Cleaning white suede or nubuck shoes
Suede and nubuck shoes aren’t usually stark white—they’re more of a natural color—but they still require careful cleaning.
Brush Off Dirt – Start by brushing the entire shoe with a soft bristle brush to remove loose, caked-on dirt.
Stain Removal – Sprinkle oily stains with cornstarch or talcum powder to absorb the oil. Let it sit on the stain for at least an hour and repeat as needed.
Gently rub away any scratches and scuffs with an eraser. Do not scrub, but work slowly to remove the stain layer by layer.
If the eraser doesn’t remove the stains, dip a cloth in distilled vinegar and gently scrub the stains. Wipe the treated area with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
Drying and Polishing – Allow the suede to dry completely after cleaning and buff the shoes with a suede brush to lift the dull leather.
How to clean white patent leather or vinyl shoes
Patent leather is genuine leather that has been treated to give it a glossy finish. The same cleaning techniques that work on patent leather also work on vinyl or synthetic shoe finishes.
Clean with Water-imp using a soft polishing cloth in plain water and rub the shoes well to remove surface dirt.
Removing Scratches and Stains – Put a little nail polish remover in acetone on a cotton ball and gently rub the scratched or discolored areas. You can make a paste with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of water to gently remove scratches and scuffs. For the final rinse, use a clean cloth moistened with clean water.
Clean the edges of the fabric – Many patent leather shoes have edges trimmed with grosgrain ribbon, which can get dirty. Dip an old toothbrush into the solution and scrub the edges of the fabric. Finally, remove any soap residue with a clean, damp cloth.
Restore shine – If the surface looks a little dull, wipe your shoes with a small amount of petroleum jelly on a soft cloth. Finish by buffing with a soft, dry cloth to a sheen.
