Table of Contents:
Carolyn asked: I stepped in a water puddle that made a dark mark at the bottom of my white satin shoes. I have to give them to my daughter. How can I remove this water stain from shoes?
Water stains can be difficult, if not impossible, to remove from satin shoes, but don’t give up hope. The following method has been met with a great deal of success and should improve the look of your shoes, if not remove the stains altogether.
You Will Need:
- Woolite Extra Delicates Care
- Warm water
- Bowl
- Clean washcloths
- White paper towels
- White vinegar
- Sponge
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Mix a small amount of Woolite with warm water in the bowl to create a light cleaning solution.
- Use one washcloth to gently blot the stain on the shoes. Without scrubbing, try to work some of the dirt out of the fabric. You can use a fingernail to encourage the dirt to release, but take care not to ruin the satin.
- Next, with a clean portion of the washcloth, blot the entire satin surface of the shoe. Your goal is to get it evenly damp without soaking it.
- Once the shoes have been moistened, stuff each shoe with a clean, dry washcloth to help it maintain its shape.
- Wrap each shoe tightly with white paper towels and allow them to sit until they are dry.
- Finally, to restore shine, mix a bit of white vinegar with warm water. Dip the sponge in the solution and gently rub along the direction of the weave. Allow the shoes to sit for a few more hours until they have dried completely.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If any marks remain on the shoe after cleaning, there is something you can do. Remove the crust from a piece of white bread and ball the bread up. Rub the ball over the stains and you should see an improvement.
- If you are unable to remove the stains or if the shoes are of great monetary or sentimental value, it may be best to call in a professional. Opt for a high end shoe repairman rather than a general dry cleaner for best results.
Mel says
After reading “How to remove water stains from satin shoes,” I got to work to remove a water stain from my satin evening gown. Working under a fast fan, what I did was put a towel inside the gown so the water didn’t reach the back, then I got a damp sponge with only water in it (no detergent) and sponged the area right out to the seams. I then towel dried the area and let the fan do the rest, occasionally returning to towel dry a bit more – just to be sure! It worked quite well.
Sue says
Followed instructions on “How to remove water stains from satin shoes.” I tried this on a pair of green satin shoes and it worked. Obviously, some of the green dye came out, but the water stain disappeared – brilliant. Many thanks.