# How do you get salt and salt stains off leather dress shoes

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-salt-and-salt-stains-off-leather-dress-shoes/563781
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 11, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-salt-and-salt-stains-off-leather-dress-shoes/563781 "2010-12-11T14:43:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-salt-and-salt-stains-off-leather-dress-shoes/563781/1 "2010-12-11T14:43:59Z")

</div>

So, it’s winter here, salt is in the streets and on my shoes. When I saw the long white lines on my nearly 400$(unusually high for me) Allen Edmonds, I started worrying.

I’ve tried putting diluted wite vinegar on the salt lines. When they’re dry, I’ll put shoe conditioner on them.

What else can I do to get rid of the salt deposits and the possible salt stains?

Will using vinegar cause problems? If so, how can I remedy them?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-salt-and-salt-stains-off-leather-dress-shoes/563781/2 "2010-12-11T16:05:12Z")

</div>

Vinegar??? Where did you get that idea? Yes, acid is bad for leather, in case you were wondering.

Use a moist but not wet sponge, and saddle soap to clean off the salt. Condition with a ph-balanced (NOT neatsfoot oil) leather conditioner. You can then apply mink oil paste for conditioning/waterproofing and to prevent salt stains in the future.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-salt-and-salt-stains-off-leather-dress-shoes/563781/3 "2010-12-11T16:12:54Z")

</div>

Can’t help you with the salt but might I suggest wearing boots outside and changing into your $400 shoes when you get to where you’re going?