Caring for patent leather shoes, boots, boots - how to restore shine

It’s not for nothing that patent leather shoes, boots or shoes are considered classics: such shoes have never gone out of fashion. For example, shiny pumps, especially black ones, have been a must-have in women's wardrobes for many decades. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a constant interest in popular and beautiful lacquerware.

So, sometimes the question arises: natural shoe polish - what kind of material is it? The answer is simple. It is based on leather or leatherette, onto which a special composition of polyurethane or PVC, as well as nitrocellulose and linseed oil is applied. The result is that same “chic and shine”.

These shoes, just like those made from other materials, require careful and special treatment. To ensure that patent leather shoes, shoes or boots always shine like new, last a long time and do not lose their attractiveness, they need to be properly cared for. We will talk about this in detail in our article with photos.

How to care for patent leather shoes

Caring for such products is a whole chain of conditions that must be observed so as not to spoil the shiny coating. There are many factors at play here:

• weather conditions under which patent leather shoes can be worn;
• proper cleaning of the varnish surface;
• proper washing of patent leather shoes;
• its regular softening;
• drying according to all rules;
• correct storage.

Let's look at each moment separately.

Important: patent leather shoes are not intended for everyday wear, as they wear out quickly, despite following all the rules of care. So be sure to alternate it with another.

Everyday wear harms more than just shoes. Lacquered products do not “breathe” at all, so your feet sweat in them. And if you leave such shoes on for a long time, an unpleasant odor or, even worse, fungus may appear.

Suitable weather conditions

To find out what kind of weather patent leather shoes “like”, let’s go backwards and talk about when you shouldn’t wear them.

1. Dampness. Whatever the precipitation - snow or rain, do not subject your shoes to such a test. Dampness can cause varnished items to become deformed.
2. Freezing. The critical mark for patent leather boots or shoes is 10 degrees below zero. Extreme cold causes the varnished surface to crack. For this reason, shoes with such a coating are mainly shoes, ankle boots or demi-season boots.
3. Heat. Avoid the other extreme – maximum high temperatures. Do not wear patent leather shoes when the thermometer is +30 or above. The surface simply begins to melt in direct sunlight.

If the street is dry, warm, or at least not frosty and not too hot, feel free to put on and wear your patent leather shoes with pleasure.

But in life, unforeseen circumstances often happen. For example, you left the house in beautiful weather, and then it started to rain. And you are simply forced to walk through puddles in patent leather shoes.

If your shoes get wet, as soon as you get home, wipe them with a soft cloth and stuff them with newspaper or toilet paper. Leave it like this until it is completely dry.

Frosts can also be “outsmarted”. Despite the fact that the critical mark is “minus 10”, at five degrees below zero patent leather shoes or boots also do not “feel” very well. To avoid cracking of the coating, 15 minutes before going out into such cold weather, put on your shoes and stay at home in them. During this time, it will heat up from your feet, and the surface will become softer and more elastic.

Basic cleaning rules

Since shoes with lacquer coating should only be worn in dry weather, dust constantly settles on them. And the first rule of cleaning is to remove it immediately upon returning home.

Arm yourself with a flannel cloth and carefully wipe off the layer of dirt from the varnish surface. If you leave your shoes or boots dusty, particles of aggressive substances that may be contained in the dust will begin to react with the varnish and ruin the coating. It will probably fade.

Important: do not clean the varnish surface with a brush or a piece of hard cloth. You can scratch it easily.

The second rule for caring for patent leather shoes or those made from artificial materials is as little moisture as possible. But if the pollution is more serious than dust, you cannot do without water. So let's take a closer look at this process.

Washing patent leather shoes

Washing is only a conventional name for the procedure for caring for patent leather shoes, because we will not place them under a tap with water or wipe them heartily with a wet rag.

To wash varnished surfaces you need to prepare a soap solution . This is done like this: dilute a teaspoon of any shampoo or laundry soap shavings in 500 ml of water. Whip this into a thick foam.

Now arm yourself with a soft sponge, scoop up a sufficient amount of foam and walk over the surface of your patent leather shoes. After this, wipe dry with a soft cloth.

If the dirt has already dried, do not try to pick it out. Just press a sponge soaked in the same foam onto the contaminated area, you can even scoop up a little solution. Hold for a few minutes. After this, carefully remove the soaked dirt and wipe the surface dry.

You can also wipe dirty patent leather shoes with a soft cloth soaked in milk. Just try to squeeze it harder so that it is moist, not wet.

Saline solution works great for removing dirt on patent leather shoes. It is prepared at the rate of 20 g of salt per 200 ml of water. Just make sure that the crystals are completely dissolved and do not get on the cloth or scratch the varnished surface.

