Frosty mornings and wet commutes can take a toll on your footwear.
During the colder months, shoes are exposed to harsh conditions including salt, grit and moisture.
Nicola Barker, head of buying at Suit Direct, has offered a range of practical and affordable solutions to help keep shoes in good condition through the winter.
She said: "Salt behaves like a drying agent.
"It pulls moisture out of leather and suede, leaving them brittle, faded and prone to cracking.
"Grit is equally damaging, embedding itself into textured materials and wearing them down over time.
"Meanwhile, rain and snow weaken fibres and strip away the natural oils that keep materials flexible."
Winter weather can leave visible damage such as white streaks, stiffness or cracking—primarily caused by salt used on roads and pavements, which is absorbed into shoe fibres.
Ms Barker recommends a simple solution for removing salt stains.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, then gently wipe the salt-marked areas with a soft cloth.
Wipe again with clean water to remove residue and leave to dry naturally—never with heat.
She said: "It’s a tiny step that can rescue a pair of shoes people often assume are ruined."
She warns against drying wet shoes on radiators.
She said: "Radiators warp soles, shrink leather, crack finishes and weaken glues.
"Heat doesn’t just dry shoes, it bakes them."
She recommends removing laces and insoles, stuffing shoes loosely with newspaper, and leaving them to dry naturally at room temperature.
The newspaper should be replaced every few hours until fully dry.
For leather shoes, she advises using cedar shoe trees after drying to help restore their shape and absorb any lingering moisture.
Ms Barker also shares a simple 2p hack for tackling shoe odour.
She said: "Pop a couple of unused tea bags inside damp or smelly shoes overnight.
"They absorb moisture and neutralise odours far better than many specialist products."
Suede is particularly vulnerable in winter.
She said: "Never machine wash suede.
"Water strips the natural oils and permanently changes the texture."
For mud on suede, she advises letting it dry completely before gently brushing off with a suede brush.
For water marks or salt stains, she suggests dabbing with a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water.
Oil stains can be treated by sprinkling cornflour or baking soda on the area, leaving it overnight, and brushing it off in the morning.
She said: "Suede hates winter, but a good protector spray is a game changer."
Applying a suede protector before wearing and reapplying regularly offers the best defence against the elements.
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