Patent leather shoes are a staple for many people’s wardrobes, and it can be hard to find ways to keep them looking good. One of the best ways is through regular cleaning and maintenance. Whether you have just purchased your first pair or you already own a few pairs, this article will show you how to keep patent leather shoes from scuffing.
So, how do you keep patent leather shoes from scuffing? You can keep your patent leather shoes from scuffing by;
- Avoiding Abrasive Cleaners
- Keep Your Patent Leather Shoes Well-Conditioned
- Do Not Bump The Shoes
- Go For Patent Leather Shoes With A Protective Bumper
- Wear The Shoes At The Right Time
- Install Shoe Tree In Them When Not In Use
- Store The Shoes In A Proper Place
- Never Scrub Or Polish Your Patent Leather Shoes When They Have Dirt
- Rotate Your Patent Leather Shoes
Let’s get into the details of each of the above-mentioned methods. I will also share with you some cool tips and tricks on how to remove scuff marks from your patent leather shoes so they maintain their pristine look for a very long time.
1. Avoid Abrasive Cleaners
The number one way to make sure your patent leather shoes don’t scuff is to avoid using abrasive cleaners. These can cause the surface of the shoes to become dull and may even damage them over time.
Instead, use warm water for all of your day-to-day patent leather shoe cleanings and use mild dish soap or detergent with water if you need to remove a stubborn stain.
Warm water and some mild soap are enough to clean patent leather shoes, avoid using abrasive cleaners as these can make your patent leather shoes more susceptible to scuff marks.
2. Avoid Abrasive Scrubbers
Another common cause of scuffing even before you wear your patent leather shoes is using an abrasive scrubber to clean them.
This will cause scuff marks to appear even before you get to use them and is a surefire way to ruin your patent leather shoes.
Never use an abrasive scrubber, even if you’re trying to clean them as thoroughly as possible. This will include using things like magic erasers, sandpaper, steel wool, etc.
This will only cause scuff marks that cannot be removed later on in their life cycle.
If you’re looking for a more thorough clean, use a soft clean microfiber cloth and some warm water, and some mild detergent or soap where necessary.
This will help remove any dirt or stains that are on the surface of your patent leather shoes without causing any damage.
3. Keep Your Patent Leather Shoes Well-Conditioned Or Protected
Another important way to keep your patent leather shoes from scuffing is to keep them well conditioned or protected.
When you purchase your first pair of patent leather shoes, it’s always a good idea to invest in some sort of product that will help protect the surface and prevent damage.
You can use any protective spray for this purpose, though there are many different types on the market. Make sure to get one specifically designed for patent leather.
If you don’t want to use a protective spray, there are also some shoe creams or polishes that will do the same job. Just make sure you get one specifically for patent leather shoes.
Make sure to spray your patent leather shoes before wearing them and after cleaning them as this will minimize the chances of your patent leather shoes getting seriously scuffed.
4. Do Not Bump Your Patent Leather Shoes
Another important thing to keep in mind if you want to prevent your patent leather shoes from scuffing is not to bump them.
While this may seem obvious, it is a lot easier to scuff your patent leather shoes by bumping them against something or scraping them on the ground or against a hard surface.
One of the most common places where most shoes, including patent leather shoes, get scuffed is when going up or down the stains.
It’s really easy for this to happen if you’re rushing through things and not paying attention as well as when moving around in public places like an airport where there are people everywhere.
Make sure to pay attention when wearing your patent leather shoes and try not to bump them against anything.
This will help keep the surface in good condition for longer periods of time so you don’t have scuff marks appearing prematurely.
5. Go For Patent Leather Shoes With A Protective Sole Bumper
One thing that really helps is if you have patent leather shoes that have the edges of their sole protruding. These types of shoe designs will have their soles acting as a bumper for your patent leather shoes.
So when bump or knock your shoes against something, the bumper will take the hit and not the surface of your patent leather shoes.
This is a great way to prevent any scuff marks from appearing on your patent leather shoes.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of patent leather shoes, consider looking for designs that have this protective bumper-like design. It will save you a lot of headaches down the line.
