How Long Do Cheap Shoes Last?


How Long Do Cheap Shoes Last

Everyone has a favorite pair of shoes that they want to last forever; maybe it is because of the look or comfort, or perhaps you got them as a gift from a loved one. Whatever the case, all you need to do to keep them looking at their best is to care for them well. However, that’s not always so simple with cheaper shoes. 

How long do cheap shoes last? Typically, shoes have a lifespan of eight to 12 months with regular use; the average pair can be worn to walk between 300 and 400 miles before they wear out. However, when it comes to cheap shoes, the better they’re made, the longer they’ll last. For example, leather shoes usually see a longer lifespan compared to other types.

Shoes require upkeep, no matter if they’re dress shoes or your favorite pair of running shoes.  The remainder of this article will cover a few amazing techniques to keep even the cheapest shoes looking their best. 



The Lifespan of Cheap Shoes

cheap shoe life span

There’s a divide in the kind of shoes that last longer. Typically, shoes made of leather or suede last months—even years longer if they’re treated well; polishing, conditioning, and wiping leather shoes dry after being wet can keep them in great condition.

On the other hand, shoes made from man-made materials typically don’t fare as well. They contain synthetic materials that have a life span, and the threads that are sown will pull away from the foam or rubber soles from which they’re fastened.  

Cheap shoes are usually cheap because of how they are sourced, produced, and shipped in quantity. Basically, the factory can produce a lot of them from overseas production facilities where sourced materials are procured at a much cheaper rate by bulk, and the man-hours to provide the service to make them is also significantly reduced. 

Whatever can get the job done cheapest affords the wholesaler, shipper, exporter, etc., the luxury of making a profit while passing the low price down to the consumer. So, cheaper shoes with poor quality materials don’t last as long as ones that may be a bit more durable due to real leather and suede. 


Another factor is the way the shoe is bound to the sole. Typically, one formed mold onto the sole lasts longer because the wear and tear of wearing them over time will pull the seams apart and wear the soles down to the real guts of the shoe.

So, if you get a cheap shoe with real leather or suede, you can keep it longer than paying less money on the front end and having to rebuy another pair later to replace the first ones. If you’re looking for the cheapest route, buy a better quality pair and pay a few extra bucks to make these shoes last longer rather than double your money on a new pair in a year. 

Knowing you bought a kind of shoe that will last can do wonders, not just for your budget, but also for your peace of mind. You can worry less about where you go and what you do with those shoes and focus more on the places you’ll go to and the people you will be with.

Once you find the shoes at the price point that fits your budget and your style, there are a lot of ways to keep them looking and feeling great. Even if you buy a pair made from synthetic or man-made materials, the following offers some wonderful tips in keeping your shoes looking and feeling great no matter what shoes you choose to wear.


Finding Cheap Shoes to Your Liking

Finding that perfect pair of shoes to cradle your feet is essential, but first, you need to make sure you have a quality pair, to begin with. Don’t go for poor-quality shoes when you want to make sure the pair will last. You don’t have to spend a lot to get good cheap shoes.

For Example, I looked for athletic shoes on Amazon.com and found a cheap shoe with a good rating overall. (see picture)

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03/10/2024 07:21 am GMT

There’s a lot of brands and styles out there. You, as a shopper, need to be aware of quality, not just price. 

If you find a pair of shoes you like by aren’t up to spec, consider these restorative methods you can use to bring them up to your liking:

  • Fix your balance with Mudder Heel Plates, (Amazon) for those uneven soles that always roll your ankle, even when you are not moving. 
  • Get some support. Contrary to popular belief, not all back pain is due to slouching, poor posture, or heavy lifting. You can get back pain from the support you lack in your soles. Consider using an insole in your shoes for added comfort.

Best Practices for Shoe Care

shoe care

Once you have found your pair, here are some best practices to keep them looking like new:

  • You can seal them to ensure they are not damaged by the elements, stains, or blemishes.
  • Bring out the sheen by keeping leather shoes nice and polished. 
  • Keep the shoes filled with newspaper or a wooden shoe tree to maintain their shape.
  • Leave some deodorizers in them to keep them smelling great. 
  • When you’re not wearing them, keep them tucked away in a dustless bag or shoebox. 
  • Rotate your shoes often to keep old and new shoes fresh. 
  • When the soles of the shoes begin to go out—as the soles of any shoe will do—get them to a cobbler to fix and re-sole them.
  • Repurpose your shoes by sprucing up their laces, buckles, or clasps. 

