TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The appeal to stay at home in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic restricts people from leaving their house. Several daily fashion items, therefore, must be stored, including leather shoes.

Leather shoes are susceptible to mold attacks if stored in a moist place which may lead to discoloration and even spread to other items. Tempo compiled tips from The Footwear Academy and The Spruce to prevent mildew growth in your shoes in the following:

1. Use silica gel packs

Long-term stored shoes may likely get riddled with mold. To tackle this, place a pack of silica gel inside your light-weight shoes to remove dampness. Silica gel packs can easily be purchased online at an affordable price.

2. Use acid-free tissue

Other than the silica gel packet, you can use acid-free tissue as it is an absorbent that maintains a proper moisture level of shoes.

3. Do not wrap shoes in plastic

Plastic is not safe to keep shoes from mold because it is not porous and causes moisture. Thus, it is better to place shoes in storage and clean them frequently.

4. Open a shoe cabinet occasionally

High humidity and low-temperature support mold growth, which makes the leather brittle, weakens the fabrics, and causes glues to loosen. Let shoes breathe by opening the storage at least once a week to control the climate inside the storage.

SARAH ERVINA DARA SIYAHAILATUA | THE FOOTWEAR ACADEMY | THE SPRUCE