**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**

[JFWR]

Gentlemen,

Am I right in assuming that these are in need of a resole? I believe I am seeing the metal shank coming through the leather here. Am I mistaken?

As you'll notice, on one there is an actual cut where it seems the metal is showing. I assume this means "go get these resoled with all due haste".

 

[Munky]

Need help. Yesterday my GF dropped some liquid on her veg tanned crust sneakers (my gift of course). She doesn’t know if it was water or alcohol, but probably alcohol. She didnt notice until the next day.
I tried brushing and nothing, I put some corn starch in them but with litke hope bc is already dry.
The leather was quite naked bc she didn’t like when i tried polishing them a bit due to some darkening.
Any idea? Wet cloth? Would it darken the sneaker?

Sorry that this has happened, it's very upsetting on veg tanned leather. I dropped hand sanitiser on my new veg tanned shoes, some months ago and mentioned it on here. I tried various things, ranging from water to Renovateur (something I almost never use) to Saphir, neutral cream. I can only report that none of these things did anything to the stains. However, natural veg tanned leather darkens pretty quickly and I am finding that the spots are fading. Also, the leather inevitably picks up other stains and thus the pair get evened up a bit. It is probably best to call it patina! Best wishes, Munky.

 

[CWV]

Sorry that this has happened, it's very upsetting on veg tanned leather. I dropped hand sanitiser on my new veg tanned shoes, some months ago and mentioned it on here. I tried various things, ranging from water to Renovateur (something I almost never use) to Saphir, neutral cream. I can only report that none of these things did anything to the stains. However, natural veg tanned leather darkens pretty quickly and I am finding that the spots are fading. Also, the leather inevitably picks up other stains and thus the pair get evened up a bit. It is probably best to call it patina! Best wishes, Munky.

Thanks Munky. I remember reading your story. Do you think that a wet cloth could darken them oernanwntly? I just want to try and do something and in a bit afraid if the tooth paste method

 

[Schweino]

Thanks Munky. I remember reading your story. Do you think that a wet cloth could darken them oernanwntly? I just want to try and do something and in a bit afraid if the tooth paste method

With stains like that I usually soak the leather with water. Then dry the shoes away from a direct heat source. Works all the time in my case.

 

[CWV]

With stains like that I usually soak the leather with water. Then dry the shoes away from a direct heat source. Works all the time in my case.

And by soaking you mean submerging? or runing a wet Cloth all over the shoe? Spot cleaning would leave an uneven color?

 

[Schweino]

Run a soaking wet cloth over the shoe until the leather is full of water and evenly colored (darkened). Do not spot clean indeed. If all goes well the stains will dissolve.

 

[Munky]

Thanks Munky. I remember reading your story. Do you think that a wet cloth could darken them oernanwntly? I just want to try and do something and in a bit afraid if the tooth paste method

Yes, I did wipe them down, with water, with a view to making the leather look a bit more even in colour. Initially, it darkened them a lot - which is to be expected. Once they had dried out, though, they returned to the way they were. The water idea did make the shoes a bit dry and I put another thin layer of neutral cream on them and brushed them. That brightened up the surface but the stains were still there. I can understand your wanting to do something to improve matters but I can only report that I have had to rely on time passing and the leather darkening.

Have a look on the net at some really old veg tanned shoes and you will see that loads of them are very heavily stained. It is the nature of 'natural' veg tanned leather; it absorbs a lot. Keep thinking about the shoes but don't do anything too drastic. Best wishes, Munky.

 

[CWV]

Run a soaking wet cloth over the shoe until the leather is full of water and evenly colored (darkened). Do not spot clean indeed. If all goes well the stains will dissolve.

and once they have dried, will They have darkened? I want to give all the info to my GF so she can decide what she wants to do.

 

[Schweino]

and once they have dried, will They have darkened? I want to give all the info to my GF so she can decide what she wants to do.

Never had that happen. Once dried they will be their original color. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to wear shoes when it rains?

 

[CWV]

Never had that happen. Once dried they will be their original color. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to wear shoes when it rains?

I thought that could be the reason not to spot clean

 

[marlinspike]

I wonder if something like colourlock leather cleaner would work on crust leather. It foams from the dispensing, so it doesn't wet things quite so much, and it really does clean incredibly, but I have only ever used it on car leather.

 

[JFWR]

Have you tried just saddle soap?

 

[CWV]

Have you tried just saddle soap?

Nope. For now only brushing and corn starch. Have Saphir saddle soap though. How does it interact with veg tanned crust ?

 

[JFWR]

Nope. For now only brushing and corn starch. Have Saphir saddle soap though. How does it interact with veg tanned crust ?

Given how stained it is, I dare say it wouldn't make matters worse. But I've no idea what it'd do to veg tanned crust leather, so don't take this as a recommendation to go ahead. Let's wait.

 

[Munky]

@CWV With respect, you are probably seeking to many views on this. This may result in your trying all sorts of products and methods on your girlfriend's shoes. What I am sure you won't want to do is make matters worse. It might be time to accept things as they are and allow the shoes to rest and recover a bit. Very best wishes, Munky.