Protecting Your Shoes

protect shoes

Shoes are like clothes. When you buy clothes from the store that are later exposed to the elements, they will get stained, creased, even suffer from wear and tear year after year. 

Fortunately, unlike clothes, you can protect your shoes from this kind of wear by treating them with a sealant. As soon as you bring your new shoes home, the first thing you need to do is seal them with a water-resistant compound. This process is simple, takes minimal time, and can ensure your shoes’ longevity. 

To seal your shoes, you’ll need to invest in a waterproofing compound (Amazon). This protective solution is meant to help seal the outer layer of your shoes against water and stains. Simply spray a coat over the outside of your shoes and allow them to rest for a few hours or until the surface is dry.  

After they have dried, you can begin wearing them in rainy or wet conditions with confidence.  


Stain Care

Any pair of shoes, cheap or not, can end up with stains. You may begin to see the signs as soon as you wear them for the first time out. However, generally, you can treat the stains with color-safe bleach and a good rinse. 

Removing Difficult Oil Stains

Almost everyone has felt that sinking feeling after dropping cooking or car oil on their favorite pair of shoes. It can be frustrating since oil stains can be difficult to work out of clothes and shoes in general. However, baby powder is a proven solution that can soak up the oil and leave a pleasant fresh smell behind. (Note: This method is not effective on suede material.)

Protecting Shoes from Snow & Salt Combinations

Salts can do amazing work on eliminating a dangerous wintery mix for car tires, but they’re not meant for your shoes. It can leave corrosive salts on your shoes that lead to unpleasant-looking white streaks and stains. 

If you live in an area that has snow and salted roads during the winter, the following recipe can help you remove snow and salt stains:

  • One part vinegar
  • Three parts of water
  • A small towel

Dip the towel in the solution and wipe these ripples of stains away. You’ll need to scrub areas where there are concentrated stains. Afterward, allow the shoe to air dry. 


Blot Out Blemishes

If your shoes are leather, use a leather moisturizer (Amazon) by following the manufacturer’s instructions to blot out any blemishes. A solution like this can be used to help keep the color and look of your shoes intact across many seasons. 


Bring Out Their Shine

shoe shine

The leather of all types is simply beautiful, so you would want to keep it that way when it comes to your shoes. Use some leather polish (Amazon) to bring out the sheen of leather material. This process may include conditioning and moisturizing the shoes after the polish has dried to allow its natural luster to come through. 

Make sure when you’re choosing a polish that it is the correct type for your shoes. 


Maintain their Shape

maintain shoe shape

Every shoe, when worn, conforms to your feet to protect it. However, when you’re not out and about in your favorite clodhoppers, it’s important to help them stay in shape, so they don’t warp and no longer fit your feet properly. 

Try filling them with a wooden shoe tree or cramming them with newspaper. Wooden shoe trees (Amazon) can be purchased on Amazon or at any department store. They generally fit all ranges of shoe types and sizes. Have a look through the various options and pick what works best for you.

Newspaper or butcher paper works great as a less costly option for filling your shoes. Just use old newspapers to fill in the toes area and stuff as much as you can to maintain the original shape and keep them in form.

Make sure when you’re filling your shoes with newspapers that they’re clean and dry. You don’t want to taint them with mildew or bacteria that can end up on your socks or feet later. This also helps reduce the chance of smelly shoes that can’t seem to lose their odor.


Preventing & Eliminating Odor

shoe odor control

Most shoes eventually have an odor to them after frequent use. No matter if it’s due to sweat or age, a few odor eaters will do wonders to bring a new, fresh scent to your shoes. Odor eaters can be purchased online or from your local shoe outlet or department store. 

Alternatively, you can also create or use a few homemade remedies, such as:

  • Leaving cotton balls soaked with lavender or peppermint oil inside the shoes.
  • Adding a bag of activated charcoal that can absorb odors. 

