Allow Your Shoes to Cool Down
Passive Shoe Care
One aspect of passive shoe care is how we handle our shoes after taking them off. For a refresher, passive shoe care involves maintaining shoes through actions other than physically cleaning them with dedicated products. It relies on developing habits that we perform unconsciously and automatically, which helps our shoes stay in good condition for a long time.
How to Remove Shoes Safely
Part of passive shoe care includes proper shoe storage (a topic deserving of its own discussion), but before we store our shoes, we need to remove them, and this involves a few key steps. First, removing shoes should be preceded by loosening the laces thoroughly or unfastening the straps in the case of monk shoes.
What to Avoid When Removing Shoes
Next, let’s discuss how not to remove shoes. Avoid taking off shoes by using the toe of one shoe to press against the heel of the other. This method can lead to damage to the toes and heels. Consequences of this approach include potential damage to the leather sole around the toe area and wear on the edge of the sole, as well as the risk of scuffing and dirtying the leather around the heel.
The best way to remove shoes is while seated. If sitting isn’t possible or preferred, try to remove shoes by grasping the heel area with your hand and smoothly pulling them off while simultaneously moving your foot in the opposite direction. Well-fitting (size-wise) and properly prepared (with loosened laces/straps) shoes should slide off your feet with minimal effort. There’s no need for a tight grip; squeezing the heel can actually hinder the removal process.
What’s Next?
Here’s the crux of today’s post – Allow Your Shoes to Cool Down.
After a day of wear, the inside of shoes can feel like a tropical climate. The temperature around 36.6°C and varying levels of moisture depending on individual perspiration levels are normal. Leather shoes can handle these conditions well, as leather is a breathable material. It maintains a comfortable temperature balance between the ambient temperature and our body temperature. However, after removing the shoes, it’s beneficial to give them 10-15 minutes to equilibrate to room temperature and allow moisture to evaporate. During this time, shoes should be left in an open space, at room temperature, and without shoe trees inserted. Avoid exposing them to UV light, such as leaving them in the sun, for optimal results.
Why Shouldn’t We Insert Shoe Trees Immediately After Removing Shoes?
The main reason is to use the elevated temperature inside the shoes to help with moisture evaporation. Evaporation depends on temperature and pressure. If we assume the pressure in the space where we leave our shoes is constant, we can only influence moisture evaporation through temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster the moisture evaporates. Inserting shoe trees lowers the internal temperature of the shoes because the shoe trees are cooler, and both the inside of the shoe and the shoe trees will strive to reach thermal equilibrium (did I just describe entropy and the second law of thermodynamics using shoes?
Additionally, inserting shoe trees significantly limits air circulation and exchange, which is crucial for cooling and moisture removal. However, avoid placing shoes near heat sources, like radiators, even if they are completely soaked.
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