hold of a bucket of ice cold water and immerse your feet into it. Make sure you do not prolong this exercise, as the recommended period of keeping your feet immersed in water is not more than 20 minutes.

Ice helps reduce inflammation and the cold from the ice causes our blood vessels to constrict, thus giving us a soothing effect.

SEATED BREAKS

This is more applicable to people who are required to sit and carry out their work all day. It is often recommended to take short breaks to ease off the stress and relieve your feet from the discomfort and pain. Our legs tend to swell if kept idle in one position irrespective if you are standing or sitting at work.

If your workplace allows you to remove your shoes, then please do so every once in a while. Keep your feet in an elevated position. Putting your legs on a chair right next to you also helps.

MASSAGING YOUR FEET HELPS

You can do this in a variety of ways. I am not a traditional guy, so get yourself a tennis ball or a baseball. You may need to convince the young one to lend these to you at home. Put the ball under your feet and roll your foot from toe to heel on it. This will help to stretch the muscles that have gone too tight due to being in discomfort throughout the day. Thus boosting the recovery period of your feet and allowing you are more soothing effect?

TRY TO CHANGE YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT

If your work place consists of a hard surface flooring and you know that you are going to be spending your whole time in this area, then request for a rubber mat or even a decent rug, and place it onto the floor. Use it for standing since it will cushion the parts of your feet and provide you a layer of comfort and support.

TRY TO ROTATE YOUR SHOES

Always keep an extra pair of shoes for your work. This not only helps to maintain and extend the life on each individual pair, but also your feet. This practice helps to alleviate pain and fatigue incurred by the shoes, by changing the pressure points on the feet, thus providing relief to the areas the foot is accustomed to taking the most stress in one pair of the shoe. This is a great practice and helps ensure that you are always on spot and making sure that your feet stay comfortable throughout the course of the day.

INVEST IN A SUPPORTIVE FOOTWEAR THAT WILL FIT YOUR FEET

This is perhaps the most sought after suggestion which will ensure that you are giving your feet that extra TLC (Tender love and caring) that they deserve. As we have gone through in this article at great length what you can do to ensure your feet stay relaxed, it is best advised to steer clear from uncomfortable foot wear. To ensure that your feet are kept comfortable at all times, it is vital to invest in a decent pair of shoes that provide extra cushioning and supportive infrastructure. Your ideal she should not be snug, it should never be tight, and should always fit your size. Do keep in mind that you should not go over board when buying your next pair of shoes, since our body’s biology works in a way that our foot size keeps on changing as we age. So if you are to invest a few hundred dollars in a pair thinking it would last you for a decade, then you are in for a surprise. This is however not applicable on all the shoes in the market, but majority of the manufacturers do not suggest their consumer to keep on wearing the same shoe for more than 5 years.

AT THE END, SEE YOUR PODIATRIST

If following my recommendations above, your foot pain is still persistent; then it is best advised to schedule an appointment with your doctor and explain to them you’re working routine and any other physical activities that you are involved in. Basis which they would perform a complete analysis on you to rule out any other serious health issues and propose a medication to counter the issue that you are facing.

A thick pair of shoe traditionally made from wood; these are used as protective footwear by people all over the world. A prime example of such would be those working in mines and farms and those who work all day long. Today clogs are seen as more of a fashion requirement rather than its utility use of being suitable for joint health. One of the best examples surrounding clogs shoes in the new century is CROCS. They are the foam version of wooden Clog shoes.

With the modernisation and new industrial standards in shoe building coming up almost on a daily basis, Clogs have moved away from their typical wooden structure and are now being manufactured in either a wooden sole with a leather upper or sometimes even no wood at all. This significantly hampers the medicinal benefits of these shoes. The traditional design of Clogs is, however, still available with high-end retailers that would provide you with a decent upper and a wooden frame structure that is both comfortable and accompanies its traditional foot and joint benefits.

Although these shoes dated centuries ago, however their use in today’s world is inevitable. Clogs are being used by medical professionals, nurses and those whom job requires them to stand all day. Wearing Clogs helps them immensely minimising foot, ankle, back and knee pain.