Proper Storage

shoe storage

Leaving your shoes in a clean, dry storage area will reduce the chances of mildew growth or collecting unwanted dust bunnies or bacteria. Here are some time-saving tips to keep your pair of shoes looking great:

  • Keep them in the closet on the top shelf. Top shelves are high enough that pests won’t find shelter in them. Before putting them up, make sure they’re clean. 
  • Use a dust-proof container. Dust can collect on everything, even shoes. With made of certain types of material, such as suede, dust is harder to brush off, so it’s important that you store your shoes in a clean, covered container. Dry containers can also help keep out moisture. 
  • Insert a shoe tree before storage. As mentioned before, shoe trees can help maintain the form of the shoes; leaving a shoe tree inside before storage will ensure that your shoes come out of storage, looking just as new as when you first bought them. 

Rotating Shoes

Rotate What shoes You Wear

Mix up your wardrobe and wear your shoes out when it’s appropriate. Try swapping them out with other pairs you own. The following are a few examples of ways you can avoid over-wearing your shoes. 

  • Reserve nicer shoes for a special occasion or outing. 
  • For running shoes, only use them for that purpose rather than everyday use. If you are going to town on a jog through the park, make sure you wear your shoes for their function and bring another pair for driving instead. 
  • Go shoeless. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily need to wear shoes for every outing; for example, you won’t always need to wear them in the pool or at the beach (unless they’re water shoes).
  • Keep a few different pairs of shoes on hand. If you’re fond of one specific pair of shoes, have at least have two to three more pairs around as back up. 

Keep the Soles Intact

Each pair of old shoes eventually “loses its grip” on life. They may feel great when you wear them around the house, but instantly turn into water skis when you walk in puddles or snow outside. This is due to gradual wear on their soles, normally due to frequently walking on rough terrain or sidewalks. 

If you notice that your shoe soles are becoming thin, a local cobbler can re-sole them for you. Cobblers can even help restore a shoe’s tongue or any tears present.  


Spruce the Shoes Up

Spruce the Shoes Up

If your shoes use laces that are starting to look worn, swap them out for new laces to give your shoes a brand-new look. There’s not a rule that says you have to stick to the same type or color of your old laces either; pick out a few different colors you like.

You can also change up the way you lace your shoes to keep things fresh or remove the laces entirely for a lace-less look. No-tie shoelaces (Amazon) are another option you could try. 

If your shoes use buckles or clasps, you can use a metal polish to make those fasteners sparkle. 


Final Tips for Maintaining Shoe Life

cheap shoe life span
  • Save the backs of your shoe from bending or creasing by using a shoehorn (Amazon) to help get your heels in a position to put them on. 
  • Clean up your shoes at the first sign of staining; the faster you do this, the less likely the stain has a chance to settle in. 
  • Never put your shoes in the washing machine; this will rip or even shrink them because of the synthetic materials used in them. Simply spot treat, wipe, and let dry. This will work wonders on your old soles. 
  • Avoid submerging your shoes in water; this can not only damage the shoe but can also lead to mildew growth if they are not dried properly. 
  • If your rubber soles are going out, try rubber toe taps. They are meant to glue on the bottom of your soles under your toes. They can extend the life of your soles and give you a few more months for a buck. They also help with grip and keeping you safe from potential slips and falls.
  • Consider the weather, the elements, and also the functionality of your shoes as you care for them. Whether it’s an everyday or business professional shoe, consider your treatment options. 
  • If applicable, wear breathable socks before your slip your feet into your shoes. This will prevent excess moisture from sweat to form in the shoe. 

Conclusion

Why spend extra money frequently buying replacement shoes when you can just as easily use proper care to ensure your current shoes last well beyond their lifespan? With the above tips, you can hold onto your favorite shoes for much longer and be glad to keep them! 

Thanks for visiting Helpshoe.com


References:

https://www.solescience.ca/how-worn-is-worn-out/

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/how-to/a40487/how-to-make-your-shoes-last-longer/

https://www.bustle.com/articles/168189-how-to-make-old-shoes-look-new-again-with-10-genius-hacks

https://www.verywellfit.com/when-should-i-replace-my-walking-shoes-3436325

https://www.rd.com/beauty/make-shoes-last-longer/

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