Patent leather shoes can be fun to wear to parties, special events, or even every day. Unfortunately, these shoes can be difficult to care for because of their tendency to develop ugly scuff marks, particularly around the toe area of the shoe. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to clean patent leather shoes and remove those unsightly scuff marks.
Commercial patent leather cleaners are available at your local shoe store and tailor shop, but there's a much more inexpensive way to clean patent leather that works just as well. Take a peek in to your storage closet and see if you can find a bottle of mineral oil. This is the active ingredient that's present in all of those expensive store bough patent leather cleaning products and you may already have it available at home.
Start by testing the mineral oil on your shoe. Rub a small amount of mineral oil in an area that doesn't readily show such as the back of the shoe near the heel to make sure the mineral oil doesn't alter the color of the shoe. (it shouldn't). Now take a clean, soft cloth and apply a small amount of mineral oil to its surface. Gently rub the scuff market with light pressure until it completely disappears. Now that your patent leather is clean, you can take a fresh cloth and buff your shoes to a high shine.
If you don't have mineral oil in your home to clean patent leather, you can try a bit of petroleum jelly, acetone free nail polish remover, or vegetable oil to banish those scuff marks. Other options that may work to clean some types of patent leather are toothpaste and shaving cream. There are so many types of patent leather these days that what may work for one type of leather may not work for another. You may need to try a few different options. Again, don't forget to do a spot test before applying any solution to your patent leather.
Do you want to keep your patent leather shoes bright and shiny? Try polishing them with a soft cloth that has white vinegar on it. It's important to spot test before using white vinegar since it could alter the color of your patent leather in some cases. Once your shoes are polished, you'll be proud to wear them to your next evening function.
Now you know how to clean patent leather without spending a fortune on commercial leather cleaners. Enjoy showing off your beautiful shoes!
