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Denise asked: On some of my patent leather shoes, I have what is like a scuff mark. These marks are on the sides of the shoes that are side by side when I walk, as if I have knocked the shoes together as I walk. They are a blackish color. Do you know of anything that will get rid of this mark? Thank you.
Patent leather scuffs easily, and to make matters worse, it’s very difficult to restore to the original look once the damage appears. The following technique may not completely repair the scuff, but it will go a long way toward improving the look of your patent leather pieces, all the way down to the shine.
You Will Need:
- ArtGum Eraser
- Cotton swab
- Rubbing alcohol
- Mineral oil
- Lint-free cloth
Steps to Remove the Marks:
- For best results, first ensure the patent leather is free of any loose dirt or debris.
- “Erase” the scuff marks with the art gum eraser, lightly moving in the direction of the scuff. Don’t rub hard or you may cause further damage.
- Wipe away any loose material.
- Next, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean up and remove any remaining bits of eraser.
- Wipe dry.
- Apply a small amount of mineral oil to a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Massage the damaged area of the patent leather with the oiled cloth.
- Wipe clean and buff with a clean portion of the cloth.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Spot test in a hidden area before you begin. The alcohol and/or mineral oil may cause the color to fade.
- In place of the mineral oil, you may also use petroleum jelly or vegetable oil.
Plain old toothpaste works. Put toothpaste on a damp sponge or cloth and rub. It works; that’s all you need.
Having grown up with patent shoes, we used to only clean them with the inside of a homemade biscuit. It works!
Good luck!
I have a pair of cream patent leather boots that were placed against a pair of black boots and the black polish faded onto the cream color. Is there anything that I can use to remove the black stain?