If your shoes get wet - 7 recipes to make any shoes waterproof and water-repellent

Why do boots get wet in winter?

The sole has come off. Most often, such a “wet matter” is associated precisely with damage to the sole or its poor-quality “adhesion” to the boot itself.
Poorly made shoes. Cheap boots “2 pairs for the price of 1” are always of poor quality. Manufacturers use low-quality materials, and the production process leaves much to be desired. Considering that suede and leather themselves do not allow moisture to pass through, we can confidently talk about poor-quality seams or the presence of holes and cracks.
Chemical reagents. They are used to sprinkle roads in the winter, and it’s no secret that such products can “kill” even the strongest boots in one winter.
Lack of special impregnation on shoes (note: the manufacturer’s task).
Synthetic materials. Frost causes artificial leather and other synthetic materials to crack, as a result of which shoes also lose their “moisture resistance.”

So that when winter begins you don’t have to urgently fork out money for a second pair of shoes, purchase them in advance .

What shoes don't slip in winter?

Waterproof shoes.

The lucky ones who managed to choose shoes that would not get wet need not read further. For those who are acutely concerned about keeping their shoes from getting wet, here are our tips.

Why do shoes get wet?

There are several reasons why shoes get wet:

peeled, damaged shoe soles.
poor-quality connection of the sole with the shoe or boot (uneven, missing seams, the presence of holes and microcracks).
poor quality product. This includes poor quality material and irregularities in the shoe manufacturing process.
contact of shoes with chemical reagents. Sprinkling the streets with anti-ice chemicals is certainly necessary. However, our shoes and boots suffer from this, become deformed and begin to get wet.
Initially, during the production process, the product was not treated with a special impregnation that makes the shoes waterproof.
artificial leather and synthetic material cannot withstand severe frosts, crack and lose moisture resistance.

First of all, both when purchasing and when leaking, we pay attention to the sole. The cause of wet feet is often due to poor quality or damaged soles. It is unlikely that you are walking through deep puddles. In order to get your feet wet in shoes with poor-quality or damaged soles, it is not necessary to stand ankle-deep in water for a long time. In most cases, shoes get wet not because of the base material, but because of problems with the sole. So we inspect the sole and take the following measures:

if the sole is poorly glued, then it must either be re-glued or stitched. Since only a few have the talents of shoemakers, you will have to take the problematic product for stitching or gluing to a shoe workshop.
soles with defects in the form of cracks or holes can be treated with drying oil. First, sand the sole a little, then apply drying oil and leave to dry. If you doubt your own abilities, you can install outsoles on the original sole in problem areas. Only this should be entrusted to the master.
Poor quality seams are coated (impregnated) with any water-repellent cream or spray for waterproof shoes. There are folk remedies to put on your shoes to prevent them from getting wet. But more about them below.

Advice
so as not to worry about how to treat your shoes in the future so that they don’t get wet, when purchasing boots or boots, pay special attention to checking the quality of the seams and soles.

Prepare your first pair for winter with the help of simple tips and specialists from a shoe workshop:

We evaluate the integrity of the sole, seams, leather and accessories.
We wash and clean the surface.
We change heels (if necessary) and strengthen the heels.
We sew (strengthen) the seams.
Reinforce (if necessary) the sole. This preventive measure will help compact the sole, protect it from rapid abrasion and provide anti-slip properties. It is important to ensure that the master uses only high-quality material that will be resistant to reagents and frost. For example, wear-resistant rubber or polyurethane. Such a budget option as resit (note – and microporous rubber) should be abandoned.

You can also...

Impregnate poor-quality seams with a special agent with water-repellent properties. True, this manipulation will have to be repeated periodically.
Dry the cracks and holes (note - sand the surface, and then apply drying oil and wait for it to dry).
Install outsoles (rolling) on top of your sole if you do not want to change it completely.
Buy fat-containing (nutrient) products for leather shoes. They will restore elasticity to the boots and prevent cracking.
Buy creams/aerosols based on beeswax for patent leather shoes.
Find special products for shoes with breathable membranes. Such products will enhance the water-repellent effect and support pore breathing.

How to choose the right shoe size - tables of all shoe sizes for adults

Strengthening the water-repellent properties of leather shoes: 7 best “folk” recipes

Lamb lard (about 50 g) + flax oil (about 50 g) + regular turpentine (10 g). Mix the ingredients, having previously melted the lard, and apply the still warm mixture to the boots using a soft cloth.
Wax + flax oil. Melt 30 g of wax (you can use paraffin) over low heat and mix with pre-purchased linseed oil (10 g is enough). Apply the warm mixture to the boots and gently rub in with a woolen cloth.
Castor oil. As a rule, every girl has it. But it is recommended to use it exclusively for rough skin (note: it will ruin thin skin). Simply rub the oil into the leather surface and polish.
Beeswax (about 20 g) + regular turpentine (about 10-15 g) + crushed rosin (no more than 50 g). Mix all ingredients and apply to boots with a soft cloth. Wait for absorption.
Glycerin (about 20 g) + liquid fish oil (40 g) + turpentine (about 30 g) + beeswax (about 10 g). Mix everything, melt over low heat and mix with glycerin. Next, apply the mixture to the shoes.
Castor oil + any animal fat. We take these components in equal proportions, after melting the fat. Next, mix them and apply the mixture to the shoes and their seams.
Wax or paraffin. Rub the boots with a candle until the surface is completely covered. Next, we heat this wax coating evenly using a hairdryer. An ingenious recipe that reliably saves shoes from getting wet.

