Kathmandu:

With changing seasons, the way we dress keeps changing. And with our dresses, so do our footwear. We pack away our slippers and sandals for our shoes and boots in winter, and vice versa in the warmer days. However, are we packing away our footwear in the correct manner?

Footwear today are available in a variety of materials with a variety of soles — PU (polyurethane) or rubber soles, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or nylon soles.

But there are a few basic things that we must remember while storing our shoes.

The basic and the most important point is that shoes must be stored in an open space. It should not be wrapped or packed so that it gets breathing space.

However, if you want to, you can store shoes in boxes.

The longest period that a pair can be stored without the fear of it getting spoilt is two months.

It is advised to stuff shoes with soft paper like tissues to maintain the shape.

Stored shoes must also be worn once in a while, at least once a month, especially during the winter months.

Leather shoes must be polished once in a while even when stored.

If you find that your stored shoes have formed some patches, then dry the shoes thoroughly in the sun and polish them.

One should remember that the chemicals used in shoes have a certain life span, after which the chemicals wear off.

(Information provided by — Pradeep Rai, Liberty; Ram Kumar Adhikari, Fit Rite and Shankar Tamang, Paleswan Collection)