How to Care for Your Latin and Ballroom Dance Shoes

Freed of London dance shoes come in all different shapes, sizes, materials and colours because we know that not every dancer is the same. So when you do find the perfect shoe, how can you be sure that you’re getting the very best out of them? We have laid out a few top tips on how to care for your dance shoes to ensure that you make the most of them!

Soles

The soles can be one of the most difficult elements of the shoe to keep in good condition, that’s the part of the shoe that sees the most action after all! First and foremost, do not wear your dance shoes outside, dust and rubble can stay in the sole which will dent and damage the suede – they are strictly for ballroom floors only. You can also use a sole brush to keep the suede clean, this can also add friction to the bottom of the shoe which can help you out when you’re on the dance floor.

Material

Our dance shoes are available in all kinds of materials, so it is important that you care for each individual shoe in the correct way.

Satin – satin is difficult because it is so delicate, but because it is made of natural fibres it will dry when wet, which means you can (gently!) rub the material with a very soft damp cloth to clean and then leave to air dry. However, you must make sure the water is extremely clean or you could stain the satin!

Patent – patent is quite sticky, so applying silicone spray or cream and wiping it down with a soft cloth will not only help to clean your shoes, but it should also help to prevent them from sticking.

Leather and Nubuck – leather and nubuck are very easy materials to clean, all you need is a damp cloth to wash the shoe, and a dry soft cloth to wipe the material after cleaning – polish can also be used on the leather if it is black.

Suede – softly brushing suede will keep them looking fresh and clean, but make sure you buy a suede brush with copper fibres for an extra gentle clean.

Heels

A lot of strain is put on dancing shoe heels, so it’s key to keep them protected with silicone heel covers. Freed also offer heel covers with a suede bottom in case you want more consistency with your suede soles!

In general, just remember that all dance shoes are different and delicate and should be treated as such. So try to always keep them in a shoe bag when you’re not using them, and follow our top tips so you can get the most out of your Freed of London shoes!