6. Wear The Patent Leather Shoes To The Right Places
Make sure to wear your patent leather shoes in the right places. This means avoiding wearing them in rough or harsh environments where they can easily get scratched or scuffed.
Instead, save them for special occasions or events where there aren’t a lot of people and where you’re not going to be moving around a lot.
Think about events like weddings, job interviews, business meetings, and so on.
If you’re going to be walking around a lot in these types of environments, it’s better to go with a different type of shoe that won’t scuff as easily.
Patent leather shoes are perfect for places where you want to make a good impression and look your best. So just be careful not to wear them in rough or harsh environments where they might get damaged easily.
7. Install Shoe Tree In Them When Not In Use
One way to help prolong the life of your patent leather shoes is by installing a shoe tree in them when they’re not in use.
Shoe trees help maintain the shape and structure of your shoes so that they don’t lose their form over time. It’s especially helpful for patent leather shoes as, over time, they might start to sag and lose their shape.
You can buy a shoe tree from most shoe stores or online. Just make sure to get one that is specifically designed for patent leather shoes and the size is adjustable.
This will ensure that the shoe tree fits snuggly in your shoes and helps maintain its shape.
If you have a few pairs of patent leather shoes, it’s a good idea to get multiple shoe trees so you can use them when not wearing the shoes. This will help keep them in good condition for longer periods of time.
So when you’re not using your patent leather shoes, make sure to insert the shoe tree into them so they keep their good condition.
8. Store The Shoes In A Proper Place
When not in use, make sure to store your patent leather shoes in a proper place.
This means avoiding storing them in places where they can get squished, folded, bumped into, or easily fall over – which will cause scuff and scratch marks to easily appear on the shoe surface.
Instead, find a cool and dry place where they can be stored flat. This will help keep them in good condition for longer periods of time.
Also, avoid storing them in direct sunlight as the heat and light can cause discoloration to show on their patent leather surface.
Lastly, do not store your patent leather shoes very close to each other or close to colored materials as this can result in a serious color transfer which can be almost impossible to fix.
9. Never Scrub Or Polish Your Patent Leather Shoes (When They Have Dirt)
I learned this the hard way! Patent leather shoes should never be scrubbed or polished when they have dirt, dust, or any sort of debris on them.
This is because the dirt will cause scuffs, scratches, and marks to appear on the shoe surface – which can be very difficult to remove.
Instead, what you should do is gently brush off any loose dirt particles with a soft-bristled brush or microfiber cloth before you begin to clean or polish them.
This will help save you a lot of trouble in the long run as it can be quite difficult to remove marks from patent leather shoes if they have dirt on them when trying to clean or polish them.
10. Rotate Your Patent Leather Shoes
The fewer times you wear your patent leather shoes, the lesser the likelihood of them getting scuffed and scratched.
When you have a lot of patent leather shoes, try to rotate them so that they all get even wear for longer periods of time.
This will help prolong the life expectancy of your shoe collection as well as make it more enjoyable when deciding which pair to wear each day! 🙂
So whether you’re going to work, a party, or just out on the town – make sure to have a few pairs of patent leather shoes in your wardrobe rotation.
11. Becareful How You Take Off Your Patent Leather Shoes
One reason why patent leather shoes get scuffed and scratched so easily is that people take off their shoes by pushing them back with the heel.
This will cause your heels to grind against the bottom or front of the sole – which can result in very severe scuffs and deep scratches that are almost impossible to remove if you try polishing them later on.
It is important to take your patent leather shoes off by using your hands, boot puller, shoehorn, etc. Make sure to loosen your shoelaces before taking them off too and make sure the shoes basically slide off your feet with little to no effort.
How To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
If you’ve accidentally scuffed or scratched your patent leather shoes, don’t worry! There are ways to remove these unsightly marks and restore the shine of your shoes.
Here are a few methods that can be used; Let’s start with the very simple methods that involve things you can easily find around your house.
Using Warm Water To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
When you get scuffs on your patent leather shoes, one of the first things you want to do is thoroughly clean the shoes with warm water.
