This article was co-authored by Mallika Sharma. Mallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Sometimes (especially during wet and snowy winter months) salt from the road soaks into leather shoes leaving large white stains. If these salt stains are not removed, the leather will become permanently dried and cracked and may even develop bubble marks. Therefore, it is important to remove these stains from your leather footwear as quickly as possible in order to prevent any further damage. See Step 1 below to get started.
Steps
Cleaning the Shoes
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1Use vinegar and water. A great DIY product for removing salt stains from leather shoes is a solution of water and vinegar.[1] [2]
- Simply mix two parts water with one part vinegar in a small jar. Dip a clean, soft rag into the vinegar solution and use it to gently wipe away any salt from the surface of the shoes.
- Remove the vinegar solution with a water-soaked cloth, then dry with a clean towel.
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2Use saddle soap. Saddle soap is a great product for cleaning leather shoes and is often made from natural ingredients.[3]
- Apply a small amount of saddle soap to a moist sponge and work it into the leather using small circular motions.
- Use a clean, dry cloth to buff the shoes and remove any excess saddle soap.
- If you're interested in making your own saddle soap at home, see this article.
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3Use a salt-stain remover. Many shoe and shoe-repair shops sell small bottles of salt-stain removers, which may contain a mix of natural and artificial ingredients. These are very effective and last through multiple applications. Use according to the instructions on the label.[4]
Preventing Further Damage
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1Allow the shoes to dry. If your shoes are wet as well as salt-stained, it's important to let them dry out completely in order to avoid permanent damage.[5]
- Place the boots in a warm dry space, away from any direct heat sources, such as a radiator or fireplaces. Rapidly drying the shoes can cause more damage than the water.
- Remove any unattached insoles and stuff the shoes with newspaper -- this will speed up the drying process and help the shoes to hold their shape.
- Replace the damp newspaper with dry newspaper every couple of hours for even faster drying.
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2Condition the leather. Salt can really dry out leather, so it's important to condition your shoes well after salt exposure to replace any lost moisture.[6]
- Buff a little store-bought leather conditioner or lotion into the shoes. This will soften the leather, helping to reverse the effects of the salt.
- If you don't have any leather conditioner handy, a couple of drops of olive oil will do nicely. Rub a light layer of olive oil onto the surface of the shoes with a soft cloth.
- Repeat the process every few hours until the leather doesn't seem to be absorbing any more oil. Buff away any excess with a dry cloth.
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3Use a waterproofing product. Buy a special waterproofing product designed especially for leather.[7]
- This will help to protect your shoes against both road salt and water damage. Water actually draws salt out of the leather itself, so it can be just as bad.
- In fact, you should apply this product to any new leather shoes you buy to prevent any damage from occurring in the first place.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get rid of old, stubborn salt stains on leather?
Mallika SharmaMallika Sharma is a Certified Leather Care Technician and the Founder of The Leather Laundry, a niche spa service for luxury leather gear in India. Mallika specializes in leather cleaning, coloring, repairing, and restoring for shoes, handbags, jackets, wallets, belts, and sofas. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School. Mallika is a certified Professional Leather Care Technician and trained with the globally reputed leather care company, LTT in the United Kingdom.
Certified Leather Care TechnicianIn that case, the best thing to do would be to touch up the affected area with dye or polish in a matching color. -
QuestionDoes the salt reappear after going outside, and do I have to repeat the process?
ThefeelingismutualCommunity AnswerIf you have cleaned the road salt properly off your shoes, it won't reappear unless you step in more road salt.
Things You'll Need
- 1 part white vinegar
- 1 part water
- Bowl or jar to contain mixed liquids
- Leather conditioning (leather oil, cream or fat)
References
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/heloise/remove-salt-boots-dec03
- ↑ Mallika Sharma. Certified Leather Care Technician. Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a46735/shoe-shine-polish-tips/
- ↑ https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160126/upper-east-side/how-get-all-that-winter-salt-off-your-shoes/
- ↑ https://www.permanentstyle.com/2008/12/how-to-save-your-shoes-from-salt.html
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/a19731036/leather-shoe-care/
- ↑ http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/fashion/s_556101.html#axzz2wdwXOIp7
About This Article
To clean road salt off leather shoes, start by mixing 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. Then, dip a clean cloth into the solution and use it wipe the salt off of your leather shoes. When you're finished, wipe your shoes down with clean water to rinse off the vinegar. Finally, dry your shoes off with a clean towel and you're done! To learn other cleaning solutions you can use, like saddle soap, keep reading!