Methods for cleaning varnish products differ depending on their color. So, dark shoes can be wiped with cotton pads dipped in freshly brewed tea or coffee.

Ammonia will help remove dirt from light-colored shoes. Dilute 5 g of any shampoo and the same amount of ammonia in 500 ml of water. Walk a cotton pad soaked in the solution over the stains on the coating.

Particularly difficult to remove are black stripes that can remain on a light surface if you rub one boot or shoe against another. You can get rid of them using nail polish remover. It should be applied to the stain and left for 10 minutes, then rub the area with a soft cloth or cotton pad.

Important: choose only nail polish remover that does not contain acetone!

These are “folk” methods. But now in shoe stores there are a huge number of special products that make it easier to care for patent leather. The highest quality products are considered to be from the brands Salamander, Salton, Silver, Famaco and Collonil.

As a rule, patent shoe cleaners are available in the form of sprays. You need to use them like this:

• shake the can and spray the product onto the sponge;
• walk it over the entire surface of the varnished product;
• let the shoes stand for a few minutes to allow the product to dry;
• Use a soft, dry cloth to remove any remaining spray.

How to soften the surface

Patent leather shoes, and especially leather ones, tend to harden. This may be the result of improper care or storage. For example, if the products are overdried. Periodically, they need to be softened so that they fit better on the foot and the surface does not crack.

products are suitable as a softener :

1. Glycerol. Drip a little of this substance onto a cotton pad and distribute it evenly over the entire surface of the shoe. Let sit for 10 minutes and then remove any remaining residue that is not absorbed with a soft cloth.
2. Vegetable oil. Any will do. Naturally, do not take unrefined sunflower oil if you do not want your shoes to smell like seeds. Using a soft brush, spread a thin layer of the product over the entire varnish surface and allow to be completely absorbed. There is no need to rinse or wash it.
3. Cosmetic Vaseline. Squeeze a little product onto a sponge, rub it into the shoes using circular pressing movements and hold on for 15 minutes. After this, use a piece of cloth that has good absorbent properties to remove the residue.
4. Cream for patent leather. You can find this special product in any shoe cosmetics store. Use it according to the instructions on the package.

All of the above products will not only soften patent leather shoes, but also create a protective water-repellent layer.

How to get rid of cracks on a varnish surface

You never know what happens: you had to put on patent leather boots in the cold, or your shoes dried out, and as a result, the polish cracked. Don't rush to write off these shoes. It can still be restored to its original appearance.

The simplest home remedies , for which you don’t even need to go to the store.

1. Egg white. Whisk it well and cover your patent leather boots, boots or shoes with a thin layer. Let the protein absorb. If you use this product regularly, a dust- and water-repellent film will form on your shoes.
2. Onion. There is probably at least one small onion in the kitchen. Cut it in half and rub the cut on patent leather shoes. If pieces of vegetable stick, remove them with a dry soft cloth.
3. Turpentine, yolk and sunflower oil. Mix a tablespoon of turpentine, a teaspoon of vegetable oil and one egg yolk. Apply this mixture to damaged patent leather shoes every day for a week.
4. Special paint. You can buy it at a shoe cosmetics store and paint over the cracks, making them invisible.
5. Liquid skin. This miracle product can save not only patent leather, but also leather upholstery on furniture, a bag, a jacket, etc. The main advantage is that the composition comes in different colors, so you can easily choose the right one. Apply it to the crack with a brush, remove excess with a soft cloth and leave for 2 hours to dry completely.
6. Eyeliner. If the scratches are small, fill them in with a cosmetic pencil. A felt-tip pen will also work.
7. Finishing wax. This is an ideal solution for deep cracks. Soften the wax and cover the damage with it. Wait a few minutes for the material to harden, remove the remaining residue and paint the area with special paint of a suitable color.
8. Petrolatum. It is more effective in combating scratches rather than cracks. Apply a little substance to a cotton swab and rub the damaged area. You will see how the defects gradually disappear.
9. School eraser. Just as with Vaseline, rub the damaged area until the imperfections disappear.

This is interesting: liquid skin can be made at home. Find a small piece of leather the same color as the shoe, literally a centimeter square. Place on a saucer and drip a little acetone-based solvent onto it. Cover the crack on the varnish surface with the resulting slurry.

“Shoes with a terrible creaking”

Any shoes can start squeaking, except rag ones: leather, faux leather, suede, patent leather. Lacquer, however, often causes such inconveniences. Especially over the knee boots or boots, since the upper part of the shoes does not bend when walking.

Important: shoes may squeak due to problems with the sole, and not with the upper. To check this, lift your booted foot off the floor and rotate your foot. If there is no squeak, the problem is in the sole. Then take your squeaky pair of shoemakers to a handyman.

