Keeping shoes shipshape

• Bubble wrap keeps shoes in shape

You don’t need expensive shoe trees to keep your shoes in good shape: use bubble wrap. Cut two pieces small enough to roll up and fit into your shoes and boots. When packing a suitcase, remove the bubble wrap and stuff pantihose or socks inside the shoes to retain their shape and free up space in the suitcase. Finally, wrap the bubble wrap around the shoes so that they won’t soil your clean clothes.

• Serving-spoon shoehorn

Cinderella’s stepsisters struggled to fit their feet into the glass slipper, but you don’t have to struggle if you find yourself without a shoehorn. Take a narrow serving spoon with a blunt end and place your heel into the bowl of the spoon as you work your foot into the shoe.

• Instant shoeshine

 You don’t need to buy special shoe polish to get the shine you want on leather shoes. Just put a few drops of baby oil, olive oil or even castor oil onto dull-looking leather and buff with a soft cloth. You’ll not only have shiny shoes again, but softer ones, too. These oils lubricate the leather, softening stiff spots and creases. They also work on patent leather and leather jackets, handbags, belts and briefcases.

• Smooth out heel creases

The smart high-heel shoes that you spent your bonus on still look as good as new — except for a bit of creased leather on the heel where they got caught in a grating. Fix them yourself with a hair dryer and leather glue. Put your hair dryer on the warm setting and direct air to the heel. The warmth will soften both the remaining original glue and the leather, allowing you to smooth the leather out from top to bottom. Glue down any loose edges and you’ll be ready to step out in style again.

• Cover up spots with a marker

 When your dark shoes are scuffed and you don’t have time to polish them, you can quickly cover up the scuffs using a permanent marker pen in a matching colour.

• From plain Janes to fancy Janes

If you have a pair of plain patent strap shoes, slip-on ballet shoes or plain heels and want them to look a bit more special, dress them up with a pair of sparkly clip-on earrings that you don’t wear any more. The extra colour or glitter may be just the touch of glamour you’ve been looking for.