Expert Q&A for How to Clean Felt Shoes

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  • Question
    Why did my local shoe repair guy refuse to fix my felt shoes? They explained it, but I couldn't really follow.
    Moe Draper
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Felt is a fundamentally weak material. It's not particularly strong, and it's super easy to damage, stretch, or discolor it if you aren't extremely careful. For this reason, many shoe repair businesses will not work with felt.
  • Question
    Does water damage felt?
    Moe Draper
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It certainly can. Depending on the minerals in the water and the temperature of the water, it can discolor or damage the felt.
  • Question
    Are felt shoes a good choice?
    Moe Draper
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Moe Draper is a Shoe Care and Repair Specialist and the Owner of Detroit Shoe Shine and Shoe Repair. With over 20 years of personal experience, Moe specializes in shoe shining, cosmetic restorations for quality leather goods, and minor/major shoe repair services. Moe and his staff at Detroit Shoe Shine and Repair have over 30 years of combined experience and knowledge.
    Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    No, I'd recommend you get a pair of quality, leather shoes. They'll last much longer and they'll be much easier to keep clean.
  • Question
    How do you clean dirty suede shoes?
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Make sure to always use a brush. A suede brush or some sort of soft, medium-bristle brush will work well. I also recommend using a suede protecting spray. A water repellent protection spray helps protect against dirt as well as water. Suede's a very expensive fabric in some cases, depending on the product, so you want to make sure that you do everything you can to save it. Consider bringing your shoes to a local leather cleaning professional for some extra help.
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