Egads, my work shoes look disgusting. Ever since the ice storm of a few days ago, they’ve had streaky salt marks on them. I’ve tried a damp cloth, polish, and saddle soap. But like Christmas fruitcakes that I regift, they keep coming back.
Dear Heloise,
Am I basically fucked?
In high school when I had suede shoes that got salted all the time, I used warm water mixed with (white) vinegar. Worked like a charm.
Did you go around smelling like a salad all the time?
What ratio did you use?
Soak the shoes in gasoline and set them on fire. Once the fire burns itself out, the salt marks will be nothing but a memory.
Hmm.
The problem with that solution is that I will be out some gasoline.
And the salt marks will still be there.
I second the white vinegar idea. I used it straight out of the bottle, poured onto a sponge. I didn’t notice if I smelled like salad (or a douche bag). If others did, they were kind enough not to mention it to my face.
I believe there are commercial shoe products for salt-stain removal, too. They pobably cost a whole lot more than a jug of white vinegar.
Salty shoes?? No wonder you people take them off indoors !!
Never smelt like a salad. More like a fish and chips platter…
To be honest, it’s been so long since I had those shoes, I can’t recall the ratio. Definitely more water; usually there was a faint vinegary smell to the concoction, but nothing offensive. 1:3? I’d start there and work my way up. Don’t worry if you get it wrong the first time. I remember complaining to my mom that her wonderful idea didn’t work at all when I first tried it.
1 tablespoon vinegar + water to make a cup.
Use a rag instead of a sponge, so you can keep shifting to a new area of the rag as you go.
BTW, I just this last night. It works.
Oh, and the salty water/vinegared water might leave your leather a bit stiff when they’ve dried. Either polish the shoes or saddlesoap them, or at least rub them with a bit of vaseline.
And when you use them, they smell an amazingly lot like white vinegar.
I was going to try this last night, but a couple of things stopped me.
For one, all I have is red wine vinegar, so I might come out smelling a bit more like sweet and sour pork. And it’s going to be hard for me to get to a store anytime soon.
For another, we’re supposed to get slammed with snow today. The attempt would be futile.