How to remove old shoe polish at home

It is believed that shoes are a reflection of a person, so they should always be in a well-groomed appearance. You can ensure the beauty and shine of your shoes using special creams and paints, but what happens when their marks need to be removed? Many people make this a problem because the applied cream is deeply absorbed into the leather of the shoe, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to remove. However, everything is possible if you listen to our advice, thanks to which removing unattractive traces of old cream will become real and not as difficult as expected.

How to remove old shoe polish from shoes?

Tools and materials needed to remove old shoe polish

While wearing leather shoes, everyone wants them to remain attractive and uses a special cream paint for this, creating shine and a perfect surface. However, in the process of wearing shoes and constantly rubbing them with special means, a problem arises that is not always easy to solve. Over time, an excessive amount of old shoe polish appears on the surface of boots and other leather shoes, which must be removed regularly.

On a note! Too frequent cleaning of old shoe polish is also not good for leather products.

In order to begin the procedure of cleaning shoes from old cream paint, you need to prepare a set of materials and tools used in contact with leather products. Inventory includes:

Available means

If you can’t buy special equipment, then you can use what you have at hand:

Many people use purified lighter gasoline for this purpose, but it should be used with caution, otherwise it can damage the paint.

Important! First try on an inconspicuous area and make sure that gasoline does not damage the material of the product.

To clean shoes from old cream, you can also use a clothing stain remover in the form of a solvent. But to avoid harm, first try it on an inconspicuous area, on the backdrop, for example.
You can also use glass cleaner. It can also help get rid of old cream, but again, try on an inconspicuous area first.

Important! The most important thing is not to wash off the old cream with soap and water. The skin doesn't like it.

How can you remove old cream from leather shoes?

The cleaner can be purified alcohol used for refilling lighters or a special product – “Saphir Renomat”. The advantage of the developed product is that it is specially designed for leather shoes; it does not damage the paint layer, eliminating cream residues. At the same time, the product’s relationship to the skin is delicate, so it does not get damaged or dry out, maintaining its original appearance. As for purified gasoline, it is also highly effective in combating shoe paste, but unlike special products, it does not have a bad odor. To remove the cleaner and prepare shoes, you need to purchase a special balm or universal cream.

Note! You need to be extremely careful when working with cleaners, as purified gasoline can damage the paint layer on shoes and requires careful use.

How to clean old cream from leather shoes? Special means

If you are thinking about how to remove cream paint from shoes carefully and with minimal damage to your favorite pair, then first of all you need to purchase a special product.

Experts recommend Saphir RenoMat. This cleaner not only efficiently cleans the surface of shoes from dirt and wax residues, but also degreases them, opening the pores of the skin. It is not cheap, and the smell is not very pleasant, but you will definitely be sure that you will not damage your shoes.

Important! The Saphir brand has been known in the world for a long time and has gained popularity thanks to its high-quality products designed for skin care (shoes, car interiors, sofas and armchairs, even horse harnesses).

You can choose cleaners, dyes, stain removers, moisture protection, caring creams and accessories. The quality of many products is European, but the downside is the high price, and not every store sells this product. The easiest way is to order online.

Procedure for removing old polish from leather shoes

If everything you need to carry out cleaning work is already at hand, then you can get down to business, carrying out all the stages with extreme caution and care, because shoes need delicate handling.

Steps to remove old polish from shoes:

Under no circumstances should you rub the same place for a long time or apply great force. Thus, you can damage the paint of the leather and ruin the appearance of the shoes.

By taking care of leather shoes and periodically, and most importantly, properly cleaning the leather of old cream, you can avoid the problems described above. With proper care, leather shoes will retain their attractive appearance for a long time, delighting their owner with their shine.

From time to time, shoes need to be given a “general cleaning”, removing the remnants of old care products from the surface. Old cream is absorbed into the pores, which is why the surface of the product looks dull and sloppy. Then the owners begin to look for methods on how to remove old shoe polish from their shoes.

Removing remnants of shoe cosmetics from the surface of shoes is not as easy as it seems at first glance. However, it is necessary to carry out this procedure, so you will not only update the appearance of the product, but also extend its life.

How to remove old polish from leather shoes? Procedure:

First of all, you should choose a product with which you will remove the remnants of the old cream. You can use a special composition or one of the traditional options.
When cleaning, it is better to use paper napkins or cotton pads. They absorb the remains of old cream well.

Important! The fabric, even soft cotton, does not rub so delicately, and it can rub the washed off cream back into the pores of the skin. So, if you decide to use a rag, then change it more often.

After you have washed off the remnants of old cream, wax, etc., you can apply a care product. The skin needs to be softened and restored. Caring balms based on beeswax and mink fat are best suited. They will not only restore the structure of the skin, but also give it water-repellent properties.
Now you need to leave the shoes alone for several hours so that the product is absorbed.

Important! Only after at least 10 hours have passed after treatment with a restorative agent, you can again apply shoe polish, cream, dye, etc. to your shoes.

Removing old polish from shoes

Daily care consists of applying a special cream to the surface of the product. However, after some time, a thick layer accumulates on the shoes, which clogs the pores and worsens the appearance. If you notice that your shoes have become dull and not as neat as before, then most likely it’s time for a “spring cleaning”.

