Drying shoes properly

First Aid for Wet Leather

We are often asked how to best dry wet shoes.

First, things you should definitely NOT do:

Do not place shoes on the heater or in the sun, or use a hairdryer. Heat dries out the leather and makes it porous, and sun can discolour the leather. These damages cannot be repaired later, even with care products.
Take off wet shoes as quickly as possible, as wet shoes can quickly lose their shape under stress. So, take off your shoes, remove the laces and open the shoe as wide as possible. For boots, open the zipper so that the shaft is open.
The gentlest way to dry your shoes for the leather is at normal room temperature and with good ventilation. You can stuff the wet shoes with newspaper, or alternatively with paper towels.
When stuffing the shoe or boot, pay attention to the original shape of the shoe. Avoid stuffing the shoe so tightly that it deforms or gets dents, as leather, especially vegetable-tanned leather, is soft and easily deformable when wet.
If the paper becomes soaked and damp, replace it with new paper. If the shoe is very wet, it can take one to two days for it to dry completely.

If your wet shoes have leather soles, you should hang them by the laces to dry. Alternatively, you can simply lay the shoes on their side. It is important that air can also reach the leather soles.
If the shoe is only slightly damp, it is advisable to put it on wooden shoe trees to remove any wrinkles or dents. This restores the shoe to its original shape.
In general, a good shoe tree is essential for maintaining the shape for as long as possible. Remember that shoes can get wet not only externally, but especially perspiration causes your shoes to be damp inside after every use (but especially when it's hot). Immediately after wearing shoes, shoe trees made of cedar wood or untreated beech wood are extremely important. These absorb moisture and thus help to optimize the drying process. They should be used immediately after taking off the shoe (or boot) to maintain the fit. Without good shoe trees, even the best shoe quickly looks old and worn.
Important: Once your shoes are dry, never store them in a plastic bag or tightly closed box. Your shoe will not be able to breathe, which has a very bad effect on its lifespan. Simply leave your shoes in a well-ventilated room until you use them again.

Properly Drying Leather Handbags

If you get caught in a rain shower with your handbag, there's no need to worry. First, gently blot the bag with absorbent paper towels or kitchen roll, without rubbing the leather. Then, hang the bag over a chair back or, alternatively, with the shoulder strap over a clothes hanger, which you then hang so that the bag is ventilated from all sides. Let the bag dry undisturbed. Again, do NOT put it on the heater or dry it with a hairdryer!

Drying Leather Trousers and Leather Jackets

Similar to bags, it is important that leather jackets or leather trousers are evenly ventilated from all sides when drying. First, gently blot the moisture with paper towels – please do not rub. Then hang the leather jacket on a hanger. Hang the jacket so that it is well ventilated from all sides. Turn the jacket after about 1 day so that it can also dry inside. You've heard it so many times, but it cannot be repeated often enough: leather clothing must never be placed on a radiator or treated with a hairdryer. Drying takes time, but the leather will thank you for it!