How to maintain the soles of your Ballet Shoes

Ballet shoes with suede soles are designed to prevent slipping on the dance floor.

Suede soles are just about ideal on almost every dance floor. They are durable, but they need more care than regular soles.

Wear them indoors only.

Ballet shoes are to be worn in the dance studio "only" If they are worn outside or on any other floor surface they will get a coating on the suede which makes them slippery.

• If your suede soles DO get glazed over with street dirt or water, scrub away with a wire brush until they are fluffy again.
• Wire brush. To keep the nap in your suede, get a wire brush with short steel bristles. Use it whenever the soles get clogged up with dust and don't seem fuzzy anymore, or if the nap gets "glazed over" from street use. You won't really need it very often if you don't step in liquids -- maybe once a month or two just to fluff up the suede a bit. Don't worry if you eventually brush away most of the nap -- you only need the tiniest nap to get the good effects

Wire brushes for suede soles come in several shapes and sizes; above is a typical one. Another common type is smaller, looking like an oversized toothbrush head (no handle). Both styles have steel bristles that are slightly bent in the middle, and are not too densely packed. Note that these are quite different from the gentle brass-bristled brushes used for suede uppers!

The use of Rosin on suede soled ballet shoes is not recommended as the rosin will build up and will actually make the shoe more slippery over time. Proper care of the soles of your shoes is the best way to prevent slipping on the dance floor.