![\"Shining](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/\/2011\/11\/Shoe-Care-2.jpg\" "\\"Shoe")
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**Please Note: The toothpaste trick does not work on every kind of shoe. Be sure to test the toothpaste on a small spot on the shoe to ensure compatibility with your particular leather.**<\/p>\n
Illustration by Ted Slampyak<\/em><\/p>\n 1. Shine your shoes after you buy them and before you wear them. Shine them regularly for as long as you own them.<\/p>\n 2. When you remove your shoes, insert a cedar shoe tree to draw out inner moisture and reshape the leather.<\/p>\n 3. Remove a salt stain as quickly as possible by lightly applying a mixture of 2\/3 water, 1\/3 vinegar with a rag, wiping off with clean damp rag, and drying with a towel.<\/p>\n 4. Waterproof your shoes with mink oil (may darken the color of the leather), a wax-based polish (light protection) or a specialty waterproofing compound (heavier protection).<\/p>\n 5. Clean your shoes regularly to remove dirt, stains, and layers of built-up polish. Use a specialty leather cleaner, saddle soap, Murphy\u2019s oil soap, or Ivory soap and avoid products that contain detergents or acids.<\/p>\n 6. To keep your shoes from drying out, every few months apply a specialty moisturizing conditioner or buff in a dab of petroleum jelly.<\/p>\n 7. If your shoes are wet, stuff them wih newspaper or small towel to draw out the moisture. Replace the paper\/towels periodically as they get saturated. Never place your shoes near a heat source; this can dry out and crack the leather.<\/p>\n 8. Remove scuff marks by rubbing the scuff with non-gel toothpaste. Rinse, wipe, and let dry.<\/p>\n 9. When your shoes become really worn out, send them back to the manufacturer for refurbishing or resoling instead of buying a new pair.<\/p>\n Like this illustrated guide? Then you\u2019re going to love our book The Illustrated Art of Manliness<\/em><\/a>! Pick up a copy on Amazon<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n