Shoes are an integral accessory for everyone, but they are prone to several types of stains that can spoil their overall look. It may be mud, oil, or some yellow stain that has found its way on the shoes – whatever it may be, ultimately it is our beloved footwear that has been stripped of its charm and elegance! Now that you know how important it is to ensure that your shoes are clean, let’s learn to remove the stains from the shoes.
At Tresmode, we don’t just offer stylish and premium footwear to you, but we also guide you on how to style and maintain them, so that they look good for as long as you wear them. In this blog, we will explain some easy, practical and efficient ways to get rid of different stains on pure leather and vegan-friendly leather, both. Let’s get started to help you out to get rid of shoe stains!
Understand them before removing stains from the shoes
It is quite crucial to understand the different types of stains that you are going to deal with. Honestly, not all stains are treated in the same way, the method of getting rid of the stains especially on sensitive materials such as leather varies from footwear to footwear.
Common shoe stains include -
Dirty Mud & Grease or Oil
These are the most common, which may occur when you walk on unpaved lands. Grease or oil stains can come from various things, such as cooking oil or motor oil, and are often very tough to clean.
Water & Yellow Stains
These are formed when water penetrates the fibre of the shoes and it leaves a permanent mark.Yellow stains develop on white shoes & they are caused by exposure to sunlight or different kinds of chemicals.
Pen or Marker Stains
There might also be stains from pens, markers, or even clothes that have stained when bleeding their colour. Such stains are difficult to remove and more so, especially on white coloured shoes.
Now that we've identified the common types of stains, let's move on to learn how to clean these stains from the shoes.
How to go forward with removing stains from shoes caused by dirt & mud?
Step One: Let the mud dry – yes, you heard it right. You have to let the mud dry, as only after it has dried, you can clean it better. Also, wet mud could sink more into the material, causing the stain to become even bigger.
Step Two: Brush off the dried mud - When the mud is dry, use a soft brush to rub off the hardened dirt. Ensure that you do not rub too vigorously, especially on your leather shoes, as it will cause the material to wear out very quickly.
Step Three: Wipe with a damp cloth - For pure leather shoes, use a damp cloth to wipe off the remaining dirt from the shoes. For vegan-friendly leather, cleaning is also quite easy and only water and mild soap can be used to clean it.
How to remove oil stains from shoes?
Step One: Blot the stain - First things first, you need to blot the area with a piece of paper that will absorb the grease, especially if the grease or oil is fresh. Do not rub because then the stain will spread.
Step Two: Apply cornstarch or talcum powder - Prepare a cornstarch or talcum powder solution by mixing the powder with a few drops of water and apply it on the stain, then leave it for a couple of hours.
Step Three: Wipe it with a damp cloth - For pure leather shoes, do not apply any soapy solution, instead, use a damp cloth to wipe it gently. In the case of vegan-friendly leather, you can clean it with a mild soap solution. Repeat the second step if the stain is very stubborn!
How to remove yellow stains from shoes caused by water?
Step One: Dampen the entire shoe – Water stains, particularly on leather shoes, can be very tricky to handle. To balance the colour of the stain, wet the entire shoe with a damp cloth.
Step Two: Stuff the shoe - Place crumpled newspaper or tissue papers inside the shoes to maintain the shape. Allow the shoes to air-dry; do not dry it with a heat source like a heater or directly under the sun.
Step Three: Condition the leather – Conditioning simply involves applying a conditioner to the leather to soften the grain and to ensure that it does not stiffen. After the shoe has dried, you can use a leather conditioner to replenish the moisture and avert shrinking of the leather. This step is important for good quality of pure leather shoes for men, such as the ones available at Tresmode.
How to remove ink and dye stains?
Step One: Blot the stain - For fresh ink stains, blot the area with a paper towel or a tissue paper to remove as much ink as possible. Make sure not to rub, as this can cause the ink to spread and make the stain even bigger.
Step Two: Apply rubbing alcohol - Wet a cotton ball or a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently dab it on the stain. Rubbing alcohol can break down the ink and make it easier to remove the stain. This method is effective for both, pure leather as well as vegan-friendly leather shoes.
Step Three: Wipe with a damp cloth - After treating the stain with rubbing alcohol, wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any residue. Allow the shoes to air dry. Don’t wash off the shoes under water.
Keep this in mind for removing stains from the shoes
Now that you know how to get tough stains out of shoes, here are a few things that you might want to keep in your mind.
Act Quickly
In general, it is better to clean a stain as soon as possible because this would be simpler to do than waiting until the stain sets in deep into the fabric. If the stains are new, it will be easier to remove them.
Test First
It is always advisable to first try any cleaning method on any dark part of the shoe. If it works fine, then go ahead with the cleaning.
Condition Leather
After cleaning leather shoes, make sure that you apply a leather conditioner to keep the material soft and prevent it from cracking.
Conclusion
It is very important to know how to get tough stains out of shoes, so that you can maintain the new look of the shoes for a longer time. We hope that we were able to give you some insights and insider tips on the same. If you put into practice the techniques explained above, you will understand that there isn’t any stain that you can’t deal with, and your shoes will always remain as good as new. Ace every look in style and keep your shoes stain-free!