Are clogs comfortable?

So is the question. A good pair of Clogs would have all the benefits any decent pair of shoes would have in them. When wearing one, you can rest assured that your foot will be provided the proper comfort and support by its structure. Unlike traditional shoes that place a great deal of stress on our ligament’s, joints and what not; a well built and designed Clog helps eliminate those factors and keeps you comfortable all day long.

You must now be thinking what to consider when buying a pair of Clogs for yourself? Fret not; I have taken the liberty to jot down points for your reading pleasure.

• A Small heel
• Soles with Arc Support
• Tight, Comfortable Upper Sections

Bit of a history lesson now?

Clogs date back to the Roman centurions who conquered England back in the days. Realistically no one knows who invented these. However, through the cusp of time, Clogs geometrical structure remained the same even with time. Probably because they are so efficient and comfortable.

In the present day, the adoption of Clogs into the society came in around the late ’70s. The reason being their usage benefits and simplicity. Nowadays, these can be seen worn as a fashion statement and both comfortability. As I stated above, Clogs are also widely recommended for Doctors and nurses whose main job is to run around the whole day.

Clogs will always remain a unique thing in our world and in the future. Purely because of its simple structure and enormous benefits that they provide to its user. You would never know about how comfortable they are unless you slip on a pair after purchasing them. You can’t go wrong with having a pair of Clogs in your closet.

Most of the high street stores, retailers would have a Clogs design shoe keep for your ready-use and purchase. You can’t just change the right shoe if it’s meeting all the requirements.

Conclusion

So to summarise it all, Clogs are suitable for your posture, joint health and longevity are ultra-comfortable and let us not forget a head-turner. Hey, who wouldn’t like to be noticed while walking around and being praised?

Let us all join the Clog revolution?

Leave a comment below if you agree!

Shin splints! Achilles Tendinitis, Knee Pains, Plantar Fasciitis; just to name a few! These all can be incurred by you if you are not careful into knowing when to discard off the pair of shoe that you don’t know should not be used any longer. These all occur over a prolong use of time with your shoe and results in the loss of support and cushioning. With the passage of time, shoes heel and sole wear down increasing chances of an ankle twist. Now that won’t be a fancy sight would it now?

No manufacturer ever stamps the “expiration date” on their shoes. That being said, the shoes life can be extended by ensuring proper care is exhibited when owning one. The manufacturer also plays a vital role into prolonging their products life. Quite essentially a high-priced shoe composes of more ductile and sturdy material as compared to the one that is labelled as a low-priced alternative. But that being said, I have listed below few points that you can use to judge and quantify if your shoe needs to be buried or be kept in your closets for your next use.

Athletic Shoes

Since the whole purpose of these shoes is to take a massive beating by the wearer all day long, hence these shoes tend to wear out a lot quicker than the latter. Twist, turns, fast running, jumping etc. you name it! The most beating that any athletic shoe that comes into my mind is the shoe of a basketball player. When you land from jumps, your shoe and its sole absorbs the pressure that is equivalent to 7 to 8 times of your body weight. OUCH! Would despise being an athletic shoe.

As a general rule of thumb, the life span of such shoes is 4oo to 500 miles as per the statistics on the internet. Someone who runs 4 miles 5 times a week should consider replacing their pair of shoes after 6 months. Period!

Office Shoes

You would need to trash or fix your office shoes if you wear them 4 to 5 times a week in a year’s time. Experts opine that if the shoe starts tilting slightly or has scuffing’s all over its body, it’s time to hit the cobbler or a shoe repair shop. If that’s not doable, then you are better off tossing them into the bin and go for shoe shopping.

Leather Dress Shoes

No! I won’t recommend that you toss them into the bin, well at least for now. Leather dress shoes can easily last for 10 to 15 years if you take good care of them. Ensure proper resoling and re-heeling when necessary is done, ensuring proper leather cleaning liquids and mods are used to keep them in their best shape. The leather insole needs to be replaced if you put your thumb in the center of the outsole at the foot of the ball, the leather feels soft rather than firm

These heel-less shoes base their height on a platform that does not extend throughout the shoe. They are platform heels without heels. The platform often bends towards the back of the shoe as if it were cut.

