Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-09
PRESERVATION OF
BOOTS AND SHOES
BY ELIZABETH LEE.

Heat will lessen the wear of leather.
hence shoes which have become damp
should never be placed near the fire to
dry.
incidentally the heat caused by wear
ing rubbers over the shoes is quite as
disastrous as the fire heat. consequently
one should wear the overshoes only when
really necessary. Wet shoes should be
hung in a draught to dry, or, if con-
venient, fill with oats made very hot.
perfectly clean.
When dry after a wetting the leather
will be stiff, but the sofeness can be re-
stored by rubbing in little warm Oil.
If oil is not at hand vaselne may be SUBJ
stituted.
Shoes may be made to last much longer
If they are given good care.
If new shoes are allowed to stand in d
shallow vessel filled with boiled linseed
oil enough to cover the sole only they will
give better wear. This tightens the
leather. After a time hard cOpal var
nish may be painted over the soles, taking
in the edges This preserves the life OF
the leather. Oil acts in the same way ap-
piled to the kid uppers. The oil should be
put on at night, slightly warm. This will
sink in during the night when the shoes
may be polished as usual in the morning.
When the footwear is muddy small
sponge for washing off will do the work
much better than knife, besides being
safer to use. A sharp instrument is apt
to slip and injure the leather.
Few persons need to be told shoes need
a rest as well as feet, SO two or three
pairs should be worn in turn. When not
in use shoes will keep a good shape II
placed on trees. These are very mex
pensive, and anyway the purchase Is an
economy There are, l believe. home
made shoe tree contrivances such as NIL
ing stockings with bran or sawdust, but /
never could see any saving in making
these, because the stockings and filing
would cost as much as the wooden trees.
Beside it seems to me there must be a
bursting some time II the stocking is
filled hard enough to do any good, on ac-
count of the pressure used In getting the
tree in and out of the shoe. Every one
knows how hard it is to sweep up BRAN
So my advice is to let the home made af-
fairs alone.
If shoes squeak, it can be stopped by
running four tiny tacks into the sole of
the shoe, right in the middle, the four
forming a diamond.
When black kid shoes begin to wear
purple the color can be restored by apply
ing mixture made from good black ink
and little pure oil, put on with clean
rag.
A little benzine, gasoline, or any of the
preparations that come for the purpose
will take the soil from white kid, and
when they become too soiled for cleaning
white kid shoes can be easily cleaned at
fittings. 1t takes very little paint for col
bowl of gasoline will make a perfectly
new pair of slippers out of any old
things 1t takes very little pain for col
oring. SO only a very few drops should be
put into the gasoline at first. Mix thor
oughly and then dip bit Of white rag
to test the shade. When just the right
tone paint the slippers with the fluid and
do not forget it is inf1ammable.
There are many preparations sold ready
for use for cleaning white canvas shoes,
each one good, but pipe clay mixed to
stiff paste and applied with soft rag
will be just as good as any. If the shoes
are muddy, they may be scrubbed with
soap and water and after drying thor
oughly are ready for the whiting.
To polish tan shoes sponge off with
little warm water and when quite dry rub
with the inside of banana skin, polish
ing with a soft rag.