How to make shoes waterproof at home

The water-repellent (hydrophobic) properties of any protective cream are maintained in it with the help of a high content of wax and fat. And it’s not difficult to purchase such products cheaply or prepare them at home. There are some effective and simple recipes that will help protect your shoes from getting wet.

Treat leather shoes and boots with Vaseline. To do this, you need to lubricate the entire surface of the shoe with this product, and especially carefully saturate all the joints and seams.

You can prepare the following composition:

Rendered lamb lard and flaxseed oil - equal proportions.
Turpentine - 1/5 of the volume of lard and oil.

All components are mixed and the warm mixture is applied to the boots using a flannelette rag.

Use an effective water-repellent cream that you can prepare at home. To do this, you need to take wax (can be replaced with paraffin) and linseed oil in a ratio of three to one, respectively. The wax should be melted, linseed oil should be added to it, and the resulting mixture should be rubbed into shoes or boots.

To enhance the protective properties of rough skin, you can use castor oil. After the procedure of rubbing into leather material, the shoes must be polished. To increase the water resistance of the product, animal fat can be added.

Beeswax is an excellent way to protect boots from getting wet. If you add crushed rosin and turpentine to it, you will get an effective water-repellent cream, which in its protective properties is not much different from its factory-made counterparts. To prepare this product you will need:

Beeswax - 20 gr.
Turpentine - 10 gr.
Rosin - 50 gr.

Another good recipe from ingredients you already know:

Turpentine - 30 gr.
Beeswax - 10 gr.
Liquid fish oil - 40 g.
Glycerin - 20 gr.

To prepare this shoe polish, you need to successively mix turpentine, beeswax and fish oil. Melt the mixture over low heat and then add glycerin. Warm cream is applied to leather shoes.

It is also important to apply it correctly!

Method of 3rd application of impregnation. We apply the product to shoes three times with an interval between procedures of 1 day. Only after such a procedure can you be sure of the reliability of your shoes.
Using a spray, we spray it not with one “spray” , but until the product stops being absorbed into the structure of the shoe.
When using impregnation on old shoes, we first thoroughly clean the surface of the shoe, then wash it and dry it thoroughly. And only then can you apply the product.
Choosing the right product! For example, oily water-repellent creams are only suitable for rough leather, while for other materials it is better to use sprays and emulsions. It is also worth noting that leatherette is not able to absorb oils and sprays.

How to soak shoes so they don't get wet.

You can protect your boots or boots with the help of special means to protect shoes from getting wet. Such creams and sprays are sold in any shoe store. Among the protective agents, the most effective ones should be noted:

Salamander Universal SMS. This spray for shoes, so as not to get wet, is designed for any material (leather, suede, textiles). It not only protects boots from moisture and dirt, but also takes care of the appearance of the product.
Ecco. It is a fast-acting spray because it dries in a matter of seconds. It differs in that when used, shoes become not only waterproof, but also remain breathable.
Salamander. A rich cream designed to prevent leather shoes from getting wet. It has high water-repellent properties, helps restore shine, paints over abrasions, and eliminates roughness. The cream contains natural wax.
Collonil Nanopro. You won’t find a better way than treating nubuck shoes to prevent them from getting wet. It can also be successfully used to create the thinnest, invisible, absolutely impenetrable and deep film on leather boots, velor ankle boots, and textile boots.
Kiwi AquaStop is intended not only for natural materials, but also for artificial leather.
Rough leather boots or shoes can be protected from moisture and salts using Grangers G-Wax impregnation cream.
100% protection is also provided by high-quality Swedish impregnation SMS Olvist. This is an excellent way to treat suede shoes so that they don’t get wet or warp.

How to treat shoes with store-bought protective products to prevent them from getting wet.

Proper application, not just purchase, can protect your shoes from moisture absorption and keep your feet comfortable.

Before applying the protective agent, clean the boots from dirt, wash them and leave until completely dry.
A one-time spray of the spray will not be enough. You need to spray the product until the aerosol stops being absorbed into the material of the boots or shoes.
water-repellent creams are applied three times with a time interval of one day between applications. Only then will the cream begin to work.

Advice

When choosing a cream to prevent your winter shoes from getting wet, pay attention to the percentage of fats included in the product. It must be at least 40%.

You should lubricate your shoes to prevent them from getting wet either a couple of hours before going outside. It’s better to carry out this procedure a day before going out.

Advice

We remember that we use cream for leather boots, and aerosol for suede, nubuck and textiles.

Important!

If you purchased expensive shoes for the winter, and they got wet in the first week of winter, you have every right to contact the seller and demand a refund or an equivalent exchange .

It is recommended to keep the receipt!

If the seller refuses, according to the law, you can insist on an independent examination procedure and sue, demanding reimbursement of all your costs, the amount spent on shoes, as well as payment for moral damages.

The site Colady.ru thanks you for your attention to the article! We will be very pleased if you share your recipes for making boots or shoes waterproof!