# Vineger for salt stains
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 29, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307 "2005-01-29T18:31:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307/1 "2005-01-29T18:31:47Z")
I have been told that the best thing to remove salt stains on shoes is to use white vineger. I tried this method for the first time this winter and don’t really see any difference from using a rag dampened with water. The stains do go away, but it takes several applications of the vineger and there still seems to be the same amount of damage to the leather as there has been in the past when I have used water to dilute the salt. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a special way the vinger should be applied? Or is this just another of those home remedies everyone hears about but doesn’t really work?
I would also like to hear from anyone who knows of any other methods for removing these stains.
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### Author:  [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307/2 "2005-01-29T20:02:50Z")
I’ve always heared it the other way around, ie. salt on vinegar (and wine) stains.
What’s a salt stain anyway? 😕
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### Author:  [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307/3 "2005-01-30T01:33:30Z")
I guess there isn’t much snow where you live. Here rock salt is used to melt snow or ice on sidewalks. Once it starts melting the salty water gets on your shoes and as it dries it leaves a white stain from the salt.
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### Author:  [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307/4 "2005-01-30T02:00:15Z")
Have you tried shoe polish?
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### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vineger-for-salt-stains/287307/5 "2005-01-30T02:22:29Z")
The sort of salt used for ice control is water-soluble, and vinegar won’t make any appreciable difference. An acid solution like vinegar is good for removing stains of other salts, especially iron salts (although citric acid is better).