How to keep your high heels clean.

It's such a bummer when we discover a smudge on our brand new shoes or a stain on our favorite high heels. Here are a few simple tricks to clean our high heels.

:: Suede
Rub day-old crusty bread in a circular motion to rub dirt marks off your suede pumps. For stains, dampen a clean towel with white vinegar and blot away the stains. Let the vinegar dry, then brush the shoe with a suede brush (or toothbrush) to remove the mark.

:: Patent Leather
Dab some acetone-free nail polish remover on a cotton ball and wipe over the scuff mark to remove it. Be careful not to let the nail polish remover sit on the surface of the shoes for an extended period of time, this will risk compromising the patent leather. Rub petroleum jelly or baby oil over the area to keep the patent leather from drying out.

:: Leather
Spray a mix of vinegar water (9 parts water; 1 part vinegar) onto leather shoes to remove water stains. Gently scrub with a cloth until stains are gone.

For stubborn stains, moisten a cotton ball in clear leather shoe wax and rub it into the stain. Wipe away the excess and buff the leather with a clean cotton ball.

:: Satin
Wipe dust and dirt from satin shoes with a dry tissue. Blot stains with a damp towel, then pat dry with another towel. If stains are stubborn, blot with mild liquid soap and then blot with a damp towel.

Kicks and trips may dirty my shoes, but those marks will not defeat me. :)

And to make your newly cleaned shoes more comfortable, consider adding Vivian Lou Insolia weight-shifting insoles to your heels. Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association, our insoles adjust the pitch and position of the foot in high heels to prevent feet from slipping forward and shift weight from the ball of the foot to the heel. Learn more.

Here's to high heels without the hurt!