# shoes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 31, 2002, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671 "2002-10-31T06:58:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2002, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/1 "2002-10-31T06:58:19Z")
I have to ware dress shoes for work. Sometimes I get some pretty deep scuffs in the finish of the shoe. I have all leather shoes that I keep well polished but you can still see a gouge or 2 around my toes. Is there any way to smooth these out?
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/2 "2002-10-31T17:04:43Z")
Browsing around a bit on Google, I mostly find the phrase “Use matching polish to renew scuffed leather” repeated. So if it’s scuffed, you put some shoe polish on it.
If it’s really a “gouge” in the leather, you’re probably looking at a shoe repair place.
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### Author:  [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/3 "2002-11-06T04:09:34Z")
what can a shoe repair place do that i can’t?
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### Author:  [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/4 "2002-11-06T04:48:42Z")
You could try one of those “Seen on TV” products they feature at Walgreen’s among others.One of the products \*\* claims \*\* to repair leather,as in furniture.
Wouldn’t hurt to find the product and read the fine print before you buy.
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/5 "2002-11-06T15:17:23Z")
If it’s a really deep gouge, the shoe repair place would replace the whole upper of the shoe, so unless you’re a cobbler… 😃
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### Author:  [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/6 "2002-11-06T19:28:17Z")
the shoes in question are a pair of doc martins. great shoes, but i only payed $90 for them and that was 4 years ago. i think a shoe repair place would charge me more to replace the upper part of the shoe then the shoes actually cost.
any one know if i would destroy my shoes if i got some fine grit sand paper and tryed to sand the gouges out?
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### Author:  [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/7 "2002-11-07T17:03:53Z")
I have a pair of Docs that were worn down to a pretty deplorable condition, but I found an interesting treatment:
Several layers of permanent marker combined with black nail polish and a good nail buffer did the trick. Kinda came upon it by accident, as I would sometimes color over the scuffs with the permanent marker out of boredom, and the nail polish spilled one day and when I buffed it out (still slightly wet) it seemed to work well.
Of course, it depends on the finish of the leather to begin with
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### Author:  [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes/134671/8 "2002-11-08T17:52:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \*
> \*\*I have a pair of Docs that were worn down to a pretty deplorable condition, but I found an interesting treatment:
>
> Several layers of permanent marker combined with black nail polish and a good nail buffer did the trick. Kinda came upon it by accident, as I would sometimes color over the scuffs with the permanent marker out of boredom, and the nail polish spilled one day and when I buffed it out (still slightly wet) it seemed to work well.
> Of course, it depends on the finish of the leather to begin with \*\*
one problem. i don’t know what a nail buffer is. is it that popsickle stick looking thing that has sandpaper on it?