Getting caught in a sudden rainstorm happens to everyone. Wet leather becomes soft, weak, and easily stretched out of shape. The way you dry your shoes determines whether they survive or get ruined.
The Golden Rule: Never Use Direct Heat
Never place wet shoes near a radiator, fireplace, heater vent, or under a hair dryer. Direct heat bakes the wet leather, causing it to shrink, warp, and crack beyond repair. Slow, natural drying is the only safe method.
The Step-by-Step Recovery Plan
1.Wipe off standing water:Do this immediately upon coming indoors.
Pat down the outside and inside of the shoe with a dry towel. Lift out the removable insoles so air can reach the bottom.
2.Stuff with newspaper or paper towels:Do not use cedar shoe trees while soaking wet.
Crumple unprinted paper towels or plain newspaper and pack them firmly into the toe box and heel. The paper pulls the moisture out from the inside. Replace the damp paper with fresh, dry paper every 2 to 3 hours.
3.Dry on their sides:Allows sole leather to breathe.
If your shoes have leather soles, prop them up on their sides or tilt them against a wall. If they sit flat on the floor, the damp soles cannot dry and will develop mold.
4.Condition once fully dry:Crucial step to restore lost natural oils.
Water washes out the natural oils in leather. Once the shoes are dry to the touch (usually 24 hours later), apply a generous layer of leather conditioner to restore softness.