SHOES FOR WINTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 4

SHOES FOR WINTER

A little time and care given to footwear before the arrival of really bad weather will save much trouble with wet feet and the colds which usually follow. All leather soles of shoes for outdoor wear should be thoroughly well oiled—equal parts boilod linseed oil and castor oil make n good mixture —and the oil should be allowed to soak into the leather. This treatment gives a good hard surface particularly suitable for shoes to be worft in town. There is nothing better for the uppers than the old-fashioned "dubbin," now put in neat tins. This will keep the leather soft, pliable and waterproof even in bad weather. After tlio dubbin has soaked into the leather a raw potato or banana skin should be rubbed well over the leather. After drying a good polish may be obtained in the usual way.

An occasional coat of copal varnish does much to lengthen the existence of shoe soles, especially of those used for indoor wear. ]t is possible to make soles outlast the uppers by applying the varnish when necessary. For outdoor wear the copal varnish sold specially for outside use should be employed. It is particularlv important that leather should not bo clried quickly.