Water spots!!! Oh my God.. How on earth did it happen, what should I do now?
Suppose, you’re about to meet your business delegates but your leather shoes have water spots. Won’t you be angry with yourself? What if you had noticed it earlier and taken care of it?
In this article, I will share some easy steps to remove water spots from leather shoes. take a cup of coffee and find your desired answer.
How To Remove Water Spots From Leather Shoes? DIY Methods
Leather shoes are a pure form of men’s ornament, some people love that more than a brand-new luxury car. Premium goods like leather shoes demand precise care, which you must not ignore unless you waste a hefty amount of money.
Before you start to follow any of the methods below, please make sure it is clean and dry. Let’s take a look at the methods.
Related: How To Clean White Fabric Shoes
Method 1: Water-Vinegar Solution
As you already know, this method requires water and vinegar. Now mix them in a 2:1 ratio where water will be 2 times than vinegar. After preparation, grab a soft cloth and soak it into the mixture slightly then rub the affected area.
Please don’t rush or apply extra pressure while rubbing unless the leather quality will degrade and a new problem arises.
Method 2: Leather Cleaner
Commercial leather cleaners may seem expensive or hard to use for a while but they are very reliable if you can choose the right one because not all the chemicals are helpful. It is specially formulated and comes as a liquid or foam.
It helps to remove dirt, spots, and even grime, and at the same time, it also conditions the leather. This kind of solution comes with all the necessary instructions to follow. First, you’ve to clean the surface, then apply it with the solution in a circular motion and leave it to dry naturally.
Related: How To Wash Shoes In Washing Machine
How Do You Know It’s A Water Spot or Stain?
It is very simple to detect spots and stains as both emerge due to water. Water spots are effortless to remove with some vinegar-based treatments. On the other hand, stains are quite long-lasting and take a bit extra time and labor to remove.
Have you ever thought what is going on inside your feet? Let’s find out together.
In short, water spots are temporary and easy to remove while stains last a bit longer and are hard to remove. Common knowledge and previous experience are going to help detect easy spots here. Again you can start with spot treatment directly, if it is the same then it is a stain.
Related: How To Clean Canvas Shoes
How To Remove Water Stains From Tan Leather Shoes? Not so hard as it seems.
Don’t get confused with the term tan leather as there are two types, a) vegetable tan and b) chrome tan. Among them, chrome or chromium-based tanned leather is used more nowadays.
Now coming to your question, how to remove water stains from tan leather shoes. The most common method for this kind of job is the following:
The Swedish Bath Method
It’s a very easy method used for removing water stains, especially from veg tan leather shoes. In this method, the shoe has to be cleaned of dirt and dust from the surroundings.
For scrubbing you’ll need a very clean sponge or soft piece of cloth and saddle soap or nin-detergent/mild soap. Mix the soap well in lukewarm water and soak the sponge/cloth for a gentle rub on the stained area.
After soap-soaked rubbing is complete, grab some fresh tissue paper to wrap the shoe tightly from the outside. If you can push some old newspaper inside the shoe, it will reduce the shoe’s air drying time. Now leave it in cold open air for a certain time or the whole night time. Next, unwrap it and your shoe is good to go.
How Can I Protect Leather Shoes from Water Damage?
There is a saying that, ‘Prevention is better than cure’ and it applies to almost every aspect of our daily life. And that’s why you need to consider some specific shoes in case of your lower back pain.
Above we have learned ways to remove water spots from leather shoes, and now we will know some preventive methods.
Regular Maintenance
Routine maintenance of your leather shoes can add at least one more day no doubt. So, here are the steps for regular maintenance within 2 minutes. No matter the leather type, you must make it dust and dirt-free with a soft brush.
Next, you will need a mild soap and a damp cloth to treat your shoe with a finished leather. Remember, sponges normally contain various chemicals that are or are harmful to leathers, so avoid that.
If your shoe’s leather has an unfinished texture, you have to use saddle soap. Now gently, create a foam and clean the shoe surface. Later wipe off the excess and leave it to dry naturally. Applying wax is a great treatment for leather shoes though saddle soap contains wax too.
Salt or water-stained shoes need treatment with water and vinegar solution at a 2:1 ratio. Gently wipe your shoe with this mixture until all the stains disappear. For more watch this tutorial.
Conditioning Shoes
At this phase first, you need to make sure your shoes are dry. Here, the natural drying process is preferred mostly. Daylight, even UV light with a decent airflow will do the job. It is a time-consuming step but it’s better to wait than repent for rush move.
Speaking of shoe conditioning, if you ever get a good deal on second-hand shoes, just grab it we’ve got your back. Grab it, clean it and you are good to go.
Now put some elbow grease in a microfiber/soft cloth and polish every part of your shoe. Before applying liquid polish make sure your shoe’s leather type suits it. As I said earlier few chemicals can cause serious damage to quality leather.
And finally, apply some conditioner to your shoe, and after that some protector. The conditioner is designed to penetrate essential oil inside, preventing the leather from cracking. Again the Protector acts as a guard to the applied coating on leather.
Shoe Storing
Think about your mobile, do you keep that here and there, with no regard to the amount of force applied? The answer is no and the same goes for your leather shoe too. As a concerned person, you do take care of your shoes. but do you keep them secured?
Not only leather but every type of shoe must be kept in a shoe bag which protects the pair from dust, dirt, and sunlight. It is also handy for transport inside the luggage. So after you’re done for the day, please clean it and insert it into a shoe bag.
Cedarwood can absorb moisture and prevent other substances harmful to leather. So choosing a Cedar shoe tree is a wise choice for your leather shoes and also for your feet. If you run regularly and have a pain issue, an orthotic can be life-saving for you.
Final Thought
No matter what kind of leather shoe you wear, every shoe has to be treated and kept properly for a better service life span. If your leather shoe gets a water spot, first clean and dry it. Then you can apply commercial leather cleaner or use a water-vinegar solution. During the process, please be patient and scrub your shoe very gently.
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, your friendly shoe expert and fitness fan.
