1. HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO APPLY ALL PROTECTOR?

It does depend on the weather and how often you wear your footwear but as a protector spray does wear off when in contact with the elements and with perspiration. So the short answer is, the more you wear your shoes the more you need protect them. The more rain, snow, salt and BAD weather that you will be exposed to, the more you will need to protect your footwear. And another tip is to spray All Protector on the cuffs of your pants to protect them from stains. Good stuff!

2. I LOVE SUEDE SHOES AND BOOTS BUT I' M AFRAID TO BUY THEM BECAUSE THEY LOOK VERY FRAGILE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Suede is really just leather that has been buffed to give a soft napped finished. So keep suede looking great the first thing to do, BEFORE WEARING THEM, is to give them two light applications of Tana Waterproofer or All Protector. This will keep dirt and stains on the surface so that you can easily remove them with a Tana Suede Brush. It is a good idea to give your suede shoes another light spray with Suede Protector after brushing them. With regular spraying and brushing, you can indulge your passion for suede.

3. OUR OFFICE HAS CASUAL FRIDAYS AND I USUALLY WEAR MY BOAT SHOES THAT DAY. BUT I FIND THAT THEY LOOK OLD AND WORN VERY QUICKLY. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO KEEP THEM LOOKING RESPECTABLE?

Boat shoes are usually made from oiled tanned leather and when you wear this footwear the oil that has been tanned into the leather seems to make it way to the surface and dissipate, drying the leather out - or making the leather appear dried out. Applying the Waxy Oily Sponge that has silicone and wax in it ; it does the job quickly and easily. Check these options out at your local shoe store or shoe repair shop.

4. WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE MY SHOES LAST LONGER?

Helping shoes to last longer is easy and takes a lot less time than we think it does. Super easy Shoecare includes protection; cleaning; polishing and inside care. This technique works best when done together because each step completes the other steps. We know that if shoes are not protected when they are new, they are much more difficult to clean. If shoes are not cleaned before polishing, the dirt build-up makes it difficult to achieve a high shine. Shoes not protected after cleaning and polishing, will once again have dirt and stains damaging the shoe. Of course with shoes clean, shiny and protected on the outside it is important to have them clean and fresh on the inside. For additional Shoecare advice or techniques, visit your local shoe repair shop.

5. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT SALT STAINS ON MY BOOTS?

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, as the old saying goes. It is important to apply several light coats of protector to your boots to protect them from the salt. Do this before you first wear them and often afterwards. When you come in from the snow, slush and salt, WIPE YOUR BOOTS OFF IMMEDIATELY with a wet cloth dampened with a bit of vinegar. This is important because salt reacts very quickly at room temperature. We know what salt does to our cars! If the white salt marks remain even after drying, the salt has probably removed the dye colour from your boots. Apply Tana Renovating Polish with pigments and dyes to cover the white marks. You may need to apply it a few times to cover up the white marks. Remember to protect afterwards with All Protector or you will be back where you started.

6. I AM NOT INTO POLISHING MY SHOES. DO THESE INSTANT SHINE SPONGES REALLY WORK?

They work! There is silicone and wax in the sponge that will gives a quick, easy shine. It is a good idea to keep several handy, in the closet at the front door, in your car glove compartment and in the office desk drawer. You may also want to try the Tana Rainguard Creme It is also quick and easy. The Rainguard Creme penetrates into the leather so you get a longer lasting shine. Now when you really have the time or you treat yourself to a professional shine they will use Tana Renovating Polish that provides a deeper, glowing shine. But for fast and easy touch ups you can’t beat the Tana Instant Shine Sponge.

7. WHAT ADVICE DOES A SHOE REPAIRER GIVE TO HIS CUSTOMERS?

Thought we would pass this info on from the “horse mouth” so to speak. This man sees a lot of sorry looking shoes. Here are some of his tips.

8. MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME TO BUY THE BEST QUALITY OF SHOES THAT I COULD AFFORD. IS GENUINE LEATHER STILL THE BEST?

Mother is always right. As we know, shoes are made from many different materials but the best and most popular material is leather. Leather breathes, it shapes itself to our foot, it is lightweight, yet very durable. Leather is a product of nature and a by-product of the meat industry. So leather is a very environmentally friendly material. The skins of cows, pigs, sheep, deer and reptiles are tanned into leather. Tanning is the process that turns the animal skins into beautiful leather. The process takes about 6 weeks and has approximately 150 steps, including: curing, sciving for uniformity, adding colour, drying & finishing. Finishing, the last step in tanning produces the special look and feel of leather. It is the different finishes that provide new styles and fashions each season! The major finishes are smooth leather, suede leather, nubuck leather, patent leather, oiled, silicone & waxed leather.

