Shoes naturally get more dirt and grime on them than anything else we wear. They touch all the things we never would want to put our hands on – bathroom floors, stair wells, and anywhere and everywhere we walk! Learning how to take care of your shoes will increase the life and look of your shoe as well as help carry less germs back into your home (and into your carpet.)

Here’s a snapshot of my favorite shoe care tips:

1. Did you know shoes made from patent leather can easily be cleaned with vinegar? To give your patent leather shoes a new shine, rub it with soft cloth moistened with vinegar.

2. Black leather and tan leather materials can be cleaned by applying a few drops of lemon juice to a rag and using this to clean your shoe.

3. Furniture polish can be used to polish more than just furniture. Spray onto your shoes and then wipe away with a dry towel to get that classic buff shine.

4. If you notice an unpleasant smell coming from the inside of your shoe, take a pinch of seas alt and throw it into your shoe. Do this for 1-2 nights.

5. To combat odor, you should try putting a pinch of baking soda into your shoes. Baking soda, like sea salt, will reduce moisture and thus help reduce and control unwanted shoe smells.

6. A paste made from baking soda is also great for removing scuff marks.

7. Casual sneakers with a rubber body – like running shoes, tennis shoes, etc – easily collect dirt that can be removed using baking soda yet again! Simply put baking soda on a sponge and scrub to remove dirt from the rubber exterior, bottom, and sides.

8. If you’re in a bind and need your shoes to shine, reach for the bottle of hand lotion you might have in your purse. Rub a small drop onto each shoe for a quick little shine.

By DeAngelo Sage, Wardrobe Closet Editor and Shoe Connoisseur.

Most of us would prefer genuine silver, gold or platinum rings but with the economy these days, who has the money for such rings? If your goal is to look stylish in a practical way, there are cheaper alternatives in the market to select from.  However, even with these seemingly practical options, you still need to consider several factors before making the actual purchase because every penny we can save truly counts.

Stainless steel is a durable and inexpensive metal used for commercial jewelry.  When silver, gold and platinum do not fit the budget, stainless steel is a good material to consider for jewelry especially rings.  There are some people who would choose to just completely sacrifice style than to wear something cheap but if you’re not an “accessory snob”, knowing stainless steel rings pros and cons help you make a fair judgment of these modest pieces of jewelry.

One advantage of choosing a stainless steel ring is that it’s not a death trap.  This may be an exaggerated point but it’s a fact.  Because of its value, thieves won’t be interested in it so you can wear your ring anywhere you want. And if it manages to fool a thief and gets stolen, you won’t probably get too heartbroken. The disadvantage would be…there are some really ruthless thieves out there and they just might make you swallow your stainless steel ring for being had! Outrageous, but true.

Stainless steel rings often come in the trendiest designs because manufacturing them is very low-cost and keeping with the trend won’t be so difficult. The con of this would be the fact that people easily dispose these rings when they’re no longer in style.

Though stainless steel is a hard metal, it still succumbs to pressure and in case of emergency; it can be cut by regular pliers unlike titanium or tungsten. It’s also hypoallergenic which is perfect for sensitive-skinned people. Sensitive-nosed people on the other hand may complain of the unpleasant smell it creates when it comes in contact with perspiration.

These stainless steel wedding bands pros and cons are basically general but if you know them, you lessen the chances of just being coaxed into a purchase by a convincing salesperson.

You don’t have to have a flair for sewing or knitting to earn extra income these days. Pursuing your dream of becoming a successful online entrepreneur is possible by peddling fashion items at reasonable prices. Yes, you read it right. You can have income from buying and selling online, and generally acting as middle man for buyers and wholesalers.

Fashion items that you can hawk online are shoes as well as bags and fashion apparel that complement a certain look and mood. The Ralph Lauren line, for instance, offers all-season designs that are chic and elegant. Other equally well-known fashion products that this brand carries include leisure and sports apparel and colognes that are sure to attract many clients. This is because it is an established name that is at par with some of today’s fashion icons such as Louis Vuitton and Pierre Cardin.

Did you know that production of these high-quality brands are now being carried out in various developing countries like India where labor and material costs are much lower than first-world countries. This is why you can avail of products like Ralph Lauren Boots from wholesalers at a reasonable price and pass the savings on to your customers.

Maintaining an online shop can be tricky, but you can always put some pizzaz by making it client-friendly and by being searchable online. Convenient payment terms is also a plus so make sure that your store can accept online payments through credit cards or Paypal.

Various options are also available for budding entrepreneurs. For instance, you can coordinate with dropshippers for wholesale shoes of a particular brand. This will cut down hassle as you need not worry about inventory availability as well as your need to travel to production areas. Not just that, you do not even have to think about tracking shipment and shipping costs.