Even if you wear your favorite leather shoes, shoes or boots carefully, they can suffer due to the poor condition of sidewalks, roads, clumsy fellow travelers on public transport or your own carelessness. Also, the appearance of cracks depends on the original quality of the material and proper storage. There are several tips on how to remove scratches on shoes to save nerves, money and time looking for a new pair.
Where do scratches come from and what to do before removing them?
They usually appear at the most inopportune moment. The causes are varied:
- A manufacturing defect caused by the manufacturer;
- Contact with various sharp objects when riding in vehicles or walking;
- Exposure to natural phenomena such as snow, rain, hail, etc.
- Poor quality of roads.
Once you see a scratch, you first need to assess the extent of its damage. This is very easy to do: you need to run your hand along it first in one direction and then in the other. If the roughness is felt only in one direction, this means that the leather of the shoe is damaged and the scratch is deeper. If roughness is felt in two directions at once, then in this case only the paint is scratched, which means the damage is not so significant.
Before you start removing scratches, you need to remove large protruding pieces of fabric using nail scissors or tweezers and carefully trim the surface. There is no need to throw them away.
Next, the shoes need to be thoroughly cleaned with a clean cloth, using alcohol or specialized cleaning agents.
What to do if the skin at the cut site is raised?
| Elimination of abrasions | Main ingredients | Preparation of the regenerating agent | Application |
| From the skin | Orange | Remove the peel from the fruit. | Gently rub the affected area with orange peel. |
| Any rich cream (for children, for face, for hands) | Not required. | Apply the product to the work area using wool or flannel cloth. Remove the remaining cream with a paper napkin. Upon completion of the procedure, polish the treated area with a soft cloth. | |
| Low-fat milk, turpentine | Add a small amount of turpentine to the milk. | Apply the product to the worn areas, and after drying, polish the area. | |
| With suede | Milk, soda | Dilute 1 tsp. soda in 200 ml milk. | Apply the solution to the work area. After complete drying, walk over the treated area with a rubber brush. |
| Fine salt | Not required | Gently rub the salt into the worn area and then remove it with a brush. | |
| Vinegar | In one container, mix vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:4, in another - dilute 1 tsp. vinegar in 1 liter of water. | Treat the damaged area with a solution of a stronger concentration. After wiping the area with a dry cloth, apply a weaker solution to it. |
For the same purpose, you can hold the product with the pressed lint over a container of boiling water. Brush the dried suede with a rubber brush. You can also use a steam generator to remove worn areas from suede items.
The defect elimination procedure consists of the following steps:
- Apply varnish to the cut area of the skin. If the cut is very small and the brush is too bulky, it is recommended to do this with a toothpick or match. You need to act very carefully so as not to stain neighboring areas.
- Bring the edges of the cut together.
- Apply a finger, previously wrapped in a clean, dry cloth, to the treated area and hold it for 2-3 minutes. This is exactly how long it takes for the varnish to set.
- Verify that the problem has been resolved. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.
- Apply a concealer cream of the appropriate shade to the restored area.
This method is suitable for restoring thick leather products. To restore things made of thin material, it is better to use Moment glue or BF-2 instead of varnish.
On leather shoes
Many people prefer shoes made of high-quality real leather. This is easily explained, since leather shoes are suitable both for everyday wear and as an evening option for going out to a fashionable restaurant, corporate party, etc.
How can you remove scratches?
There are different methods.
"Emergency" methods.
Use only if the damage is minor and needs to be repaired quickly. For this purpose you can use:
- Marker. You just need to match it to the color of your shoes and paint over the scratch.
- Shoe polish. You need to carefully apply it with a special brush to the damaged area. It is ideal for minor, small scratches, covering them up and making them invisible.
- Superglue "Moment". To apply it, you need to use the following scheme: take a toothpick, apply a little varnish to it on the torn piece of the product and on the base underneath it. Wrap a piece of fabric around your finger and press the torn piece into its rightful place and the skin should stick well.
- Women's nail polish. Both colorless and black varnish are suitable. The principle of application is the same as in the case of glue.
How to quickly break in tight or narrow shoes
Important! Instead of varnish or superglue, you can use collodion - a chemical substance consisting of a solution of colloxylin.
"Liquid skin".
A paint that is used for urgent repairs of leather items at home. An irreplaceable item for shoes that can disguise such damage.
Mode of application:
- Choose the color closest to the color of the shoes.
- Apply liquid leather to the damaged surface and smooth evenly.
- Leave for ten minutes so that it has time to dry completely. After which it needs to be polished.
- Apply balm or cream to the surface.
Important! If the surface of the leather is severely damaged, then you need to apply several layers of liquid leather and let them dry one at a time. Preferably for at least a day.
Once the leather surface is completely dry, no scratches will be visible.
Wax.
For more serious damage, ordinary wax can help. You can buy special shoe wax or use beeswax. If there is neither one nor the other, then an ordinary home candle can replace it.
Mode of application:
- Place the wax in a separate container and heat it slightly.
