Shoes and boots and the bottom of coats and pants take a beating during the winter months.  Salt stains need treated as soon as possible.  If you don’t, those little white marks and lines can change the dye color and later look like bleach spots.  Vinegar to the rescue! rock salt stains

Salt on Clothes

Materials Needed:

  • Distilled white vinegar, water, toothbrush, rag or cotton ball

Directions:

  • Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water.
  • Dab water/vinegar mixture, using a rag or cotton ball, on the affected area.  Use an old toothbrush in a circular motion to softly scrub the stain.   For stubborn stains, you may need to treat again.
  • Then, for washable items, wash as normal.

Salt on Suede

Materials Needed:

  • Distilled white vinegar, pencil eraser, water, spray bottle, suede brush (short bristled wire brush), newspaper, soft brush

Directions:

  • If removing salt from shoes and boots, stuff them with newspaper so they hold their shape.  Let any mud dry.  Brush with a suede brush to remove any dry dirt.  Do not brush in a circular motion, instead brush one way in the direction of the nap of the suede (make it lay down).
  • Using a pencil eraser, lightly rub the stained area.
  • For tougher stains, use the vinegar/water mixture.  Mix 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar to 1 cup water in a spray bottle.  Mist the affected area with the vinegar/water mixture using as small amount of water as possible.  Lightly brush the area to lift the nap up.  Once dry, use a soft brush to restore the original texture.

Salt on Shoes & Boots (Leather, Canvas, etc)

Materials Needed:

  • Distilled white vinegar, water, toothbrush, spray bottle, clean rag or paper towel, newspaper, shoe polish or banana

Directions:

  • Mix 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar to 1 cup water in a spray bottle…amounts do not have to be exact.
  • Stuff shoes and boots with newspapers so they hold their shape.  Mist the affected area with the vinegar/water mixture.  Gently scrub with an old toothbrush or soft bristled brush in a circular motion.  You may need to treat again.
  • Once dry, polish with shoe/boot polish or the inside of a banana peel.  Buff with clean rag or paper towel.