Safety shoes are your feet’s first line of defense against workplace and safety hazards. These shoes are specially constructed to withstand impact and damage and they are typically made of superior quality materials. For this reason, knowing how to extend the life of your industrial shoes is critical so they can continue to protect your feet from workplace injuries. Also, it makes sense to know how to take care of your industrial shoes since they can be quite expensive.
What is the Average Lifespan of Industrial Shoes?
Before diving into how to extend the life of industrial shoes, it pays to know how long they typically last. On average, industrial shoes used for heavy-duty work last between 6 and 12 months, depending on the specific work conditions they are subjected to.
Knowing the average lifespan of industrial shoes will help keep you informed on whether you should continue taking care of your shoes or whether it’s time to replace them. While it’s important to extend the life of your shoes, you should never do it at the expense of your own health and safety. Good quality industrial shoes offer the highest protection, so when the shoes are no longer in their top condition, you should consider getting new ones.
Other things to consider if you need to replace your safety shoes with new ones is when the stitching comes undone, or when the soles are worn-out or cracked. Look for signs of wear and tear to help determine if you need a new pair.
Essential Maintenance Tips for Industrial Shoes
Wearing safety and industrial shoes are required in hazardous work environments. Follow these tips to learn about the essential maintenance tips to extend the life of your shoes and get the best value for your investment.
1. Regularly Inspect Your Shoes
Inspection is a crucial part of maintaining your safety shoes and ensuring they last longer. Look for signs of wear and tear, especially on the soles and in the toe area. These are the most vulnerable parts of the feet due to the high occurrence of slipping injuries at work and heavy objects falling on workers’ feet.
If there is any frayed stitching, punctures, or worn-out soles, you can decide from the extent of the damage if they are worth salvaging or if it’s best to replace them. Addressing any minor issues can prevent them from causing further damage and compromising the overall safety of the shoes.
Inspecting your shoes helps identify if there are any mud or sharp objects that might be stuck on the soles or any part of the shoe. If you find any suspicious objects, you can remove them before they puncture your shoes or cause further damage.
2. Clean them Regularly
Aside from inspecting your industrial shoes, spend time cleaning them every after use. Cleaning your shoes can eliminate any dirt, debris, or contaminants that compromise the quality and integrity of your shoes.
There are no special tools required for cleaning industrial shoes, so there is no excuse to skip this part. When cleaning your industrial shoes, use a gentle cloth or scrub. You can even use an old toothbrush for this! If your shoes have leather uppers, use a leather cleaner and conditioner. Using a leather cleaner and conditioner not only enhances the appearance of your shoes but also fortifies the material to make it more resilient to the elements.
Remove any dirt on the surface, or remove harsh chemicals that could seep into the material resulting in damage. Always follow the recommendation on cleaning your shoes to ensure you use the right materials and prevent adding to its damage.
You should never clean your industrial shoes with your bare hands. As mentioned above, they can collect debris and hazardous chemicals, depending on your specific work environment. After cleaning your shoes, let them dry completely before wearing them again. That is why it is recommended that you clean your shoes after use.
3. Waterproof Your Shoes
Waterproofing your shoes is an important step toward preventing damage and increasing their lifespan. It is especially important if you have to wear your shoes in wet conditions, such as rain or snow. When your shoes are frequently exposed to wet conditions, waterproofing protects the materials from damage due to the exposure to these elements.
First, you should invest in a waterproofing spray for your shoes. If you have a leather shoe, choose a silicone-based spray. Apply it over the shoes to provide a protective coating. Next, add a wax-based shoe polish once the spray has settled and is fully absorbed.
You can also wear a waterproof shoe cover when working to maintain the integrity of your shoes and prevent the moisture from being absorbed into the material. Water and moisture are some of the worst enemies of work shoes. When your shoes become soaked in water and moisture, they become stiff and the material breaks down from the inside. Over time, it can cause your shoes to crack and the material to degrade. It compromises the integrity and quality of your shoes as protective work equipment.
If you don’t waterproof your safety shoes, you will find yourself buying a new pair sooner than you would want.
4. Replace Insoles
The insoles are critical to the performance and quality of your industrial shoes. They support your feet from the impact, especially when standing all day or walking on hard surfaces. A good quality insole ensures the health of your feet by providing support, comfort, and cushioning. Insoles act to balance your weight and minimize pressure, so they are crucial in providing stability and support.
With time, insoles can compress and loosen. When this happens, your feet will be at risk of damage or injury. Any imbalance on hard surfaces could cause chronic foot pain and may result in slips. Therefore, replacing your insoles can be an essential maintenance tip to prolong the life of your industrial shoes so you can wear them for longer.
Conclusion
These essential maintenance tips provide you with guidelines on how to protect your industrial shoes from damage. Owning two pairs of industrial shoes is also a good idea to help with maintenance and extend their lifespan. Rotating between these two pairs will prevent premature wear on your shoes and keep them in good condition for longer than if you were to rely on one pair.