A famous British fashion designer namely Antonio Berardi, pioneered these shoes back in 2007 for his runway collection, women have gone wild over getting a pair of these shoes. Celebrities, namely Lady Gaga and Victoria Beckham donned these shoes and thus then made famous worldwide. Since these shoes were manufactured, they had only stepped on the red-carpet since inception. However, do these shoes have a place in the wardrobes of our female readers? A self-designed version of these shoes by Antonio Berardi, go out for a whopping 160 USD by a famous clothing giant (NEW LOOK). Given the price tag on these, I believe this is going to be a piece of a beautiful art rather than wear on pair that someone would go for! Well, this design is not yet so common amongst the high-street retailers. But if you are like me and always go out and about researching a product before you purchase, you can easily get hold of a heel-less shoe pair from either eBay or one of those Chinese manufacturer websites. You can quickly get hold of a variety of different designs from these pages and can secure a deal if you are interested in buying one pair for yourself.

For some people, a regular shoe is something that they can easily slip on. For some it’s a full scientific equation. Having said that, a rather unconvincing claim comes from the creator of these shoes saying these shoes aren’t that uncomfortable as they look. Hey, let us not judge the book by its cover! Some people whom I have come across have loved the way these shoes slip on, and they claim it to be a regular shoe. I am the judging, but concept of a “REGULAR SHOE” lost on few isn’t it?

Conclusion

Quite sadly, the thought remains with a few “no pain no gain”. And they would do anything to remain in the fashion spotlight. I am not saying that’s a bad thing, but honestly I wish them good luck! If I was to take a final plunge at this article, then I believe that these Catwalk shoes are only good for the ramp and not for the outside world. Maybe we are just not ready for it yet? I do agree that these shoes are quirky, trendy and are certainly a statement piece but I would certainly not want to gift these to anyone I know. Moreover, if you are not from the feint-hearted group in which I belong, and are thinking about venturing into purchasing one pair for yourself, then all I got to say to you is: be careful!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Let me know what you think of these shoes?

This greatly depends on the type of shoe one’s looking at. Women’s shoe varies greatly in shape, style and design. In the modern world where dressier styles, heights, heels, flats and platform shoes are into the picture it would be safe to assume that men wouldn’t want to be ever near these shoes that are categorically designed for the women population. The case is different for the athletic shoes where those that are designed for women can easily be worn by men since it would cause minimum amusement to the public and be less of a head-turner.

ADIDAS has done an excellent job when it comes down to shoes that are designed for athletic purposes. Realistically a pair called as STAN SMITH by ADIDAS can be worn by both the genders as it poses less of a threat to either gender when mixed and matched. Keeping all this in mind, if you are desperately in love with a design of a particular brand, and you are made known, that the male version is out of stock or out of production (I would certainly not like to believe so), then you very well can slip yourself into a women’s pair with a slightly larger size to camouflage the fact and remain proud.

IF YOU LIKE IT YOU WEAR IT

With the modernization, the trend goes “IF YOU LIKE IT YOU WEAR IT”. Quiet realistically this concept is applied at every part of our life’s these days. The love for heels is admired by both the sex and no it doesn’t impact your orientation. People are widely accepting this very fact and we can see women wearing men’s clothing and vice versa.

I remember reading somewhere on the internet that a guy was prescribed by his doctor to wear heels which would help him get rid of his back pain and correct his posture. So if we are to stick to the fact that each gender should stick to their own manufactured versions of shoes then hey, blame the doctors isn’t it?

If you have reading this far, let us now jump to the phase where I would guide you how you can find the right size if you ever think about putting on shoes that are gender-specific. There is no standard formula or a one-size-fit-all in such scenarios. You must not buy these shoes thinking they would fit since sooner or later you would be going back to the shop to have them either replaced or refunded. It is always advisable to slip them on and walk a few steps to ensure they fit you properly and are comfortable.

