Other that tearing a door knob down and that Photoshop tutorial, I’ve something else up my sleeve. This age old tip is quite timely, too, for the rainy days. I’ll share with you steps on how to save your rain soaked leather shoes and I’ll show them to you with institutional lighting lit visuals. The header pic shows how this pair looked back in the day.

If your shoes have leather soles, get them off the fridge coils after around 12 hours to prevent them from deforming. The best thing about stuffing them shoes with paper preserves its form versus just drying them out plain.

Text on the images are reproduced below if they’re too small to read:

So my leather shoes got drenched from the rain a while ago. In this post, I’ll let you in on the “first aid” that can potentially save your pair from imminent death. The process is fairly simple, really, but you’ll have to act fast. Do this as you get home or say goodbye to thousands of pesos spent on quality footwear. Also, finding a perfect pair can be a bitch, yes? Do I have your attention now? Good. Now get a Sunday edition newspaper and we’ll get you started.

Tear off about an eighth of a broad sheet and stuff it into the tip of your shoe (if it’s a pointy as mine. Have it sized bigger as needed). Be sure to pack it in. You will want to get as much paper in there as possible. Then tear some more paper and stuff that shoe, leaving nothing between each layer by jamming everything in. This process (1) will facilitate the efficient transfer of water from the leather to the paper and (2) prevent mildew from forming on the damp inner sole and hide.

Remember to pack that paper in with your hands. Nothing can be as yucky as your feet now so having your hands in those shoes for just a few minutes won’t hurt. Won’t hurt as much as the cost you’ll have to spend buying a new pair if you don’t. Just take a shower as soon as you’re done. You’re doing a splendid job!

Don’t let that face stop you from stuffing. Not now! The shoes need saving! Show no remorse!

Pack it to the brim. Feel the sides of the shoe from the outside. If it feels “tender” in some parts, you know what to do… stuff it some more! Very good!

There’s a fairly good reason why that “Job Finder” page was left unscathed. It will do more good to you in that state than crumpled. Just in case…

… uhm, moving on…

Do the same with the other shoe. Do not use the glossy magazine style pages. They’re not as absorbent as the non-glossy recycled paper. The “Job Finder” page and the glossy magazine are all that’s left of the Sunday paper. WHODATHUNK THAT?! Now, you’ve one thing left to do…

If your refrigerator has those heat emitting coils on the back side, hang your shoes by the sole on them. The soles should touch the coils like so. If you don’t have ‘em coils, have the shoes air dried with an electric fan, instead.

Take the paper out after 24 hours. If the insides still feel damp, let it dry in front of an electric fan at low.

You shall have fully resuscitated them shoes after this round (after 48 hours, max).

Before wearing, get some baking soda and put some inside the shoes. It has the magical powers to remove the smell. Repeat as needed.

Shine, buff, and wear.