A varnish surface can begin to creak for three reasons :

• cracks;
• seams that are too tight;
• dampness.

If cracks are to blame , wax mixed with goose fat will help. Combine the components in a ratio of one to three, having previously melted them, and lubricate the shoes with the resulting product. Leave it overnight and wipe it off with a soft cloth in the morning.

If the reason is in the seams , wax will again come to the rescue. Soften it a little, but not to a liquid state, and rub it on the threads on all seams. Let it harden completely and remove the substance with a soft brush.

The second effective remedy in this case is castor oil. Heat it in a water bath to about 60 degrees, apply it to a cotton pad and rub it into the seams.

Important: creaking due to problems with seams usually appears when the shoes are still new. This is considered, if not a defect, then a violation of production technology. So pay attention to such things when purchasing, be sure to first walk around the store in the future new thing.

If the squeaking occurs due to moisture , the logical conclusion suggests itself: the shoes need to be dried. We will tell you how to perform this action correctly below.

How to prepare new patent leather shoes for wearing

Having bought a brand new patent leather pair, do not rush to immediately go outside in your new clothes. The material does not stretch well and can cause discomfort when worn. To avoid calluses, do this.

• The inside of the product is treated with a candle or soap.
• They use a special stretcher from a shoe store.
• The inside of the boots is heated with a hairdryer, lubricated with rich cream and put on a thick sock. Let it wear for at least two hours. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

We recommend reading: What you need to know before washing jeans in the washing machine

Gentle drying

The reasons for waterlogging of varnished products can be different. These include increased sweating of the feet, unfavorable weather conditions, and improper storage. And the consequences can also be different: unpleasant smell, creaking, deformation. Therefore, if such shoes become wet, you need to dry them as soon as possible.

Important: under no circumstances dry patent leather shoes near heaters. Also, do not expose shoes, boots or boots to direct sunlight. The varnish will crack and the product itself will become dull.

This “taboo” forces you to use auxiliary means for quick drying. Fortunately, they are easy to obtain and easy to use.

1. Activated carbon. Wrap 5-8 sorbent tablets in a single-layer paper napkin and place such a bag in each wet pair. Leave for several hours.
2. Salt. If the shoes are not wet, but only slightly damp, salt can be poured directly into the boot or shoe. And after some time, just sweep it out of there with a brush.
3. Baking soda. Roll the paper napkin into a cone like a homemade sunflower seed cup. Fill it with soda, wrap the edge so that the substance does not spill, and place it in your shoes.
4. Paper. A thin, loose one is best. The ideal option is a toilet. Roll it into lumps and stuff it tightly into each product. Leave for several hours.

Important: while the shoes are drying, periodically check whether the products used are not too wet. If yes, they need to be replaced with new ones and the process continues.

Whichever of the suggested methods you use, constantly remove the insoles, if they are removable, and dry them separately. This way the process will go faster and be of better quality.

Storage rules

In order for products with such a coating to serve for a long time, and at the same time always remain beautiful, you need to store them correctly. The rules are simple, but very important to follow.

1. Before storing patent leather shoes, put them in order: dry, clean and ventilate in fresh air.
2. Be sure to soften the varnish surface using one of the methods described above.
3. Insert a special mold holder into each shoe, boot or shoe. If there is none, simply stuff the products tightly with crumpled paper to avoid deformation.
4. Place each shoe in a separate fabric bag or wrap it in soft paper. In no case should patent leather shoes come into contact with each other, otherwise scratches will appear, and black stripes will appear on a light-colored pair.
5. Place the shoes in a cardboard box and place them in a dry, ventilated area. The temperature there should be average. In no case too high and not below zero. For example, a balcony in the heat of summer or in winter is not a suitable place.

Important: If your shoes have laces, be sure to lace the pair completely, but do not pull them too tight.

Whether they are women's or men's, patent leather shoes have been and will be in fashion. So you need to have such a pair in your wardrobe. And so that you don’t have to renew it every season, follow the recommendations for caring for patent leather shoes. Then no cracks or squeaks will spoil the impression of your fashionable look, complemented by patent leather high-heeled shoes.

Wearing Features

Owners of elegant lacquer products should know when and how to use it.

• Be sure to carry a piece of flannel fabric with you so that, if necessary, you can wipe off accumulated dust from the surface of your boots.
• 10 minutes before going outside, put on a pair so that the polish warms up and does not crack.
• Patent leather shoes can be worn outdoors at temperatures not lower than -10, not higher than +25 degrees, otherwise cracks on the surface of the material cannot be avoided.
• Moisture will have an adverse effect on the varnish coating, so they are not suitable for rainy weather.

Lacquered items are also not suitable for daily wear: with regular use they quickly lose their attractive appearance.