August 24, 2016

Seasonal shoe care

weather map and leather boot (artistic featured image)

Here is the schedule we share with our customers to ensure that the shoes they want to wear are ready when they want to wear them. Since we’re in Wisconsin where we experience all four seasons we have divided this checklist into Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Going over your shoes and accessories before the season begins ensures that they’ll be ready when you reach for them.

Get ready for summer in spring. Prepare for autumn in summer

Get Ready for Summer in March, April, and May Check over summer shoes and sandals.

  • Cleaning/conditioning
  • Heels/soles
  • Elastic/buckles/Velcro
Birkenstocks! Hiking Boots! Take anything that needs repair to your local cobbler in March to make sure that it will be ready when summer rolls around. Clean, condition, and waterproof your shoes and sandals as needed. Check on your outdoor gear, too - give your gardening gloves some TLC.

Prepare for Autumn in June, July, and August Check over fall shoes and boots.

  • Cleaning/conditioning
  • Heels/soles
  • Elastic/buckles/Velcro
  • Zippers

Take anything that needs repair to your local cobbler in June to make sure you’re ready when the leaves turn. Fall tends to be one of the busiest times for cobblers and rush jobs may not be possible. Clean, condition, and waterproof your shoes and boots as needed. Check over book and lunch bags for back to school season.


Brace for winter in autumn. Think spring in winter.

Brace for Winter in September, October, and November

Check over winter boots and parkas.

  • Cleaning/conditioning
  • Waterproofing
  • Grippy soles
  • Zippers
Take anything that needs repair to your local cobbler in September to make sure that it will be ready when the snow starts flying. Be sure to apply waterproofer!

Think Spring in December, January, and February

Check over spring shoes and rain jackets.

  • Cleaning/conditioning
  • Waterproofing
  • Heels/soles
  • Zippers
Take anything that needs repair to your local cobbler in December to make sure that it will be ready for the thaw. Spring can get soggy. No time for holes in your soles.

Keep an eye on everyday things like work shoes and bags to make sure you catch damage before it gets really bad. It helps if you don’t have to bring in all of your shoes for repair at once. It’s good to get in the habit of taking items in for repair as soon as possible. It’s easy to forget the damage only to find your favorite things unusable just when you need them.