I know you are worried about how to clean black shoes. But you don’t have to worry about it at all, because I’ll tell you an effective way so you can do it easily. As co-owners of one of the most popular shoe repair businesses in town, I have encountered many people who are struggling to clean their black shoes.
Whether they’re dress shoes, lace-ups or brogues, black footwear works with just about every outfit. But over time, these tend to lose color and appear duller than before. Restore them to their original glory by following the steps below, which employ common household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, soapy water, and olive oil.
Why Does Black Easily Fade? The Answer Will Surprise You.
Black shoes fade easily for two main reasons: water damage and sunlight damage.
Water damage is one of the biggest culprits, especially in winter with water from snow and salt on the ground. Light damage is also a problem for leather and suede shoes that get stored in direct sunlight, which can bleach out the color of your shoes over time.
What You Should Know About Restoring Black Shoes?
With a few simple tricks, it is possible to bring the shoes back to their former glory. Restoring shoes is an art that nobody wants to do because it takes time and effort, but it sure is satisfying when you see the results. Here are some tips on how to restore your favorite pair of black shoes.
To restore your black shoes, you can apply dye black with a brush or cotton wool. Apply the dye over the surface of your shoes with medicinal tape to protect the soles of your shoes. Once the first coat has dried, apply another layer for better coverage. Use a protective spray to set the dye by removing any debris using a soft brush.
Why should you clean your black shoes?
Many people don’t know why they should clean their black shoes. The reason is simple: Black gets dirty easily. Both inside and outside. You need to clean all parts of your shoe or else it will get ruined.
How to clean black leather shoes?
Follow 3 simple steps to clean your leather shoes. These include cleaning with baking soda, white vinegar, and toothpaste.
With Baking Soda
To clean, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of hot water. If there is heavy dirt, wipe with a soft brush or cloth. After removing the heavy dirt, dip a cloth or brush in the prepared mixture and rub it on the shoe until it is clean. Many stains, including water and oil, will be removed. Be careful when rubbing, so as not to stain the leather. Finally, wipe the shoes with a dry cloth and let them dry in the sun for some time.
With Toothpaste
Toothpaste can also be used for cleaning. If you have a shoe that is made of leather, then this tip will help you out tremendously. All you need to do is squeeze out some toothpaste onto a soft cloth and spread it all over the shoe. Now, use a brush or another soft cloth and rub your boots. If there are hard stains, use a soft brush instead of a cloth when cleaning shoes.
With White Vinegar
To clean, remove heavy dirt on the top and bottom of the shoe with a soft brush. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to one cup of water and dilute it. With a cotton cloth, rub the vinegar mixture on the shoes as if you were polishing them. Wipe with a dry soft cloth and dry well in the sun.
How to clean black suede shoes?
If your suede shoes are wet, dry them. Next, brush the surface with a thin cloth towel or a suede brush. Use a pencil eraser or suede rubber to remove any obvious stains or scuffs. If you want to clean more thoroughly, try using white vinegar through a soft cloth. Remember that oil-based stains are the most difficult to remove, so apply vinegar while the stain is still wet.
How to clean black fabric shoes?
Wipe the fabric with a dry cloth so that any loose soil on the surface can be removed. In a small bowl, mix one teaspoon of baking soda or liquid soap in two cups of warm water. Now dip a toothbrush in the soapy water solution and rub the cloth lightly. Do not rub excessively, rub evenly around the shoe to keep the color consistent and prevent stains.
To help the shoes maintain their shape over time, insert a piece of dry paper towel into the toes or ankles, and it will not do any extra drying work unless you allow the rubber sole to air dry for 12-24 hours.
See also: How to clean nursing shoes
The best shoe cleaner!
Foot odor, also known as bromhidrosis, is a must-have for those who suffer from foot odor. It is not enough to have clean feet, you also need to keep your shoes clean to prevent foot odor. So use white vinegar, baking soda, and FootMatters spray to clean the shoes.
1. FootMatters Professional Shoe Protection Spray
FootMatters spray is used to clean and maintain shoes made of a variety of materials, including leather, suede, canvas, synthetics, linen, nubuck, and patent leather. If you want to take proper care of your shoes i.e. keep them looking durable and shiny for a long time, spray them according to the rules described above. The spray is safe and effective so you will get good results. Whether your shoes are black or any other color, they will never fade.
2. Heinz Distilled White Vinegar
Heinz white vinegar is a cleaning product that can easily remove dirt from suede, leather, fabric, and canvas shoes. Regular cleaning of your shoes will help to maintain the quality of the shoe and extend its life. Now you can clean your black shoes without any effort. When using Heinz All-Natural Distilled White Vinegar you will find that it removes all stains from your shoes, including grease, watermarks, and mud. For this, you can follow the procedure mentioned earlier.
3. ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda
ARM and Hammer Baking Soda are the original trusted brands for removing hard stains from shoes, clothing, carpets, and hard surfaces. Tired of cleaning your shoes? Just use some baking soda in the rules I mentioned, believe me, it works wonders. Baking soda is not just for shoes, you can use it in the closet, drawer, floor, laundry wherever you want the ability to refresh, deodorize or whiten.
Tips and tricks for maintaining your shoes
Leather: Use good quality oil or balm when conditioning your shoes. This will help prevent your leather from drying out or cracking when exposed to temperature changes. Also using wax while conditioning will make them more comfortable to wear as well as soften and improve the texture.
To condition your leather shoes, apply the appropriate amount of oil or balm using a soft cloth then let it absorb into the shoe. Never use too much product because this can cause the leather to become stiff, cracked, dry, and even discolored which will not only look bad but also compromise its texture adversely.
Suede: Spraying your Suede shoes can be a fun task to do. This is almost as good as wearing them for the first time. Just spray them so you don’t ruin them and always air them after spraying so that it doesn’t get too much of a chemical odor.
A protective spray will help prevent suede stains and discoloration.
Avoid wet weather. When it rains or winter comes, keep your suede shoes indoors so that water does not stain.
Fabric: Remember that any medicine ought to be applied to clean shoes. It’s ideal to begin directly out of the boxes when you initially get them.
FootMatters spray is suitable for most fabrics as well as for leather and nubuck. So you can use it.
Ensure you read the manufacturer’s guidelines for any protective spray you purchase before use
Canvas: You should brush or wipe your shoes down often to prevent dirt from building up because it will make your shoes look far more worn than they are if not properly cared for.
Use a spray to clean the canvas. A good quality spray will effectively protect your newly cleaned canvas, helping it look beautiful without any adverse effects from elements such as rain or moisture.
Also, dirty laces can ruin the look of a truly clean pair so if you have messy ones, don’t hesitate to replace them with new ones to give the shoes a new look.
Final Word
Shoes play an important role in our lives. Shoes can help protect our feet from cold, hot, rainy, snowy weather. Many people use cleaning tools to clean their shoes. But they can’t clean the shoes perfectly. I have shown the home method of cleaning shoes.
I have already discussed how you can clean shoes with baking soda and white vinegar. Also, I told you about how to use a spray to maintain black shoes. So make your shoes clean and shiny now.
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