Coming down to heels, sandals etc is a different ballgame altogether. Unless your plan is to cross dress, or appear at a Halloween party scaring your own family first or even better going to a drag show, then please feel free to put on any of the mentioned shoe styles and be ready to be welcomed with either good or bad comments. Bad in my case since I know I wouldn’t be able to pull that off.

Conclusion

So, going by the rule of thumb! Women and men can wear each other’s shoes given the 2 basic rules. If I want to try out a women’s shoe I would go for a slightly larger size than the one I am currently adjusted to and for the off-set a size smaller should do wonders for their fit.

If you liked the above article, please feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree with my article above!

I as a result of this write this article to let my readers know that you should not be worried about strutting your stuff wearing your favourite pair of heels if you follow the five (5) basic rules of how to take care of your feet after wearing heels below.

Whether it is your workspace attire requirement to wear high heels or just a day out with colleagues, we all know how dreadful it feels when you have to suffer the harrowing experience of removing the high-heel shoes. I as a result of this write this article to let my readers know that you should not be worried about strutting your stuff wearing your favourite pair of heels if you follow the five (5) basic rules of how to take care of your feet after wearing heels below.

Here we go

Shoe Insoles

Basic One-o-One on body weight and shoes. Any shoes! Is that they are supposed to distribute your entire body weight on the insoles; naturally absorbing shocks and exertions. Heels, on the other hand, are a complete transverse to this concept, and ultimately the whole bodyweight falls onto the frontal section of the high-heel shoe, thus making it uncomfortable.

Solution to this paradigm is by inserting gel-insoles into your heels that would help in lowering the impact and pressure while walking. The only downside to these gel-insoles is that they tend to wear out a lot quicker. So get yourself going with a couple of pieces and have them handy to avoid any discomfort. One thing that you should consider before buying high-heels shoes is that you must always carry your gel-insoles with you so as to you may try them in the shoes before putting them on, hence giving you a perfect feel of how comfortable or discomfort able they are.

ALWAYS Walk on Soft Surfaces vs Hard Surfaces

You always should aim for softer surfaces to walk on when wearing them bad boys! This would relieve you with the stress that your feet are going through in the high-heels.

Soaking your Feet in Warm / Luke Water

Nothing beats soaking your feet in a small tub filled with warm water and scrubbing them to affection. Let us admit this now, wearing high-heels for an extended period does put enough stress on your valuable asset that of feet. Moreover, they do require pampering and gentle love. Why not throw in a few drops of essential oils into it. My all-time favourite is LAVENDER OIL!

Exercise

Stretching is always good. And a great exercise for your core and other parts of your body. It is no different for your feet either. After removing those pretty high heels, lay down on a sofa or bed. Lift your legs and stretch gently, increasing the intensity one scale at a time till you feel the blood circulation at its peak. Honestly; this would give you a lot more soothing effect.

Another added tip would be to rotate your toes both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Those Dreadful Days

The relationship between you and the pharmacy near you is inevitable if your closet is a big fan of high-heels. Well, my wife isn’t any different. I can’t remember a single day that she wouldn’t complain about sore feet and tired legs. To top that off, there are some pairs that even cause you to get blisters and scarring on feet.

In such scenarios, always ensure to put an ointment on them before you go to sleep. Put some ice in a tub and soak your feet in for added comfort. This step should be done as soon as you remove your shoes.

If you liked the article above, please leave a comment below as I would love to hear about your experiences.

Most Commonly Asked Questions about Work Boots

How many types of work boots exist in the market?

These come in a variety of different categories. To name a few

• Steel toes
• Insulated Footwear
• Soft Toed Workboots
• Boots designed to protect you from electrical components and hazards

So all in all, there is a boot for every space of work that you can think of. Some companies make it a mandatory requirement to have a work shoe that is manufactured under International standards and has passed Quality standards.

Does height matter in work shoes?