To remove old cream, you need to stock up on the following materials and tools:

To remove shoe polish from the surface of the product, follow these steps:

This procedure will help restore the original appearance of the shoes and extend their service life.

Useful tips for shoe care:

To begin with, you need to choose the right shoes, taking into account not only the size, but also fullness, instep and other orthopedic features. Otherwise, it will warp, become covered with creases and will be uncomfortable to wear.
It would be right to choose shoes in the afternoon, when the foot is already a little swollen. If you go shopping for a new pair in the morning, they may feel a little tight afterwards.
When you come home from the street, take off your shoes, helping yourself with your hands or a spatula, and not with the toe of the other shoe.
Remove street dirt immediately, do not leave this matter until the morning. In the morning, 30-40 minutes before leaving the house, apply cream and polish.
If your shoes get wet, dry them immediately. You cannot dry it in an oven, on a radiator or on a heater. If your feet are wet to the skin, fill your shoes with lumps of newspaper, but not too tightly, so that the shoes do not become deformed. Change the newspapers every hour until most of the moisture is gone. Then simply dry at room temperature, unzipped, or use special shoe dryers.
In wet weather, do not forget to apply a water repellent before going outside.

Important! It is generally not recommended to wear suede shoes when it is muddy, slushy and damp outside.

For each type of shoe you should have your own care products: for smooth leather, suede, nubuck, patent leather, reptile leather, textiles, and so on.
Shoes also need to be stored properly when their season is over. You shouldn’t just shove it in a big heap into a closet or pantry. Designate a separate box for each pair.
Before storing your shoes, thoroughly clean the uppers and soles, check to see if the lock needs to be repaired, heels replaced, preventative maintenance or repainting required.
It is advisable to store high boots flat, without folding them in half. Ideally, buy special pads (plastic, wooden or others) for this purpose.
Choose the right shoe polish. It is not recommended to use one that is based on alcohol. This cream, of course, dries quickly, but it greatly dries out the surface of the skin. Later, the shoes will become dull, and the old layers of cream will peel and flake off.
Experts also do not recommend using care products containing silicone. At first, of course, it gives a gorgeous shine, but on the street, dust and dirt are attracted to it like a magnet, and besides, silicone quickly clogs the pores of the skin.
Good and high-quality shoe polishes should contain fluorine-carbonate resins, fats of natural origin (mink oil, lanolin, beeswax, castor oil), and dyes.

Important! Stearin and paraffin (mineral fats) are cheap alternatives that are not suitable for good leather shoes.

It is better to apply and rub in the cream with a horsehair brush. Then the shoes should be polished with velvet cloth.

Important! You can use a nylon stocking to polish your shoes.

Caring for suede and nubuck products

Suede and nubuck shoes look elegant and prestigious, but such products require special care. These materials quickly absorb dirt and old cream, which is then difficult to remove from the surface.

To tidy up your suede shoes, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

Experts do not recommend wearing suede shoes in rainy weather. This is explained by the fact that the villi stick together after getting wet. If you do get caught in the rain, dry the pair when you get home.

Leather care

In order for beautiful leather shoes to last you longer, it is important to provide them with proper care.

Materials for cleaning leather products:

Microfiber or cotton cloth.
Soft brush for polishing.
Velvet or wool fabric for a glossy finish.
Shoe cleaning agent for removing dirt (Universal cream).
Cream for leather products (Medalli D'or from Sapphire).

Procedure:

Take off your shoes, insert wooden shoes into them, tie the laces, and try to remove all dirt with a damp cloth. If the product is very dirty, it is recommended to use a special shampoo.
Leave the products to dry for 5 minutes.
Treat the surface with shoe polish, the layer should be thin and even.
Allow the cream to absorb into the material for 15 minutes.
Lightly spray the brush with water and polish the surface for 2 minutes.
Take a piece of wool and give your leather shoes a final polish.

With this care, your shoes will always look perfect.

Storage conditions

To ensure that shoes please their owner for as long as possible, the following rules must be followed:

High-quality care is a guarantee of excellent appearance and durability of shoes. And the remains of the old cream clearly do not paint your pair. Periodically carry out “general cleaning” and follow the rules for caring for shoes made of different materials.

How to get rid of shoe polish stains

Due to its fatty coloring consistency, shoe polish is firmly fixed in the fibers of the fabric, which makes the task of removing it very difficult. This type of contamination can confidently be called one of the most difficult to remove. To remove it from clothing yourself, you must act immediately.

IMPORTANT! Dried, outdated blots from shoe polish without professional cleaning are not at all easy to remove.

Do not try to randomly rub the contamination over the surface of the material. Stock up on cotton pads and swabs. Using very gentle movements, remove the top layer of cream, moving from the edges to the center of the stain. If the blot has already dried, try to scrape it off with the blunt side of a knife without damaging the fabric itself.

The further removal process will depend on the quality of the material itself and the complexity of the contamination.

IMPORTANT! Before processing your product, read the information on its tag about the composition of the fabric and the required temperature conditions. Delicate materials, as well as synthetics, cannot be washed at water temperatures above 40 degrees.

During the cleaning process, it is necessary to place several layers of paper napkins under thin fabrics.

Advice: before applying any cleaning agent to the material, test it on the inside, in some inconspicuous place, for example, a hem or seam.