If you love your sneakers just like I do, then we all consider them our jewels. Whether they’re an exclusive limited release or a general release, we clean our shoes like it’s a religion. Sneakers are an investment in your comfort and appearance. If properly taken care of, your shoes will serve as a complement to your wardrobe for years to come. To best protect your sneakers, I recommend the following:

1. Waterproofing and stain proofing.Doing this is an excellent way to protect your sneakers from water, snow, mud, and spills. Spray your sneakers before wearing them for the first time and on a regular basis thereafter.

2. Maintenance.Clean your sneakers on a regular basis, depending on how often you use each pair. The cleaning method depends on the shoe's material. Leather can be polished and conditioned with a leather lotion applied with a soft cloth. Suede looks best when brushed; although special suede brushes are available, a clean toothbrush works just as well. Fabric should be sprayed with a stain guard.

3. StorageIt's a must to keep the original box your sneakers come in. By keeping the shoe boxes you can easily store and stack your shoe boxes. You can either keep the paper wrap or recycle it, but do keep the cardboard inserts. They help keep the form of the toe box. If you plan to build custom shoe boxes, shelving or any other storage unit for your boxes, then try building with cedar wood if you can afford it. Why cedar wood? Cedar wood is very durable (decay-resistant), moisture resistant and scented to keep moths away. And we all know how much of an enemy moisture can be to sneakers.

Clean your sneakers on a regular basis, depending on how often you use each pair. The cleaning method depends on the shoe's material. Leather can be polished and conditioned with a leather lotion applied with a soft cloth. Suede looks best when brushed; although special suede brushes are available, a clean toothbrush works just as well. Fabric should be sprayed with a stain guard.
I never recommend putting sneakers in the laundry washing machine because the aggressive cleaning breaks down the glue that holds your sneakers together, which eventually leads to your sneakers breaking apart.

Follow this cleaning tip for shoes with suede.

If your shoes that have suede gets stained or has mud. Wait until the mud is dry, and then brush off the dirt with a suede brush. Make sure your sneakers are dry, and use a suede cleaning brush to gently brush away dust or dirt. Brush in the same direction (don't go back and forth) to lift dirt out and make your sneakers appear new again. For scuffs that are too matted down to respond to the brush, try scraping the area with a knife to lift the nap. For stubborn marks in the suede, try rubbing the dirt out with a pencil eraser or a piece of crepe rubber (the crinkled rubber that many shoe soles are made from). Use a sponge to wipe excess water and water stains off the shoe. Remember, water can discolor suede. To solve this problem, wet the entire outside of the sneaker by applying a light coat of water with a nail brush. Use a sponge or dry cloth to soak up excess water and then let the shoes dry at least overnight. Be sure to insert a shoe tree or stuff paper into the shoe while it dries so that the shoe doesn't shrink or lose its form. Once the sneakers are dry, go over them lightly with a suede brush. Protecting suede.
Protect your suede by spraying a coat of suede protector spray on your shoes when you first get them and after each cleaning. Follow the manufacturer's directions and make sure to remove excess dirt before spraying the shoes. Always place the shoe inserts back into the shoes after each wear. I highly recommend shoe trees if you can afford them because they help retain the shape and mold of your sneakers. If some of you have creased toe boxes, then you know what happens to them over time whey they’re not stuffed. They get flat and worn. Using shoe trees can help prolong the life of a shoe by 4 or 5 years. Wood shoe trees made out of cedar wood is the best, but any other type will do.

I do not use shoe cleaners that you can purchase at your local mall shoe store. I highly recommend Jason Markk sneaker cleaning products. I loved their products since day one. You can try to make your own cleaning solution with water, an all-natural cleaning detergent, Clorox bleach (optional) and whatever additional mixture suits your needs.

You can buy Jason Markk at your local boutique or directly at their website. www.jasonmarkk.com/