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Home / Cleaning Guides / Clothing & Fabrics / Shoes, Accessories and Other Stuff / How to Clean Salt Stains from Leather Shoes

How to Clean Salt Stains from Leather Shoes


Lee asked, “Hi. My son has white salt stains on the outside of his black school shoes. How can I remove it and stop it from coming back?”

Table of Contents:
  1. Removing the Stains
  2. Additional Tips and Advice
  3. Sources

With the winter snow often comes white salt stains on boots. For leather boots, it is especially important to clean the stains off quickly, as the salt can cause the leather to dry, crack or disintegrate over time. Use the steps below to remove the stains.¹

Removing the Stains

You Will Need:

  • Water
  • A clean cloth
  • White vinegar
  • An onion
  • WD-40

Steps to Remove the Stain:

  1. First, try wiping the stains away with water on a sponge or cloth. If the stains are fresh, this may work.²
  2. For older stains, mix white vinegar in an equal amount of water. Moisten a cloth with the mixture and wipe the stains off the shoe.³
  3. If the stains do not come off with the diluted vinegar solution, wipe them with straight white vinegar.¹
  4. You can use an onion instead of vinegar. Cut open the onion and rub the inside of it on the stains until they are gone.⁴
  5. Another option is to use WD-40. Apply the WD-40 on the salt stain and use a cloth to wipe off the stain. As an added bonus, the WD-40 will help to waterproof the leather, so consider applying it to the rest of the shoe as well.¹
  6. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the vinegar or onion.
  7. Let the shoes air-dry.² Do not put the shoes near a fireplace or other heat source to dry, as the heat can cause the leather to dry out and crack.³ Stuff tall boots with newspaper so they stand up straight to hasten drying times. If needed, use a hair dryer on a cool setting to speed drying times.⁵

Additional Tips and Advice

  • If needed, there are commercial salt stain removers available at some shoe repair stores.²
  • Vinegar can be harsh on leather with repeated use, so consider treating your shoes with a conditioning treatment or polish after removing the stains. The polish may also help to prevent the salt stains from adhering to the shoes in the future.
  • Wipe off your shoes with a damp cloth immediately after walking through the snow to prevent salt stains from forming.²

Sources

  1. Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest
  2. Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin
  3. Complete Household Handbook by Good Housekeeping
  4. Haley’s Cleaning Hints by Graham & Rosemary Haley
  5. Household Hints for Dummies by Janet Sobesky

Cleaning Guides, Shoes, Accessories and Other Stuff

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Melanie

Hi! I am a seasoned writer-researcher who prides myself on quality and accuracy. I always vet my sources and test the cleaning methods I prescribe! I hope my cleaning guides can help you out! :)

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