This will help get rid of any oils, dirt, or debris that may be on your patent leather surface – which can easily result in scuffs and scratches when rubbed against.
- Start by dampening a microfiber cloth with warm water.
- Gently wipe the scuffed areas.
- Make sure to use circular motions for better results.
- Once all the scuffs are removed, use a dry clean microfiber cloth to dry the surface of your patent leather shoes.
- Let your patent leather shoe air dry completely.
Using Mild Dish Soap And Warm Water To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
If the first method fails to remove all of the scuffs on your patent leather shoes, try using mild dish soap and a warm water mixture.
- Start by filling up a bowl with lukewarm water and adding one teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap (you can also use baby shampoo) to it.
- Mix both ingredients thoroughly until they are completely dissolved into the water.
- Next, dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture and wring out most of the excess liquid until it is just slightly damp.
- Now start to gently wipe the scuffed areas with the cloth in a circular motion.
- You want to use a little bit of elbow grease.
- Once all of the scuffs are removed, use a dry microfiber cloth to dry your patent leather shoes and let them air dry completely.
Using Petroleum Jelly To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
Another super cool way of removing scuffs from patent leather shoes is to use petroleum jelly (also known as Vaseline).
- This method is especially beneficial if the scuffs are on the toe or heel of your patent leather shoes.
- Start by scooping a small amount of petroleum jelly onto a soft cloth such as an old t-shirt.
- Gently rub the petroleum jelly into the scuffed areas until they are completely covered.
- Leave it there for a few minutes.
- Then wipe away the petroleum jelly with a clean microfiber cloth and use another dry clean one to buff your patent leather shoes completely.
- You’ll notice that all of the scuffs have disappeared! 🙂
Using Mineral Oil To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
The mineral oil method works very similarly to the petroleum jelly method in that you’re going to use a little bit of oil on a soft cloth and rub it into the scuff mark.
- Start by pouring some mineral oil onto a soft cloth.
- Gently rub it into the scuffed areas until they are completely covered in oil.
- Now let your patent leather shoe sit with mineral oil on them for an hour or two (or overnight if you can).
- Once that time has passed, blot away any excess oil with a clean absorbent cloth.
- Use another dry microfiber cloth or rag to polish your patent leather shoes until they are completely shiny again.
Using Nail Polish Remover To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
This is one of the most common methods used to remove scuffs from patent leather shoes.
- Start by saturating a cotton ball or Q-tip with nail polish remover.
- Rub the cotton ball/Q-tip over the scuffed areas until they start to disappear.
- You may have to repeat this step a few times for better results.
- Once all of the scuffs are removed, use a clean microfiber cloth to polish your patent leather shoes until they are completely shiny again.
Using White Toothpaste To Remove Scuffs From Patent Leather Shoes
This is commonly used for white or light-colored patent leather shoes. It’s best to use non-gel toothpaste for this method.
- Squeeze a pea-size amount of toothpaste onto a soft cloth.
- Rub the toothpaste into the scuffed areas until they are completely covered.
- Leave it there for an hour or two (or overnight if you can).
- The toothpaste method typically takes a couple of hours to work. So be patient!
- Once that time has passed, use another clean microfiber cloth or rag to buff your patent leather shoes until they are completely shiny again.
There you have it – six different methods for removing scuffs from patent leather shoes. Try out the one that works best for you, and enjoy your shiny and scuff-free patent leather shoes! 🙂
Final Thoughts
So those are some tips on how to keep your patent leather shoes from scuffing! Follow these tips and you’ll be able to enjoy your shiny new patent leather shoes for many years without any unsightly scuff marks.
While there are many things you can do to prevent scuff marks from showing up on your patent leather shoes, a lot of them will happen accidentally.
But these tips should help make it less likely for this type of damage to occur on your cherished patent leather shoes.
Just be patient and take good care of your patent leather shoes and they should last for a long time. And hey! when scuffs do occur, embrace it. Do not beat yourself up. Thanks for reading!