- Gently spread it onto the problem area and then dry.
- Polish the surface with a soft cloth or a special brush.
Important! If the shoes are colored, then after this procedure you should paint over the damaged area with a marker or cream to match the color of the shoes.
Removing Scuffs
Olive oil can cope with simpler damage. If there are many abrasions and they are significant, it is necessary to treat the shoes in these areas with a mild abrasive. Then the surface is degreased. When the skin is dry, apply the prepared mixture of wax and paint. This method allows you to hide abrasions of varying depths.
If necessary, the wax and paint mixture is applied several times. Each layer must be polished first with a brush, then with a rag. This method will preserve the attractiveness of your shoes for a long time. However, with prolonged use, it may be necessary to repeat the procedure to restore the surface of the skin.
On patent leather shoes
Scratches on glossy shoes are somewhat more difficult to remove. And there are several proven methods that have been successfully used by people for a long time.
Unpleasant shoe smell: dealing with the problem
Nail polish.
If the surface of the shoe is colored, then you need to take colorless nail polish. If the surface is black, then you need to take a black varnish.
Mode of application:
- Carefully apply the varnish with a brush to the torn surface and to the scratch itself;
- Apply the torn piece to the damaged area;
- Place a clean bandage or cloth on top and press for two to three minutes.
Thanks to this method, the scratch is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. But there is a significant drawback: the protective layer of varnish will not last more than two weeks. It will need to be constantly updated.
Nail polish remover.
To mask minor scratches, you can use not only nail polish, but also nail polish remover. The method is simple: you need to moisten a cotton swab in it, squeeze it out a little and gently rub it over the scratch. After a while she will not be visible.
Important! Before doing this, you should conduct a test on a not too noticeable area of patent leather. In some cases, the color from nail polish remover may rub off.
Eraser.
Minor damage can also be masked with special erasers.
Mode of application:
- Clean your shoes, take an eraser.
- Gently, with smooth movements, direct it towards the abrasion.
- Wipe off the remaining eraser with a regular cotton pad, after moistening it in alcohol.
- Wipe the surface with a soft cloth until it is dry.
- Apply a small amount of oil to a cloth and massage the affected area. You can use any oil: vegetable, mineral or vaseline.
- After this procedure, you should wipe the shoes with a clean cloth.
- For the best effect, you need to treat it with special products designed for patent leather.
Getting rid of the enemies of suede: dirt and salt
It should be remembered that defects are more noticeable on a varnish surface. Therefore, you need to do everything necessary to prevent them.
How to get rid of small scratches
Leather shoes often develop small cracks that look like stripes. But upon closer inspection, you can see that these are defects. They must be eliminated, as they may subsequently increase.
Removing scratches with acetone
For this method you will need a bandage, cotton wool, rubber gloves and acetone.
IMPORTANT! Test the material of your shoes to know how it reacts to acetone. To reduce the aggressive effects of the solution, use it to a minimum.
The procedure for eliminating minor defects is as follows.
- Put on gloves and wrap a small amount of cotton wool in a bandage.
- Then soak the cotton wool in a small amount of acetone. Squeeze to remove excess substance.
- Next, you should move the swab over small cracks. It's better to do this in a circular motion.
- When the defect disappears, wash the boots with soapy water and wipe dry. Now there are no more scratches on them!
If the leather is patent
To remove the damage we need:
- cotton rag;
- knife;
- wax candle;
- hairdryer
Shoe processing
Follow our instructions to remove scratches.
- Using a knife, scrape a small amount of wax from the candle.
- Then place the boot with the damaged areas facing up.
- Apply a small amount of wax shavings to cracks and minor defects.
- Next, you need to heat the wax with a hairdryer. When it starts to melt, take a cotton rag and start rubbing the wax onto your shoes.
- After this, you should warm up the boot again with a hairdryer and polish it well with a cloth. All small scratches will be filled with wax and will not be visible at all.
On shoes made of artificial leather
Shoes made of leatherette, like genuine leather, require careful care.
The best method for faux leather shoes is using decoupage glue - Mod Podge. It combines the properties of glue, sealant and varnish.
Materials:
- special paint for shoes of a suitable color;
- Mod Podge glue;
- the smallest brush for painting;
Mode of application:
- Having previously cleaned the shoes from dirt and removed all excess material, you need to carefully distribute the shoe paint in the right place.
- Let it dry thoroughly and apply another coat if necessary.
- Using a brush, apply a thin layer of glue to the entire painted area and smooth it gently.
This method does not eliminate scratches, but it does help disguise them.
How to care for your shoes to prevent scratches
- During use, shoes should be wiped clean from dust daily and treated with a protective water-repellent cream.
- If leather shoes are put away for storage, they should be thoroughly dried and treated with a special impregnation.
- It is advisable to wipe the products after each walk, as moisture, salt and dirt have a detrimental effect on the skin.
- While walking under the scorching sun, shoes can become very hot and crack. To prevent this from happening, before going out you need to put 3 drops of glycerin on a cloth and rub it on your shoes.
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