Salt stains, scuffs, everyday wear and tear ... ouf, the grievances of winter! Combat winter wardrobe damage with these easy and affordable winter care and maintenance solutions.
Before winter

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Before winter
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Treat clean, dry dress-boots with a silicone waterproofing spray to prevent stains. If your new boots have a leather bottom and you want to wear them in winter months, consider having a shoe maker attach a thin rubber sole to protect your boots from moisture.
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Condition tough leather boots from severe weather conditions by rubbing mink oil or Vaseline into the leather with a soft cloth.

Snowy days

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Snowy days
- Clean and then dry wet or soiled boots with a damp cloth at the end of every day.
- Wipe away winter stains with a soft cloth and Vaseline or leather conditioner. Let the product penetrate the material and then polish.
- To avoid the leather from drying out or cracking, place boots in a warm spot away from direct heat sources, such as radiators and fire-places.

Salty Solutions

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Salty Solutions
- The secret weapon to getting rid of calcium marks on leather boots (or shoes!) is to scrub the stain with a sponge soaked with the simple combo of water and white vinegar (one-part vinegar to 4 parts hot water).
- If your boots are suede, follow the same water + vinegar process as with their leather counterparts. However, with suede boots, after the sponging is done, let them dry, then revive the texture with a suede brush, easily found in any shoe store.
- If the stains are particularly nasty and left over from last year, scrub them with pure vinegar.

Smart Storage

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Smart Storage
- At the end of the season, clean, polish and apply a mink based protector so your winter-worthy boots and shoes will be ready for when you need them.
- Stuff winter boots with newspapers to keep their shape and absorb any dampness.
- Store delicate/expensive leather suedes items in a dust bag or old pillowcase.
