Drying shoes: this is the best way to do it | Eltern.de

by Rachel Brozowski Surprised by the downpour or forgotten rubber boots: Suddenly children's shoes are completely soaked. We explain how you can dry shoes so that they are ready for use again quickly and do not suffer too much.

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Some children seem to be magically attracted to puddles, streams or other water sources. No matter how careful you are; It can quickly happen that your child's shoes are completely soaked - in summer as well as in winter. It's not that bad if you let the shoes dry properly afterwards. There are a few tricks and tricks for drying shoes properly, which we would like to introduce to you here.

Drying shoes properly: why is it so important?

Wet shoes should dry quickly, not only because they may have to be ready for use again a few hours later. If shoes remain wet for too long, mold can form in the fabric and the shoes may even become unusable. In addition, ugly water stains can form on leather shoes in particular, which are difficult to remove.

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Drying shoes: You shouldn't do that!

Drying shoes isn't rocket science, but you should know what to leave out so that your little one's children's shoes don't get completely ruined after the water bath. In no case should you:

Sure, these methods of drying shoes sound plausible because the heat promises quick success. But this is exactly where the problem lies. Leather and also synthetic materials can become brittle due to direct exposure to intense heat. Rubber bonding, especially on sneakers, can come loose and plastic parts can become porous. All of this cannot be reversed afterwards with care products. You will no longer enjoy the slippers.

Dry shoes: With newspaper or towels

Absorbent material such as cotton towels or newspaper is ideal for drying shoes. To do this, stuff the cloth or paper firmly into the shoes and replace them as soon as they have absorbed moisture. With leather shoes, you should make sure that you don't stuff the shoes too tightly. Otherwise, they may deform as they dry.

This type of shoe drying is suitable for almost all types of shoes: leather shoes, sports shoes and slippers.

Caution: It is best to use white cotton towels and not too brightly colored newspaper. Especially with light-colored shoes, unsightly discolorations could occur.

Dry shoes: In the warm air

In summer that's not a problem: You can simply hang up the children's shoes in the garden or on the balcony (by the shoelaces, for example). In winter it gets a little more difficult. Here the warm boiler room can be the solution or the proximity to a heating system. However, you should never put your shoes too close to the heater or even directly on the heater. As already described above, this can seriously damage the shoes.

Placing the shoes in front of a fan that is on can have a similar effect. The air circulation ensures that the children's shoes dry faster.

This method is also suitable for all types of shoes made of leather and synthetic materials.

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Shoes dry: With cat litter

If you have a cat, you have a clear advantage here. Otherwise, you can probably get a small bag of kitty litter from friends, neighbors, or relatives. Cat litter is great for drying shoes. After all, the litter is designed to absorb large amounts of moisture. You also need a pair of nylon stockings or socks How to proceed:

If you don't have nylon stockings, you can also put the litter directly into your shoes. However, removing the small beads afterwards is a bit more complicated.

The advantage of this method is that the shoes dry very quickly. After just one to two hours they are almost ready for use again. This trick also has another great advantage: If your child has smelly feet, the unpleasant foot odor in the shoes will be eliminated immediately.

And another little tip: If you don't have any cat litter, you can also use rice. This also binds moisture, but not as quickly and effectively as cat litter.

Dry shoes: With an electric shoe dryer

Of course, there is now a suitable device for every little problem. However, if your child is one of those people who is drawn to water sources and has constantly wet shoes, it could be worth getting an electric shoe dryer. These devices make drying shoes child's play and the great thing: It's really fast!

Electric shoe dryers have a heat source that is conducted directly to the inside of the shoes. In this way, the moisture is quickly transported out of the shoes.

Attention: You should familiarize yourself with the operating instructions before using the device so that you do not damage the material of the shoes. Such a shoe dryer is not recommended for sensitive leather shoes.

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Drying shoes: This is something to keep in mind

Dry shoes: Then comes the extra care

No matter how well and gently you dried the shoes; the water has definitely removed nutrients from the material. Leather in particular should therefore be cared for after the shoes have dried. The best way to do this is with a colored care shoe polish, so that the color of the shoes is refreshed again at the same time. The use of a shoe tree ensures that the shoes come back into shape a little.

And: After drying is before drying

The next downpour is sure to come. Therefore, you should definitely prevent by waterproofing your little ones' shoes. With an impregnation, the shoes are protected from moisture for a while and your loved ones have dry feet for longer.

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