There are a plethora of work boot field guides available on the internet. But with a general rule of thumb, work shoes come in a variety of different heights. Majority of the professional work boots are designed to reach 6” to 8” in height in men’s version. For women shoes can be up to 5” in height. Whatever the scenario is, you should always choose a pair which provides you with the best possible ankle protection and would allow you to not submerge in the field where you are in. The whole purpose of those shoes and their height is to protect your feet from the surroundings and at the same time, keeping you comfortable and cozy.

How should work shoes fit?

First of all, any pair of shoes that you buy; your utmost priority should be that they are comfortable. In case of work shoes, the priority list is a bit exhaustive. Key points to consider as to how your work shoes should fit are:-

• Your feet should be nestled in the shoes comfortably and should not be rubbing against the boots back.
• The space between the front section of the boot and your toes should be at bare minimum 1 inch at distance.
• Your feet sides should be relaxed at all times. If any undue pressure is experienced on the foot sides, then consider buying another pair instead of the one that you are opining for.
• Your toes should always be firm and in one place. Toes should not hit the front or the end of the boot.

Type of lacing systems

There are a variety of lacing systems that modern work boots are geared up with. The most traditional one being the eyelet. Few of other lacing systems in production are

• D Ring closures
• Metal hooks for quick lacing

It all depends on how often and how quick you want to put on and remove your shoes. There is no stringent rule here as to what type of a lacing system should a work boot have. It all narrows down to personal preference at the end of the day!

Different types of boot soles

There are three (3) different type of soles in a work boot. All having their own pre-designed purpose. The outer sole which is used for traction. The midsole which provides comfort and stability while walking. The insole which helps to keep your feet comfortable at all times.

Can a steel toe be added to boots?

The quickest answer to this question is NO. However, there are a plenty of accessories available in the market referred to as the overshoes that consist of a steel toe cap on stretchable rubber soles. These are then placed over your existing boot to ensure protection. So nope, these don’t go inside your shoes rather are a protective shell for the outer bit of your boot.

What is a steel toe?

The whole purpose of this toe box is to protect your feet and categorically the metatarsal bone from heavy objects falling onto your feet. Ouchie!

Its competitor is the composite toe which is lighter in weight and is inexpensive as compared to a normal steel toe shoe. However the requirement of the workplace in which you are in determines which type of shoe you should be wearing to follow the procedures and obviously the whole purpose is there for protection.

Conclusion

So to summarize this article, there are a variety of work boots that are available in the market. To be honest, you should consider investing in a decent pair of work boot because at the end of the day it’s your safety that is at hand and one should be wary of its surroundings and consider the same before buying.

If you liked my article above, please leave a comment below and I would love to engage with you further.

Here I give you three (3) tips that would help you shrink your leather shoes back into their standard shape, or at least better than the warped version in which they are right now. Let us begin!

Water (The most inexpensive way)

Steps are as of below

1. Pretreat your shoes with a leather protector to prevent any discoloration during the process of aligning them back. This would ensure that they are protected from any scratches.
   
   Once this step is done, make sure to leave the shoes in open space to let them dry out completely.
   
2. Immerse your shoes in clean water. You don’t necessarily need to use bottled water here. However, you may if you love your shoes the way I do!
   
   Wait for 10 minutes.
   
   TIP: You may also use a spray bottle filled with clean water to thoroughly soak your pair with water.
   
3. There are two options here now
   
   a. Toss the pair into a clothing dryer. Ensuring your dryer is kept to its lowest possible heat temperature.
   
   b. Use a hairdryer to dry the water out from the shoes. If you are doing this then please ensure to keep the hair dryer at least six inches away from the shoe to avoid the outer coat of the shoe to wear out or even wilt.
   
4. The final step is when the shoes are completely dry. Use a leather softener to prevent cracks from appearing in the leather.

Conclusion

Stretched shoes are not just an eyesore but also a pain on your feet. The slip and slide, uncomfortable walking experience, shad look and the heartache of succumbing to the fact that your favorite pair is no longer an eye candy are indeed nerve-wracking.

If you loved this article and piece of advice, then feel free to let me know down in the comments section below if you are going to try it out with your next pair. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!