9. WHEN I BUY LEATHER BOOTS THAT ARE MARKED WATERPROOF, DO I STILL NEED TO BUY A PROTECTOR?

Boots that have a “Waterproof Leather” tag on them, have protectors similar to those protectors you can buy, already tanned into the leather. This tanned-in process allows the manufacturer to guarantee the waterproofing qualities of the “leather” for 3 to 6 months. This is longer than a surface applied protector. However many footwear manufacturers recommend that you use All Protector to enhance and prolong the waterproof qualities of their leather. But it is important to note that “Waterproof Leather” does not mean “Waterproof Footwear”. Waterproof footwear has additional taping and cementing at seams and sole edges, and a higher price due to additional materials and labor. Read the tag to ensure you get the type of footwear you need. You will also see hangtags for Oil Tanned, Silicone Tanned and Waxed Leathers. This leather has additional oils, silicones or waxes applied during the tanning process.

10. THE FABRIC SHOES THAT I SEE AT THE SHOE STORES DO NOT LOOK LIKE THE USUAL FABRIC. CAN YOU TELL WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO CARE FOR IT?

It could be MICROFIBRE. Microfibre is the man-made fibre of the new millennium and the new name for polyester. This new, fine polyester material makes light-weight , durable and breathable footwear. It is very fashionable as it can be made into many styles of shoes and boots. To keep the NEW appearance of Microfibre, it is a good idea to use Tana Fabric & Microfibre Protector often. This makes cleaning very easy. When it comes time to clean Microfibre, use a good brush to clean off surface dirt. For stubborn dirt and stain, put a drop of vinegar on a damp cloth and wipe the surface clean. Remember to use All Protector after each cleaning.

11. I LOVE PATENT SHOES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS SHINY, BUT I USUALLY SCUFF THE TOE AREA. HOW CAN I REPAIR THEM?

Patent Leather is smooth leather coated with Polyurethane. The easiest way to repair nicks and scuffs on patent shoes is to touch-up the damaged area with shoe polish, a crayon or marker pen, in the matching colour. When the colour has penetrated into the leather, apply a light coat of clear nail polish over the scuff area. Try to keep your stroke straight and even. To keep patent shoes and handbags bright and shiny, remove dirt and smudges with a damp cloth. Do not use household cleaning products as many of them have ammonia that will dry and crack the patent. For deep cleaning, ask your local shoe store or shoe repair shop for Patent Cleaner. This mild wax base cleaner removes dirt and smudges and leave a bright shine…and with no greasy finish to rub off on your clothes!

12. I RECEIVED A REPTILE HANDBAG FOR MY BIRTHDAY. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO CARE FOR IT. CAN YOU HELP?

To care for your reptile handbag always store it in a cloth bag (never a plastic one) when not using. To clean and condition your reptile handbag, wipe it with a damp cloth after each wearing. To remove stains, put a touch of Zanolin Leather Creme on a damp cloth and apply to the entire handbag. Do not just apply the Zanolin to one area, as it will leave a stain. Use a dry, soft cloth to buff to a shine. BEFORE USING, ALWAYS TEST ANY CLEANER ON THE INSIDE OF THE HANDBAG OR SHOE.

13. MY KIDS' SPORT FOOTWEAR ALWAYS SMELLS. HAVE YOU ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Yes leave them outside! The sport footwear that is. The odour in our footwear is usually caused because when our feet perspire, the sweat produces bacteria that live in the linings of the shoe. The bacteria die off and leave an odour. Replacing the insoles regularly is a big help. Buy the replacement kind that can be removed, washed and returned to the shoe. They are more economical. For example you can find, and Marathon at your local shoe stores and shoe repair shops. Some shoe deodorizer’s help. Some just give a cover up smell. There are that you can twist open to release a fragrance. Drop them into the shoe overnight. Just remember to take them out in the morning. Sprinkling baking soda in the shoes also helps absorb the odour. Your shoe store or sport shop also has, a small pump aerosol spray that is easy to get a shot or two right inside the shoe where all that smelly stuff starts.