Help: Residual Damage from Salt Stain

[JFWR]

On Thursday night I had come home late and careless. We had a few inches snow where I live and I had took my boots off in my foyer and I must've knocked them down when I went inside to get undressed, because when I next saw them they were on their sides and all the melted snow and salt had soaked into the side of one of my boots. The result was a GIANT salt stain. The next day I purchased Angelus desalter and treated my shoes with the product. The large stain required two treatments, but the salt is off the leather; however, what is left is a visible outline of a stain, which putting shoe polish on does not seem to cover.

The boots are not especially expensive men's boots, but I enjoy them and find them comfortable, and after I jazz them up with black shoe cream and wax on the originally lighter brown leather, the result is quite a handsome boot. I'd prefer not to have to give these to charity. What, if anything, can I do with these shoes to get rid of the stain?

See attached for pictures.

 

[johng70]

Wipe with white vinegar and it should draw out the salt stains.

 

[JFWR]

I'll try it, thanks.

 

[JFWR]

Neither Angelus desalter or the White Vinegar is getting rid of this residiual stain.

I just bought Saphir renomat to see if I can use that on the stain. Should I try a leather dye? What can I do to salvage these boots?

 

[oucheebooboo]

Neither Angelus desalter or the White Vinegar is getting rid of this residiual stain.

I just bought Saphir renomat to see if I can use that on the stain. Should I try a leather dye? What can I do to salvage these boots?

There are a variety of similar products that can help: vinegar, Fiebing's Salt Stain Remover, Saphir's Hiver-Winter snow & salt remover, etc, but if the stain has set, you'll need to treat it several few times. (Before Renomat, I'd give the Angelus a few more tries.)

After treating the stain a few times, follow up with a general leather cleaner, then rehydrate with conditioner, then a bit of moisturizing polish. (Dye is more long-lasting than polish.)

Also, consider posting in the "Shoe Care" thread to get more response: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/...ials-photos-etc.228153/page-1550#post-9873888 ("Nick" at BNelson is one of the resident gurus there).

If the idea of doing it yourself seems daunting, consider a local cobbler, or try Steve Doudaklian at Bedo's. Steve has a popular youtube channel, with great restoration videos. (Hopefully, you won't have to go as far as acetone to strip off the stain--Salt stain removal :20-18:00):

 

[JFWR]

Thanks for the reply.

What I ended up doing was using the renomat to strip the finish along the stain then I applied several more coats of salt remover. It got most of the stain off, and prepared the shoe for redying with a very heavy layer of cream polish. I used Tarrago so I didn't waste my top quality saphir, then did another layer of pommadier cream over it. The stain is 95% invisible at this point and the shoes are definitely wearable without feeling embarrassed.

I feel like stripping away as much as I could to the bare leather helped the angelus work. The results are pronounced.

I will know for sure once the cream dye wears a bit off, but I think these shoes are in decent shape again now, which is a big relief as I like wearing these on casual outings when my leather soled dress shoes aren't suitable.