Unless you do your best to keep your shoes pristine at all times, they are likely to accumulate some scuff marks from daily wear and tear. But the good news is that for the most part, those blemishes are only temporary and tend to be pretty easy to remove. Today at MAG we offer you the best home tricks to remove them.
Discovering a scratch on your shoes or slippers can be a bit frustrating. The more scratches they have, the worse they will look and over time you might think about throwing them away or deleting them. However, there are many great ways to clean shoes or footwear and keep them looking good for a few more years.
Some methods use homemade products, while others use special commercial products made specifically for shoes. Once you’re done cleaning them, take a few protective steps to make sure your shoes look clean and new.
How to Remove Scuff Marks from Shoes
The best way to get rid of scuff marks on shoes really depends on the material you’re made of. They are made and in their general condition. Today we’ll be talking about shoes with light to moderate scuffs, as opposed to situations where the shoes are irreparably damaged. This is what you should do:
1. Leather Shoes
At a time in the not too distant past, buying a good pair of leather shoes was considered an investment that was expected to last for years with proper maintenance. This usually involved brushing and polishing the shoes with shoe polish and/or another conditioner, and it’s still the best way to remove scuff marks from leather shoes today.
Tip: When cleaning leather shoes, use circular hand movements and apply just enough pressure to remove the scuff mark without damaging the material. Avoid using too much water or soaking the leather.
2. Sneakers and other rubber or suede footwear
The easiest way to remove scuff marks from shoes in this category, as well as those made of nubuck, vinyl, and patent leather, is to gently buff them in a circular motion using a rubber eraser white (like you’d get in the school/office supply aisle). If that didn’t work, or if you don’t have an eraser of any kind handy, mix baking soda and warm water to create a thick paste, apply to the scuff marks with a rag or cloth, then buff in a circular motion. Or, if you have white toothpaste (not a gel or some sort of combination), you can use that instead of making the baking soda paste. Another option is to give them a quick spray with an all-purpose cleaner, then wipe them clean with a rag or towel of paper, as long as you have verified it and this method is safe for your shoes.
Tip: Don’t use too much force when buffing to avoid damaging the material. Clean the shoes gently, and avoid too much scrubbing.
3. Vinyl Shoes
A quick spray and wipe with a different window cleaner or all-purpose cleaner (that doesn’t contain bleach) will keep your vinyl shoes looking like new.
4. Patent Leather Shoes
Pour a small amount of nail polish remover onto a paper towel (never directly on the shoes), then rub any scuffs on your patent leather shoes. Isopropyl alcohol also works.
Tip: Be careful when using solvents on patent leather shoes, as they can damage the material if used incorrectly. Test any new product on a small area first.
Did you find this home hack interesting and did you learn a little more about cleaning and caring for your home without investing a lot of money? Like this ‘hack’, there is another type of utilities that will be to your liking. We invite you to get to know them and put them into practice. To do this, you just have to enter the following link for more homemade tricks in Mag, and that’s it. You dare?