Eli5: why do shoes disintegrate when left unworn (for extended period of time) and frequently wearing them actually prevents/delays disintegration?
In: Other
Yep. Happened to me. Not “cheap” shoes. Nikes. Sat in the laundry room all winter. Tried to put them on in the spring and they fell apart, as if their glue had stopped working.
Saltwater is a natural preservative. When you don’t wear your shoes, they oxidize – a layer of deterioration forms and expands on surfaces, including the soles. Similar to rust, if the rust isn’t removed, the metal is consumed. By wearing your shoes, oxidation is removed by friction and the sweat keeps the material supple.
For the soles decomposing, it’s not so much being unworn that deteriorates them as time. The soles are sometimes made from crappy plastics that degrade
I am assuming you are talking about leather shoes.
The leather is a natural product, with time the atmosphere dries the leather out slowly (imagine like a piece of bread left on a counter top). The loss of moisture hardens the leather. When you use the shoes, you sweat into the them, this replaces some of the moisture, this is also why you should be polishing your shoes regularly. The polish helps to protect the leather with wax and other products to keep it in a good condition and supple.
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