We are in a bustling big city which means we need our weekend boots for casually running errands and for our beautiful hikes in the parklands. We also need our city footwear to look presentable heading into the office or on a night on the town.

We’ve already had our first dusting of snow, which has encouraged us to start preparing for the inevitable. Yes, we have our reliable boots to keep us grounded and warm. But we also have stylish high boots and the Western style ankle boots that are on trend for the season.  We also continue to adore the sneaker culture and while they aren’t winter footwear, we’ll be pushing those into the season as long as we can!

Like many of our readers, we have no interest in throw-away fashion. Good quality footwear is meant to last and a little care goes along way! This time of year, we take inventory and see what repairs need to be done. But we’ve also recently learned how to do our own  maintenance throughout the season that’s not only cost effective but helps prolong our footwear for years to come.

What causes the most damage to leather and suede in the winter months? Sure the salt and chemicals eat away at leather and dry it out and cause cracking. But did you know that water can soak into leather and suede making them expand, stain and fade and drying out the natural oils? Neglecting to take care of these everyday issues is the primary reason our boots and shoes don’t look so great or last as long. The rain, mud, snow and salt can cause permanent damage to footwear.

Here are 3 EASY STEPS from the shoe care experts at Moneysworth & Best Quality Shoe Care to help you extend the life of your leather and suede goods:

STEP ONE: CLEAN

Ideally you should be wiping off your shoes and boots after every wear so salt stains don’t settle in. I’ve found  SHOE WIPES to be convenient to keep in my handbag to quickly do a once over to remove surface dirt while on the go. The wipes from Moneysworth & Best are double sided (smooth, raised soft dots that help scrub and remove scuff marks and stains). Moneysworth & Best WINTER WIPES are ideal for removing salt stains.  Great for keeping at the office and in the car too. For suede, it’s a good idea to give them a once over with a brush. The 4-way DELUXE SUEDE BRUSH is designed to also remove dirt that gets trapped in the nap. Just remember to always brush in one direction to preserve the texture.

Salt eats away at leather when left at room temperature so to prevent permanent visual and texture damage, there is a SALT REMOVER Liquid with a built-in applicator for easy use. Great also for canvas and vinyl. TIP: It’s also great for your pant cuffs and even car mats! A spray application is also available.

For tough stains on your leather and suede goods it’s also a good idea to do a really thorough cleaning every couple of weeks to extend the life of your boots and shoes. The general CLEANER sprays a mist of foam that lifts tough dirt. The cleaner comes with its own built-in brush. Also worth keeping in your shoe closet is the LEATHER LOTION – a cream-based cleaner that not only removes dirt but restores moisture to help prevent cracks and fading. Apply it with a soft cloth and buff until the cream is absorbed.

STEP TWO: POLISH

With the right product it’s easy to renew the colour and shine  of your footwear. Pay attention to the material when selecting the polish. There are creams, liquid waxes, shine sponges, and paste polish that are ideal for leathers. However, suede and sheepskin are treated differently. They tend to fade and have a dull appearance faster thanks to the weather. You’ll want to look for easy renew sprays to refresh colour and cover up scratches. They’ll also preserve the delicate texture.

STEP THREE: PROTECT

This is considered the most important step as protection is key to preventing permanent damage to footwear. PRO-TEX™ WATER + STAIN PROTECTOR shields from water, dirt and chemicals by preventing snow, rain, oils, stains and salt from penetrating into the leather. Water will bead and roll off the surface keeping the material protected and preserved for longer wear. Not just for leather and suede but also sheepskin and fabric shoes as well.

What other tips for winter?

For tall boots, it’s wise to use BOOT SHAPERS to help prevent creases and wrinkles from forming. They also help the drying process in between wears.

That “smell” of winter boots (and skates and ski boots) is less than appealing. This ODOUR STOP™ SHOE + BOOT FRESHENER is a deodorizer that not only helps combat THAT smell but also helps prevent bacteria growth.

Keep a convenient SHOE SHINE SPONGE handy near the front door and at the office for a quick once over to remove surface dust gently and add colour and shine to your shoes.

And what about those SNEAKERS? Check out Moneysworth & Best for products created to clean and preserve them as well!

Moneysworth & Best is a Canadian company with 26 franchise shoe repair shop across the country. The line of shoe and boot care products are also available through thousands of online and store retail locations such as Canadian Tire, Amazon, Staples, and Walmart.. For more tips and details about what’s right for your footwear, visit Moneysworth & Best.

