How to get salt stains of off leather shoes and boots
As soon as you come indoors, take a closer look at your leather shoes and boots for any salt stains as it may cause the leather to dry up. Then follow the following steps to remove the stain immediately.
- Taking a soft cloth, dampen it lightly and wipe away as much of the stain as possible.
- Then, in a small bowl mix in white vinegar and water in a one to one ratio.
- Making sure to take a white cloth to prevent any transfer of dyes, dab it lightly in the vinegar solution and wipe your shoes or boots again.
- Repeat this process as many times necessary to remove all of the stains, and then leave it to air dry. Do not use heat to speed up the process as the leather may crack. If necessary, stuff them with newspaper to soak up moisture and replace them as needed.
- To finish it off, apply a good leather conditioner or a bit of olive oil and rub it all over. This will help keep the leather supple and repel moisture.
How to get salt stains of off suede shoes and boots
The only sure way to prevent any permanent damage on your suede boots and shoes is to treat the stain immediately. But this time, instead of vinegar make use of the following tips:
- Wipe away as much of the stain as possible with a dry microfiber cloth.
- With gentle strokes, scrub along the salt lines in your boots with a toothbrush. Too much pressure may cause damage, hence tread carefully and apply enough pressure to remove the stain.
- If there is still some remaining, take a small bowl and mix in a cup of cold water with three drops of liquid dish soap. Do a spot test on your shoes by dabbing the corner of a white cloth into the mixture.
- If your shoes pass the test and no dye transfers, then keep dabbing at the areas stained with the cleaning solution until all of the stains is removed. Do remember not to rub as it may not only ruin the color but also the texture.
- Let the shoes to completely air dry before repeating the process if necessary.
- To restore the texture, buff them with a toothbrush with soft bristles or a dry washcloth.
- At least once every winter, rub your shoes with a good suede protector. This will prevent stains in the future.
How to get salt stains of off trainers, tennis shoes, and sneakers
While the easiest way to remove stains from fabric shoes is to wash them, if you are short on time and only own one pair, the following steps will help quickly remove the stains:
- Using a brush with stiff bristles, scrub away as much of the salt possible.
- In a bowl, mix in a cup of warm water with a half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
- Rub off the salt stains by dipping a white washcloth into the cleaning mixture and gently rubbing without saturating your shoes.
- Soak up the moisture from the areas you just cleaned by pressing a dry washcloth against it.
- After you finally wash them, spray it with a good fabric sealant to prevent it from staining in the future.
