Remove Salt Stains From Leather Shoes in 5 Simple Steps

Save Your Shoes! It’s winter, and with either snow or salt covering the streets, your shoes are quickly becoming ruined and off-color. This is what you can do to restore your shoes to look as good as new!

When you bought your shoes you were excited. They looked great and were comfortable too.. Then, one storm later and they look terrible! Look at all those salt stains!

So you figure you’ll chuck them into your closet until spring when you can clean them up and wear them in style. 

STOP! DON’T WAIT! SAVE YOUR SHOES!

The sooner you use our method below the better your chances are to get rid of the salt stains and prevent scarring of the leather. If you try to polish over the stains the salt beneath it will remain and eat away at the leather. When left for too long the color of the shoe will change. 

In other words, the longer you leave the salt on your shoes the worse the stains. It’s that simple. 

Here are the 4 ingredients and supplies you’ll need for Shoe Restoration:

1. White Vinegar (Regular)
2. Water
3. 1 old sock or rag
4. Leather conditioner (Best) or cream polish or leather balm

Here are the 5 easy steps: MIx, Apply, Dry, Moisturize, and Polish

1. Mix: Mix water and regular white vinegar in equal parts in a cup or bowl. 

You don’t need to measure it out exactly as long as it’s close.

2. Apply: Apply the solution to each shoe: Start by dipping the sock into the cup, and then dab the solution on the shoe where it became stained. Rub the salt spots with the solution to remove the stains.

Note: The vinegar is the main ingredient that removes the salt. However, it is very acidic and if poured liberally on the shoes and left to soak can harm the leather. Apply the solution lightly and rub off the solution and salt together straight away. 

3. Dry: Let them dry fully.

Once dry, study each shoe to make sure that all sides are completely done and the salt is gone. Once each shoe is dry check for salt stains. If you still see them, apply a second application to completely rid the shoes of salt.

4. Moisturize: Put some of the conditioners on a cloth and rub it into the shoe to moisturize the dry leather. You want to really rub it in, especially for the areas that were dried out by the salt and applied vinegar solution. Apply to both shoes and then let them dry for a couple of minutes.

Note: You don’t need to use a leather conditioner specifically. You could really use anything that will soften the leather, such as a cream polish or leather balm.

5. Polish: Polish and Buff the shoes so they really shine! 

The next step is part of an upcoming post: Polish and buff your shoe to a shine.

Stay tuned for part two coming soon!