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Strange marks on leather shoes

snowjoke

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I wore my new Grenson Sharp boots out in the snow (well, it was just walking around in town, but snow's everywhere), and now the left one has some strange marks around the front of the upper. Also strange that the other shoe is perfectly fine. I've been polishing them with Tan Kiwi polish, and have polished them again before taking these photos.

Does anyone know what's caused this? Is it water damage, or salt maybe? Could this be some manufacturing defect? I mean, with a Goodyear welt you wouldn't expect water seeping in, would you?

Tips on how to clean would be appreciated. Also, what would you use on the side of the outsole of tan shoes? I've been using the same tan polish but it seems to actually remove the darker brown coloring - would you use two different color polishes? Thanks!

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MyOtherLife

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Appears to be salt damage starting; certainly water at the least.
First of all, you should never expose leather to rain, snow, slush or salt to begin with.
In no way is this a manufacturers defect.
Grab a terrycloth of some kind or an old white sport sock turned inside-out.
Pour some vinegar into a bowl (1/2 vinegar - 1/2 water)
Dip the cloth into the vinegar solution. Squeeze out the excess.
With your damp vinegar cloth, start rubbing the area that is stained.
Use different parts of the cloth for each pass.
Let dry about 15-20 min. Repeat if you see any white residue.
The vinegar solution will draw out the salt from the leather.
After you have treated the boots, and they are fully dry, apply some leather lotion.
Let dry an hour. Brush, then buff with a clean cotton rag.
If you insist on wearing these beautiful boots in the snow, you will end up destroying them.
Buy yourself a nice pair of rubber boots for the bad weather or buy some galoshes,
and save these for drier weather.

Welcome to Styleforum.
 

i10casual

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Defo. salt damage. You can see it collecting at the top of the stain like hard water in a toilet. You might get away with the occasional wetting of the leather but salt kills.
If you follow the directions above make sure you don't dry these near a heater.
 

greekgeek

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+1, Salt kills and that looks like salt damage.
HR_105-038_fiebing_salt_stain_remover.jpg
 

pnin22

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Salt stain, rub gently with damp cloth or with vinegar solution as suggested above. One caution: do NOT apply polish before washing out all the salt, as this will make the stain permanent.
 

snowjoke

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Originally Posted by Man Of Lint
Appears to be salt damage starting; certainly water at the least.
First of all, you should never expose leather to rain, snow, slush or salt to begin with.
In no way is this a manufacturers defect.
Grab a terrycloth of some kind or an old white sport sock turned inside-out.
Pour some vinegar into a bowl (1/2 vinegar - 1/2 water)
Dip the cloth into the vinegar solution. Squeeze out the excess.
With your damp vinegar cloth, start rubbing the area that is stained.
Use different parts of the cloth for each pass.
Let dry about 15-20 min. Repeat if you see any white residue.
The vinegar solution will draw out the salt from the leather.
After you have treated the boots, and they are fully dry, apply some leather lotion.
Let dry an hour. Brush, then buff with a clean cotton rag.
If you insist on wearing these beautiful boots in the snow, you will end up destroying them.
Buy yourself a nice pair of rubber boots for the bad weather or buy some galoshes,
and save these for drier weather.

Welcome to Styleforum.


Thanks, trying this now.

Originally Posted by pnin22
Salt stain, rub gently with damp cloth or with vinegar solution as suggested above. One caution: do NOT apply polish before washing out all the salt, as this will make the stain permanent.

Oops.
 

pebblegrain

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water damage.

time may heal it, or it might stay deformed like that forever.

this is one drawback of welted shoes in the wet

goodyear welting is NOT waterproof, in the slightest.
 

DWFII

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Originally Posted by pebblegrain
water damage. time may heal it, or it might stay deformed like that forever. this is one drawback of welted shoes in the wet goodyear welting is NOT waterproof, in the slightest.
You're probably correct but the fact that is is welted--Goodyear or hand-welted...or even Blake or Blake-Rapid--has absolutely nothing to do with these water stains.
 

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