How to Clean Salt Stains from Leather Shoes

Lee asked, “Hi. My son has white salt stains on the outside of his black school shoes. How can I remove it and stop it from coming back?”

You Will Need:

• Water
• A clean cloth
• White vinegar
• An onion
• WD-40

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. First, try wiping the stains away with water on a sponge or cloth. If the stains are fresh, this may work.²
2. For older stains, mix white vinegar in an equal amount of water. Moisten a cloth with the mixture and wipe the stains off the shoe.³
3. If the stains do not come off with the diluted vinegar solution, wipe them with straight white vinegar.¹
4. You can use an onion instead of vinegar. Cut open the onion and rub the inside of it on the stains until they are gone.⁴
5. Another option is to use WD-40. Apply the WD-40 on the salt stain and use a cloth to wipe off the stain. As an added bonus, the WD-40 will help to waterproof the leather, so consider applying it to the rest of the shoe as well.¹
6. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the vinegar or onion.
7. Let the shoes air-dry.² Do not put the shoes near a fireplace or other heat source to dry, as the heat can cause the leather to dry out and crack.³ Stuff tall boots with newspaper so they stand up straight to hasten drying times. If needed, use a hair dryer on a cool setting to speed drying times.⁵

• If needed, there are commercial salt stain removers available at some shoe repair stores.²
• Vinegar can be harsh on leather with repeated use, so consider treating your shoes with a conditioning treatment or polish after removing the stains. The polish may also help to prevent the salt stains from adhering to the shoes in the future.
• Wipe off your shoes with a damp cloth immediately after walking through the snow to prevent salt stains from forming.²

1. Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest
2. Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin
3. Complete Household Handbook by Good Housekeeping
4. Haley’s Cleaning Hints by Graham & Rosemary Haley
5. Household Hints for Dummies by Janet Sobesky