Salt Stains

[Gavin]

What do you guys do to lift salt stains from leather boots? And not just small stains, but the stubborn ones that cover half of your foot, that commercial salt stain removers won't get rid of, that vinegar won't get rid of...that no matter what you do, you wipe them off, clean, condition, polish, and then they still come back?

 

[the shah]

this why during winters i carry my boots and walk barefoot until i'm indoors then i put them on, never had a salt stain in my life!

 

[ter1413]

I don't wear boots that arent made for snow/winter weather in the winter....
Totes rubbers are my friend.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

mix vinegar and water and spot clean. Works pretty well for me, even on my suede desert boots. Let it dry overnight and it looks pretty good in the morning

 

[Gavin]

I've tried spot cleaning...I've even tried bathing them in vinegar and water...but they still come back.

 

[MikkoN]

You need to find the purest possible vinegar to make this work.
Specific products for this job are pretty much almost 100% acetic acid.

Erasers can also help to remove them.

If you treat your shoes really well with Chelsea leather food or similar products and polish them really well (fill the pores), it is far less likely to get those "salt stains out of hell".

Yet, I ******* hate road salt. It is a bane here in Helsinki.

 

[Gavin]

Erasers? Like regular pencil erasers? Or like Mr Clean Magic Erasers?

 

[whatever123]

Originally Posted by Gavin

What do you guys do to lift salt stains from leather boots? And not just small stains, but the stubborn ones that cover half of your foot, that commercial salt stain removers won't get rid of, that vinegar won't get rid of...that no matter what you do, you wipe them off, clean, condition, polish, and then they still come back?

http://blog.leffot.com/

 

[Gavin]

Originally Posted by whatever123

http://blog.leffot.com/

From that page:

Yes there are products made to remove salt stains, but I've always used a 50/50 mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Use a soft cloth and wipe away the stain, after the shoe is dry proceed to a leather conditioner such as Saphir Renovateur then polish.

But,

Originally Posted by Gavin

I've tried spot cleaning...I've even tried bathing them in vinegar and water...but they still come back.

I'm trying to find a solution other than vinegar.

 

[halisray]

I have RW Iron Rangers and trudge through snow, salt and slush and have never gotten salt stains. Then again, I use Sno Seal. You should look into getting yourself some!

 

[Gavin]

Originally Posted by halisray

I have RW Iron Rangers and trudge through snow, salt and slush and have never gotten salt stains. Then again, I use Sno Seal. You should look into getting yourself some!

I didn't get Sno Seal, but I did use something similar...which was obviously sub-par and didn't do a good enough job. I need to find a way to effectively lift the stains that are there before I try to re-seal the leather.

I'm having the problem with a pair of black RW GTs.

 

[halisray]

Maybe take them to a cobbler and get them checked out. Definitely get Sno-Seal though.

 

[MikkoN]

Originally Posted by Gavin

Erasers? Like regular pencil erasers? Or like Mr Clean Magic Erasers?
Yes sir. Pencil erasers.
They do not always work if the salt has penetrated the whole package.

 

[whatever123]

Originally Posted by Gavin

From that page:



But,



I'm trying to find a solution other than vinegar.

ah, sorry ... i should have read your entire post. sorry about that

 

[Johdus Fanfoozal]

Originally Posted by halisray

I have RW Iron Rangers and trudge through snow, salt and slush and have never gotten salt stains. Then again, I use Sno Seal. You should look into getting yourself some!

This for future use.