HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SAFETY SHOES

Safety footwear is the most important piece of personal protective equipment and plays a fundamental role in worker safety.

However, daily use of safety footwear, the environment and the type of work itself can cause premature deterioration. Outdoor environments, extreme working conditions, chemicals, mud or corrosive agents that come into contact with the shoes are factors that impact the technical efficiency of safety footwear. For this reason, it is important to take care of them regularly to ensure their efficiency.

Daily cleaning, which is simple and within everyone's reach, is the best way to greatly extend the life and efficiency of our footwear. Here are a few tips to make our work shoes last longer:

• Always use gentle methods. Especially if the shoes are new, there is no need to apply strong pressure!

Our feet produce heat and moisture, factors that can contribute to deterioration (as well as the proliferation of bacteria that cause bad odours) in safety footwear. At the end of your working day, change your shoes, remove the insoles and let them air out and dry. Simply leave them in the open air; there is no need (in fact!) for a heat source.

• Always untie your laces and Velcro fastenings before taking off your shoes and use a shoehorn both at home and at work: this considerably lightens the load on the heel counter of the shoe and prevents premature deformation.

• Clean your shoes every day. Remove dust and dirt from the upper and sole. Remove any small stones that get stuck in the grooves of the sole, as these can cause progressive erosion. Use an old toothbrush to clean the crevices around the sole. And don't forget to take this opportunity to check for wear and tear (cracks, detachment between the tread and the upper, any stitching). Leather shoes can be cleaned with a damp cloth; suede shoes with a soft brush. Remember to always keep your shoes dry.

• Always keep a spare pair of safety shoes on hand. Especially on hot, humid days, having a second pair available allows your shoes to dry out from sweat and reduces problems associated with excessive sweating.

• Remove the easiest stains using a sponge dampened with warm water. To remove stubborn stains, you can use white vinegar in small doses, applied with a soft cloth.

• Soften the leather with cotton wool soaked in cleansing milk and rub the surface lightly and gently. Leave to dry and brush the upper.

• Do not use wet cloths on suede shoes. Only use brushes with rubber bristles that are not too stiff. For stubborn stains, use an eraser to rub the affected area and, if the stain still won't come out, use a few drops of vinegar and rub gently with a sponge cloth. If you are dealing with oil stains, it is best to use cotton wool soaked in whole milk.

• Avoid using aggressive detergents to remove dirt or stains.

• If you use your work shoes in harsh or damp environments, use a shoe/leather grease: this will keep them flexible and waterproof for a long time. Grease them regularly, especially in the winter months when shoes are exposed to snow and mud.

• Do not dry your shoes near heat sources or in direct sunlight to avoid the formation of marks and to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

• Do not wash safety shoes in the washing machine, unless this is clearly specified.

• Use your shoes regularly. Products made with PU are lightweight, durable, shock-absorbing and very comfortable, but this material ages over time and the degeneration process accelerates when not in use.

Proper care of safety footwear is not just a matter of aesthetics and hygiene but, more simply, a matter of safety and the effectiveness of the Protection Standard.

Let us explain with a few examples:

• In order to be functional, a non-slip sole must guarantee excellent grip. The presence of debris and dirt under the sole or between its grooves could reduce its grip and effectiveness.

• During night work or in low light conditions, the presence of reflective elements on the shoe, inserts designed to increase visibility, is essential. If these are dirty or covered, they cannot fulfil their purpose and this could put the worker at risk;

• During work, shoes may come into contact with substances that can corrode and wear down materials, accelerating wear and tear. Removing dirt can extend the useful life of the footwear.

Your safety shoes are your safety and protection at work. Take care of them!

Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail! (Leonardo da Vinci)

LUPOS® is Safety Shoes.