Eli5: why do shoes disintegrate when left unworn (for extended period of time) and frequently wearing them actually prevents/delays disintegration?

Question

Eli5: why do shoes disintegrate when left unworn (for extended period of time) and frequently wearing them actually prevents/delays disintegration?

In: Other

Answer 1

I doubt it actually does delay disintegration, you just wear them out usefully before the materials themselves fail, as opposed to not using them and the materials failing in a similar timestamp.