Please read through the useful hints, tips and how to guides below.

Leather bags

To clean

warm water \ cloudy ammonia \ leather cream

Rub with a soft cloth dipped in ammonia solution, dry thoroughly, then rub with a good cream. Waterproof with a silicone repellant if necessary. Coloured polish might come off on clothes, so don't use it for bags.

To store bags or shoes

epsom salts | plastic bag

Store leather, suede or plastic shoes in a plastic bag with epsom salts to protect against mould or mildew.

To store

2 magazines

Roll each magazine into a tube and use to support the leg of each long boot.

clothes peg

Clip the top of a pair of boots together so they will stand tidily - especially good for rubber boots.

To deodorise
bicarbonate of soda
Sprinkle thickly into shoes and shake down well into every crevice. Leave for several days, tip out, then air shoes. If odour is a recurring problem, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into shoes when they are not being worn.

camphor

Leave a little in the shoe cupboard to dispel odours.

To dry wet shoes

crumpled newspaper
Do not place in front of the fire or radiator or the leather will be damaged. Stuff with dry newspaper which will absorb moisture and keep the shoes in shape.

To ease tight shoes

1 raw potato

Cut the potato in half and leave a half in each shoe overnight.

To remove paint splatters

steel wool | shoe polish

Dip the steel wool in a little polish and rub gently.

To waterproof new shoes
linseed oil

Rub shoes thoroughly with oil, but test first on an inconspicuous spot to ensure colour is not affected.

To protect white stitching

clear nail-polish

Cover stitching with nail-polish to prevent it becoming grubby.

Leather shoes

To remove salt-water stains

vinegar or rubbing alcohol

Rub stained area only of heavy leather shoes or boots then polish. A solution of equal parts vinegar and water also works for milder damage or less resilient leather.

1 part methylated spirits | 2 parts milk

Rub into the leather and allow to dry. Polish as usual.

To clean leather

milk

Rub leather with a cloth dipped in milk to remove salt, then rub in saddle soap.

banana skin

Rub leather shoes or bags with the inside of a banana skin and allow to dry without polishing.

petroleum jelly

Rub jelly into leather then polish off thoroughly with a soft cloth.

To store

Do not store in plastic bags. Rub well with petroleum jelly, polish, then wrap in a pillowcase or store in a cardboard box.

Sandshoes

To clean
milk
Dampen with milk before cleaning and they will stay white longer.

To maintain
starch

Spray new shoes with starch and repeat after each cleaning - they will stay whiter longer.

To remove stains

Try rubbing with a pencil eraser.

Sheepskin linings

To clean
powdered starch
Sprinkle plenty inside shoes or boots and leave overnight, then brush out well.

Shoe polish

To soften

olive oil or kerosene or turpentine or white spirit

Add a few drops to tin and place in a warm oven for a few minutes.

Slippery slingbacks?

adhesive foam weather-stripping

Line the straps with a length of foam to prevent slipping.

Slippery soles?

sandpaper

Rub new soles with sandpaper or scuff on rough concrete to prevent slipping.

Suede shoes and bags

To clean

finest sandpaper or steel wool

Rub gently with either to remove dirt or grease.