Clean White Patent Leather

White patent leather gets dirty faster and easier, so special attention needs to be placed on it to counteract scuff marks, stains, and other signs of wear. Keeping white patent leather clean and in good condition is hard, but with proper knowledge it will be much easier and less time consuming.

Steps

Cleaning White Patent Leather Shoes

1. Lift dirt and debris from white patent leather shoes. Use a soft bristle brush to brush away loose dirt and debris particles in small, circular motions. A soft toothbrush can be used to get into harder to reach areas.
2. Moisten a soft washcloth. Use some mild soap and water to dampen the cotton washcloth and wipe the outside of the patent leather shoes.
3. Buff the shoes with a soft polishing cloth. To make sure that the shoes dry thoroughly after cleaning, set them out for at least 24 hours at room temperature.
4. Apply a light coat of shaving cream to your patent leather. Remove any excess from the shoe by rubbing it with a cloth once the layer has dried.
5. Smooth a leather conditioner onto the material. A conditioner will keep your leather looking new longer and protect it from water, sun, dry conditions, and cracking or damage.
   • A small amount of mineral oil can also be used to create the leather’s glossy shine as an effective alternative. Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is also commonly used to gloss shoes.
   • Conditioners specially made for leather, like saddle leather conditioner, are ideal for usage for glossing shoes and patent leather.
6. Store patent leather items properly. After cleaning and conditioning, make sure that the item(s) are kept in a dry, dust-free location, away from direct sunlight.
   • For patent leather shoes, keep them stored with their shoetrees so that they retain their form.
   • For white patent leather clothing items, keep items in their garment bag.

Cleaning White Patent Leather Furniture

1. Vacuum the entire surface area of the furniture piece. Dirt and dust can collect in the nooks and crannies of sofas and their cushions. Use the hose extension of the vacuum to better penetrate hard to reach areas.
2. Use a homemade cleaning solution to clean the furniture piece. Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water into a small mop bucket. White vinegar is important to use because other colors might stain the white leather. Always spot treat a small area to make sure it doesn’t have any damaging effect.
   • Soak a cotton cloth in the water/vinegar mix and squeeze it tightly, removing it of any excess water. It is okay to moisten the leather, but avoid wetting it too much.
   • If vinegar is not your preference with cleaning the furniture piece, you can replace the vinegar with a dash of mild moisturizing soap. Soak a cloth in warm water, wring it out completely, and run the clean damp towel over the furniture piece.
   • A magic eraser or an off brand version of it can be used to clean large surface areas like cushions or arm rests of a couch to clean it. Use very light, gentle touches in these instances followed with a damp cloth soaked in water only.
   • For hard to reach areas or areas with stitching, use a toothbrush to scrub and clean with the mixture.
3. Dry your patent leather furniture piece. A hair dryer might seem like a fast, convenient option to help the furniture dry, but because it can dehydrate the leather, it can prove to be a damaging option over time. Instead, use a dry towel to rub it dry.
4. Condition the leather to ensure it retains its softness. To replace natural oils that leather loses when it is cleaned, apply a good leather conditioner that contains lanolin.
   • For a DIY conditioner option, apply a solution of equal amounts of linseed oil and white vinegar to a soft cloth and rub it onto the furniture in gentle, circular movements.
   • Allow the mixture to sit on your couch overnight. Use a cloth to wipe down the furniture piece to remove any excess oil and give it that natural luster appearance.

Removing Stains from White Patent Leather Purses

1. Eliminate dirt and other stains with rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton ball or a q-tip into some clear rubbing alcohol and rub it against the stain to see if it comes out. Using a pre-moistened wipe like a makeup remover wipe to clean stains is equally effective.
2. Remove ink stains from purses and patent leather clothing by using hairspray. A spritz of hairspray on the mark will pull it out of the white leather and you can then gently rub, after letting it sit for a few minutes.
   • After applying the hairspray to the surface stain, dampen a cloth with warm water and rub in circular motions to remove the stain.
   • Repeat as necessary, but be sure not to rub too hard, or you can damage the leather. This method works even on set-in stains.
3. Apply white vinegar to more stubborn surface stains on purses. Begin by diluting the vinegar in 1:10 ratio with water (i.e. 1 cup vinegar in 10 cups water) and slowly increase the amount of vinegar until you get the desired effect.
   • You can also use rubbing alcohol in place of vinegar, if you are worried about the smell, but it may have slightly different results.
   • Always dilute the solution and slowly increase the concentration, being watchful for any signs of damage.
4. Use a magic eraser or something similar to act as a stain remover. With the eraser, only a small amount of water is needed to make it effective. Be sure to spot treat the purse or garment since purses sometimes lose their finish when cleaned off by the sponge.

Tips

• Spot treat on the patent leather before applying the treatments liberally, especially when using vinegar.
• Make sure that with DIY treatments, you use white or clear ingredients (white toothpaste, white vinegar, white shaving cream, etc). This prevents the white patent leather from staining.
• If you make a mixture of 1 cup vinegar to 10 cups water, you can use the left over mixture for household cleaning - it is safe, chemical free, and healthier than using standard household cleaners.
• There are some products on the market meant to care for patent leather. Those may suit you better as they have components that will polish, seal, and protect the leather as well as clean it.
• Patience is key when removing stains or marks from leather. Be gentle and take more time, rather than hurrying through the task of cleaning for best results.

Warnings

• Do not use colored vinegar, hairspray, or alcohol, as it can stain white leather easily. Only use rubbing alcohol (also known as surgical scrub) in a general dilution, like those you get at a grocery store.
• Avoid colored leather conditioners or colored shoe polish on white shoes, as this will stain them, usually irreversibly. Make sure you only use ones meant for white leather.
• Rub gently, with a smooth cloth, to keep the leather from scratching or softening, where it can create a patch of leather softer than the rest, looking out of place. Take your time.
• Do not use a colored cloth, as colored clothes that have not been washed thoroughly or properly can bleed dye, and even some that have been washed properly can bleed dye when used with vinegar, hairspray, or alcohol.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar or hairspray
• Smooth, clean, white cloth
• Clear rubbing alcohol
• Water
• Toothpaste
• Mild soap
• Magic eraser or off brand cleaning eraser
• Cotton swab
• Recommended: leather protector/conditioner and sealant

Sources and Citations

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