There's nothing worse than buying a new pair of shiny patent leather shoes and scuffing them. I mean, the marks kind of kill the whole shiny shoe vibe. Not cute. But no worries, because you just need to learn how to clean patent leather shoes. It's actually not as difficult as you might think, and you probably have everything you need already in your cabinet. #winning!
I love patent leather because it just adds a little more glam into a shoe, but if you've ever worn a pair then you know — they are seriously easy to scuff. More often than not, I'll wind up with scuffs on my shoes without even knowing how they got there. It's not like I was running around kicking things or something, but whatever. It happens. The struggle is real.
Wrap the duster cloth around your index finger, making sure there are no wrinkles. Apply a medium layer of polish to the boot using the duster and your finger. Rub it in until a faint shine starts to show. Step 6 -Clean dirty patent leather with a vinegar and water mixture To restore shine to a patent leather handbag, mix 2 to 4 tablespoons of vinegar with a ½ cup of warm water. Use a clean white rag or old white t-shirt to eliminate any small traces of vinegar residue on the purse. Cleaning Patent Leather Shoes. Note that patent leather is different than normal leather because of the mirror finish. The key to maintaining the finish is avoiding anything that could scratch or dull it. With traditional leather shoes, it’s recommended to use brushes to remove dirt and grime - not the case with patent leather!
Hi I have a pair of rather shiny edwards brougues. As soon as I wre them once I realised I had made a mistake in getting them. I think they are patent leather and I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a way to 'dull' them a bit. If not they will have to stay in the wardorbe filed under.
This might make you shy away from purchasing patent leather, but they're just as easy to clean up as they are to mark up, so no worries. And while you definitely can buy a product specially formulated to clean them, you can also take those scuffs away with common household items.
Follow these tips to learn how best to clean patent leather shoes.
Use Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $12, Amazon
Dip a cloth in some olive oil, rub it over your shoes, leave it for 20 minutes, then wipe off with a clean cloth.
Use Vaseline
Vaseline, $6, Amazon
Put good old petroleum jelly on a soft cloth, then rub the scuff marks until they go away. Easy as pie.
Use Mineral Oil
How To Make Patent Leather Less Shiny Sneakers
JK Adams Mineral Oil, $9, Amazon
Ditto the above, just swap the vaseline for mineral oil.
Use A Damp Cloth
Leather Chamois Cloth, $17, Amazon
If your shoes are just dusty, you can clean with a simple damp cloth.
How To Clean Patent Leather
Use Patent Leather Cleaner
How To Make Patent Leather
Woly Neutral Patent Leather Cleaner, $18, Amazon
If you prefer to use something made for patent leather shoes, then apply a patent leather cleaner, let it dry three-five minutes, then buff it for shine with a soft cotton cloth.
Images: Amazon; Bed, Bath, and Beyond