What Finally Got Rid of the Scuff Marks on My (Borrowed) Patent Leather Shoes?
Recently I found myself in a difficult situation. I borrowed someone’s patent leather boots for Halloween and kicked the crap out of them. I was dressed as Old Gregg ( how did I do that? ) in a respectable and humorous costume that required the wearer to carry around a large bottle of Baileys; there was an inverse relationship between the amount of cream liqueur I had left at the end of the night and the number of scuffs on my shoes. Honestly, I was too scared to give them away, so I put it off, which is neither sporting nor decent.
However, it turns out that scuffs from patent leather can be removed very easily if you have the right tools. After trying several methods, the marks disappeared and I was able to return the boots without the real owner having any idea what they had been through.
What does not remove scuff marks: Soap and water.
The first thing I tried was soap and water, which I read would help remove the scuff marks. It really didn’t do anything. I hoped this would be the case since soap and water are available to almost everyone, but other than cleaning shoes they didn’t help. The black lines remain. If you’re going to do this, use something tough like a scouring pad , but be aware that you may tear the patent itself, making the situation even worse. In my experience, cheaper shoes rip more easily, but logically you don’t want to take any chances with the expensive ones either, so unless it’s critical, avoid it.
What removes scuff marks: Nail polish remover
Several places I consulted recommended nail polish remover and that was my next step. I’ve also seen recommendations for using shoe polish, but that can be expensive and may not be worth the investment if you’re just trying to fix cheap shoes. My nail polish remover cost me $2, but there’s a good chance you already have it at home. Obviously, if you have regular nail polish on, wear gloves before attempting this. Sacrificing a manicure for shoes is a Sophie’s Choice situation, and we just don’t have to do it.
I decided to use a paper towel to wipe the nail polish remover off the scuff marks, not wanting to use anything too harsh or hard that would break the patent. There had already been one breakup that I assumed was my fault, and I didn’t particularly want to make things worse. At first nothing happened and I was worried that the whole exercise was doomed, but then I noticed that the tip of one scuff had disappeared.
Scuff marks usually take the form of a line, and I have found that moving the paper towel in the direction of the line does no good. The perpendicular and line crossing approach worked much better. I’ve tested this on all scuffs and found a higher success rate when going against the grain, but it’s not a foolproof approach. Each mark required about 10 passes before it disappeared. It took a while, but when I was done the lines were completely gone, so don’t be discouraged if it takes more effort than you expected.
Obviously there was nothing that could be done about the torn area, but rubbing it with nail polish remover seemed to smooth it out and remove the black scuff marks around it, making it less noticeable. There is no need to use shoe polish and no time to waste with soap and water. Nail polish remover is the answer.
What you need to remove scuffs from patent leather
Let’s put your materials in one place to make it easier for you.
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I used acetone nail polish remover from the dollar store that contained vitamin E and moisturizer. Pure acetone can be a little harsh, so try to find a strengthening one. This one from Target ($1.49) has the same ingredient list as the one I used.
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While you’re at Target, grab these exfoliating cotton pads to wipe off nail polish remover without causing any harm ($4.49)…
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…and these nitrile gloves to protect your manicure, if you have them ($5.99).