Nothing says summer in Australia more than the feeling of hot concrete on bare feet, but in the warmer weather we do occasionally need to wear sandals.
Every year, 110m shoes are imported into Australia. Since they are made of a medley of materials including leather, plastic, foam, glue, cork and cotton, they biodegrade at a glacial pace. It’s very likely every shoe you’ve ever owned is still sitting in landfill.
With the exception of Tread Lightly, who down-cycle sneakers and slides into children’s play mats – you can find your closest drop off point here – shoes are almost impossible to recycle.
This summer, since it is one of the only ways to reduce their impact, instead of buying new sandals, try extending the life of your old ones. Either follow some simple steps at home, or enlist professional help.
Generally, leather sandals are easier to get back to an almost-new state, but there is still hope for scratched PVC, clapped out Velcro, rusty buckles and even dirty cork soles.
Wash and condition your sandals
The fastest way to refresh your sandals is to make sure they’re really clean. “Start by using a soft bristle brush to gently remove any loose dust and dirt from the surface,” says Jessica Jarrett, a marketing and operations associate from SoleHeeled.
Once any debris is removed, stuff the sandals with a wad of tissue paper or a shoe tree to help keep their shape. Take a cleaning agent (Jarrett recommends Angelus Easy Cleaner which works on all materials) and using a cloth, work the product into the surface before wiping away the excess.
In a pinch, this can be done with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap, the founder of Shane’s Shoe Repairs, Shane Barr, says. Use this step for rubber, leather or plastic sandals. Leave your sandals in a shaded, well ventilated space to dry.
Conditioner like Saphir Creme Universelle or Tarrago Shoe Cream “will nourish the leather and keep it healthy”, Jarrett says.
For sandals that have been scuffed or discoloured, conditioner can be followed with a restorative cream or a water-based dye. “Buff [sandals] with a soft cloth if you want more shine,” says Barr. Finally, protect your shoes with a waterproof spray.
Extra care needs to be taken when cleaning sandals with cork foot beds, which are not waterproof. Birkenstock sells a shoe cleaner with a sponge specially designed for cork. If they are beyond redemption, a cobbler can also replace cork foot beds.
Get new soles fitted
Usually, the first things to wear out on shoes are the soles and the heels. Prevention is better than a cure, and Jarrett says having a cobbler attach rubber soles to the bottom of new sandals will “significantly improve both longevity and traction”.
“While we recommend having them installed on shoes when new, they can be fitted on lightly or moderately worn shoes,” she says.
When you have worn out the soles or heels of your sandals, a cobbler can level off the bottom before attaching new leather or rubber ones over the top. If you have worn through the inner sole, a skilled cobbler will be able to replace this too.
How to handle buckles and Velcro
Your ability to refresh shoe buckles will largely be dictated by their quality. There’s not much that can be done to bring plastic buckles back to life, but if your buckles are made of metal, you have a few options.
The first is to remove any rust by spraying them with a rust buster or some vinegar and then using a wire brush to scrub away any remnants. A scratched buckle can be freshened up using a polishing cream and cloth to buff out marks and give the metal some shine, Jarrett says. If the buckles are broken or deeply scratched, a cobbler will be able to replace them and potentially mend any broken straps.
“There’s two sides to the Velcro story,” Barr says. “The hooks, which are prickly, and the loops which are fluffy.” Usually, the fluffy side gets worn out and stops the Velcro from working, when this happens it’s best to take your sandals to a professional who can unstitch the fluffy side of the Velcro and stitch a new one on (this can be done at home if you are confident on a sewing machine and can handle thick material).
Sometimes, the prickly hooks become a problem because they can “attract all sorts of fluff and debris – over time this restricts the hooks’ ability to attach to the loops on the ‘soft’ side,” the managing director of Remote Equipment Repairs, Ray King, says. When this happens, “you can use a small pin to dig the fluff and debris out to try and get the hooks unclogged”.
When in doubt, defer to a professional
“Many leather care products are designed with specific types of leather in mind, and can cause damage if they’re used incorrectly,” Jarrett says. Make sure you know what material your sandals are made from and select products accordingly. “We also suggest spot testing any products on small, inconspicuous areas before applying them to the entire shoe,” she says.
For anything of sentimental value, it’s probably best to defer to an expert who can take care of everything from cleaning to replacing hardware. Many shoe repairers, including SoleHeeled, offer shipping services if you are short on time.
I have paid to have leather sandals restored by a professional cobbler and cleaned up old reef shoes myself. Both experiences left me with a particular sense of satisfaction, not just because of the environmental benefits but also because it’s gratifying to see products you’ve spent good money on continue to be beautiful and useful.
