This is the mini guide on how to care for your posing heels so that you can keep them in posing shape all year long!
Transparent/Clear heels
We start with tips for breaking in and maintaining transparent sandals and slides/mules, as commonly used at Pole dance & Exotic; and posing heels for bikini/bodybuilding/fitness competitions.
Tip 1 : Breaking In Your Heels
When you put on your heels for the very first time, wear thicker white (or any other colour you like) socks and walk on a carpet or other soft surface. The socks give your feet a little more comfort when you break in the plastic around your feet; and by walking on a carpet you protect the grip of the bottom of the shoe from wearing out and from scuffing.
Tip 2 : Avoid Strap Snappage
Try not to over-tighten the buckle straps of your sandals. We understand that the ankle straps offer much more stability if they are nice and tight, but the main reason that the straps sometimes break so quickly is because they are attached to a hole that is actually too tight. Because the straps come under pressure, they wear out much sooner and... Hello snappage!
If you do break a strap or have strapless posing shoes like slides/mules, you can always attach the Pleaser Detachable Ankle Straps to your heels to transform them from mules to sexy ankle strap sandals or to add another layer of protection to your already ankle strapped heels!
Tip 3 : Blow Dry Baby
If your heels are still super tight and you don't feel like they are molding to your foot, try using a hair dryer to gently heat the plastic for 10 to 20 seconds.
This method works especially well with transparent plastic sandals and mules! So do not try this in the same way with sandals with a patent leather or imitation leather upper or other types of shoes, but look at the tips below for the correct steps on those materials!
Be careful not to point the hairdryer at the same spot for too long, otherwise hello scorched tootsies or melted plastic!
Step 1 )
Wear thick socks and place your feet with the socks in your new shoes
Step 2 )
Hold the hairdryer at a distance of 30 cm (about a ruler's length) from the plastic upper of your shoes and warm it up it gently.
Step 3 )
Move the hair dryer back and forth while you heat the shoes so that the heat is distributed over the plastic upper.
Step 4 )
Now let the shoes cool down and walk in them for a while, with the socks still on, so that the shoes start to mold to the shape of your foot
Tip 4 : The Heel-Gap
If you have too much space at the back of the shoe, we call this a 'heel gap'. One day your feet may be slightly smaller than the next and they start sliding forward in your shoe, making it seem as if the shoes are too big. To solve this, you can use Gel Insoles, which you can stick to the insole of the shoe in such a way that the padding in the insoles provide support to your arch, toes and heel cushion. This padding reduces the chance of you sliding forward and keeps your feet nicely in place in your shoe.
Tip 5 : Cleaning Your Heels
If you find that your heels need cleaning, use a damp cloth to remove the sticky residue from the plastic and straps. Then dampen the sole with a washcloth and a little water (slightly damp, don't use too much water!) and gently wipe over the footbed. You will notice that the dirt comes off. Make sure to rinse and wring out your cloth regularly and repeat the process to remove the dirt. Wipe the heels with a towel and let them dry.
Tip 5: Posing Heel Storage
Most heels come with a travel bag making traveling super easy! If you want to keep your collection of heels at home, we recommend that you keep the original box they came in to keep the heels free from dust, direct sunlight and safely protected from hungry pets 🐶🐱
Other types of footwear
Tip 1: Breaking In Your Heels/Shoes
Day One: Wear your new shoes inside the house for 30 minutes, preferably in the afternoon or evening (this is when your feet are at their largest after walking all day)
Day two: Wear your shoes for 60 minutes. If your shoes are particularly tight, you can wear thick hiking socks to stretch them out a little further.
Day three: Wear the shoes for two hours, again with thick socks if necessary. Repeat this last step if necessary until they fit properly.
Tip 2: Blow Dry Baby
Make sure you don't point the hairdryer at the same spot for too long, otherwise you'll end up with a scorched shoe.
Wear thick socks and place your feet with the socks in your new shoes
Step 2 )
Hold the hairdryer on medium heat at 30 cm distance from the shoe and move back and forth, focusing on the area where they feel too tight.
Be careful not to point the hairdryer at the same spot for too long, as soon as the shoe is warm in the place that is tight, it is enough!
Step 4 )
Wear your shoes and walk in your shoes after blow-drying so that they stretch and mold to the shape of your foot. Continue walking once the shoes have cooled down.
Tip 3: The Heel-Gap
Too much space at the back of the shoes is called the 'heel gap'. One day your feet may be slightly smaller than the next and then they slide forward in the shoe, making it seem as if the shoes are too big.
To solve this, you can use Gel Insoles. You can stick them to the insole of the shoe in such a way that the padded parts provide support to your arch, toes and heel cushion. This padding reduces the chance of you sliding forward and keeps your feet nicely in place in your shoe.
Tip 4: Cleaning your shoes
If you find that your shoes need cleaning, use a damp cloth to remove any sticky or dirty residue from the shoe. If you can reach the insole, you can clean it by gently wiping the footbed with a washcloth and a little water (slightly damp, don't use too much water!). You will notice that the dirt comes off.
Make sure to rinse and wring out your cloth regularly and repeat the process to remove the dirt. Wipe the shoes dry with a towel and let them air dry.
Tip 5: Storing your shoes
Most heels and shoes come with a travel bag or are stored in a fabric bag inside the shoebox! If you want to keep your collection of shoes at home, we recommend that you keep the original box they came in to keep the shoes free from dust, direct sunlight and safely protected from hungry pets 🐶🐱