CONTEST

Enter for a chance to win a MONEYSWORTH & BEST Winter Survival Kit for your Shoes and Boots! Help minimize salt stain and winter weather damage! Approximate value of the prize: $200 Canadian.

To enter on Instagram:

1. Follow @TorontoGuardian and @Moneysworth_and_Best on Instagram

2. Comment on this post with your friend on Instagram who could use this prize.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Help your footwear survive the winter with these tips and protective kits from Moneysworth & Best. Link in bio. . 1. Follow @moneysworth_and_best. 2. Tag your friend in the comments who could use this prize. . . . . #contest #giveaway #prizes #toronto #cityoftoronto #hypetoronto #streetsoftoronto #torontolife #igtoronto #torontoigers #tdot #memoirsoftoronto #imagesoftoronto #torontophoto #torontoclicks #torontolove #torontonian #torontoblogger #torontobound #torontoliving #toptorontophoto #seetorontonow #viewsoftoronto #exploretoronto #yyz #torontophotography

A post shared by Toronto Guardian (@torontoguardian) on Nov 9, 2018 at 9:12am PST

To enter on Facebook:

1. Like Toronto Guardian and Moneysworth & Best on Facebook

2. Share this Facebook Post OR Comment on this facebook post and tag a friend on Facebook who could use this prize.

To enter on Twitter:

1. Follow Toronto Guardian and Moneysworth & Best on Twitter

2. Retweet this Tweet OR Reply with a mention of a friend on Twitter who could use this prize.

Help your footwear survive the winter with these tips and protective kits from Moneysworth & Best (@MoneysworthBest).#CONTEST #GIVEAWAYhttps://t.co/wAtgHYuRdx

— Toronto Guardian (@TORGuardian) November 9, 2018

*Contest closes Friday, November 30, 2018. One winner will be selected at random from all eligible entrants. Prize must be accepted as awarded. Good luck!

The post 3 steps to survive winter’s salt stains + Moneysworth & Best GIVEAWAY appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

I recently got to chat with Dalton Jackson, founder of The Sole Exchange Canada. For another year, The Sole Exchange Canada is producing The Ultimate Sneaker Show. Visitors to the event will get a chance to buy modern and vintage basketball shoes and related memorabilia. The events aim to grow the community of sneakerheads while giving collectors and vendors a chance to present their accumulations to an audience of hungry heads.

The Ultimate Sneaker Show will take place on Saturday February 13th during the NBA All-Star weekend in Toronto. To date, the show is the largest sneaker convention in Canada and aims to be extra impressive this year with collections from notable celebrities and collectors on display.

Here is my chat with Dalton.

***

What are your Favourite Sneakers?

-Nike Air Jordan Fire Red 5s, 2006 Release

-Nike Air Jordan (72-10) 11s. This pair is symbolic celebrating the most wins in a season with the 72-10

-The Nike Air Jordan 6 is Dalton’s ultimate favourite pair. He feels its the best looking shoe ever made. It’s also the sneaker Michael Jordan won his championships wearing.

***

What was the shoe that got you into sneakers?

The major thing that drove my passion for sneakers was my admiration for the athletes that endorsed them. Over the years, the most popular pairs have always been endorsed by popular athletes. The first shoe that really got me into sneakers was the Allen Iverson 1s Black and Gold.

What is your favourite shoe from your own collection?

My favourite pair from my collection are the Air Jordan 6.

What is it about shoes that make people sneaker-heads?

I think what makes most people sneaker heads is the status, being able to rotate several pairs carries a lot of hype in the sneaker community.

What will be most exciting for visitors to this event? Any special appearances? Shoes unveiling?

The exciting thing for sneaker heads at the event is being able to shop for pairs that are extremely hard to find. Sneakers that were released 15-20 years ago and are now worth much much more than the initial retail price will be up for grabs.

How many shoes do you own?

I own around 65 pairs but the sole exchange Canada team collectively own hundreds.

Any style tips for shoes? Sneaker etiquette?

My main advice would be to buy and wear what you like, Don’t do it just for the hype. And always protect and keep your sneakers clean.

What else do you have going on?

We have an event in Hamilton next month and we’re continuously looking to bring the show from coast to coast across Canada.

Learn more about The Ultimate Sneaker show at – http://theultimatesneakershow.com

The post Sneakerheads Rejoice, The Ultimate Sneaker Show Returns appeared first on Toronto Guardian.