Patent leather shoes have a stylish and elegant appearance, so they are present in the wardrobe of a large number of people. But this is a very capricious material that requires proper care. In the summer, patent leather stretches, and in cold weather it becomes fragile.
All this leads to wrinkles, cracks and scratches appearing on patent leather shoes. But you don’t need to immediately throw away shoes that have lost their presentable appearance. You can get rid of scratches at home.
How to remove scratches from varnish
Due to the fact that patent leather is not particularly practical, shoes made from this material are not suitable for daily wear. Dust, street dirt and humidity have a negative effect and lead to tarnishing of the product. Also, the skin deteriorates from:
- exposure to sunlight;
- various chemicals;
- moisture;
- under the influence of temperature changes;
- sloppy wear. Scratches can appear if you lightly touch the steps of a staircase, curb, chair leg or other objects.
Any of these reasons leads to scratches on the surface of the product. You can get rid of this problem by using traditional methods.
Before you begin to repair the damage, you should assess its extent. To do this, run your finger over the surface of the scratch. If it is felt in two directions, then the scratch can be removed. If in one case it is very difficult to cope with such a defect on your own, in this case it is recommended to take the shoes to a workshop.
Before you begin to restore the leather, the shoes must be prepared. Using nail scissors, carefully cut off the small pieces of skin that have formed along the edges of the scratch. You should also wash and dry your shoes and degrease the damaged areas. This can be done with ethyl alcohol or a special shoe cleaner.
Wax
The defect can be eliminated using wax. To do this, you should use special wax for shoes, or you can melt a wax or bee candle.
- the wax must be preheated;
- melted wax is applied in an even layer to the damaged areas. For convenience, you need to use a cotton swab or brush;
- when it dries, it needs to be polished with a flannel cloth;
- If the shoes are colored, you should mask the wax with shoe polish.
Wax has excellent water-repellent properties. Therefore, it will not only eliminate scratches, but also protect shoes from moisture. To do this, wax the entire surface of the boots.
Manicure polish
To eliminate small defects, nail polish is an excellent option. The most important thing when using this method is to choose the right shade. The varnish should be glossy and fresh.If it is already old, then when it dries it will leave a bump, which will ruin the appearance of the shoes. If you couldn’t find a varnish that matches the color, you should use the colorless option. It is especially relevant for white and black shoes.
- Dip a toothpick into the varnish.
- Use a toothpick to thoroughly coat the entire damaged surface. In this case, you need to press hard on the edges of the scratch.
- The resulting excess should be removed with nail polish remover. The product should not contain acetone, as it will dull patent leather. It is advisable to test the product on a small area of the product before doing this.
Cosmetic pencil
One of the easiest ways to eliminate the resulting defect. This option is suitable for removing small and shallow scratches. To do this, you need a soft pencil for eyebrows, eyelids or lips.
- You should first select the most suitable pencil color. If the shoes are pink or red, you will need lip product. For black or brown - for eyebrows. For other shades, eyeliner pencils are suitable.
- Use a pencil to paint over the damaged areas.
- Then blend it with a soft cloth.
Important! This method is short-lived and will have to be repeated constantly.
Special means
You can remove scratches on patent leather using special paint, which can be purchased at a shoe store. On sale you can find specialized paints for regular and patent leather. The paint must be carefully applied using a thin brush along the entire length of the scratch. Then leave for 5 hours until completely dry. If necessary, a second coat can be applied. When the paint dries, it needs to be covered with decoupage glue.
"Liquid skin".This is a professional tool for eliminating defects. With its help you can remove even serious damage. Thanks to its composition, “liquid skin” is able to merge with the damaged surface so that it becomes completely invisible.
Principle of use:
- The damaged area must be treated with sandpaper. You should take the finest grain.
- After which the surface should be degreased.
- “Liquid Skin” is applied evenly to damaged areas.
- Shoes must be left until the composition has completely dried. This usually takes about a day.
- After which the shoes should be polished.
How to remove scuffs
Very often, abrasions appear on the surface of patent leather. These are minor damages that can be easily repaired using home remedies: sunflower oil, lint-free cloth, eraser, ethyl alcohol.
- Use an eraser to rub out defects.
- Next, you need to remove the remaining eraser. This can be done using cotton pads pre-moistened in ethyl alcohol.
- When the alcohol dries, you need to apply oil.
- After which the treated surface must be treated with a lint-free cloth.
Using these methods, you can return patent leather to its original appearance. But do not forget that shoes made of such material require careful wear and careful care. With careful treatment and proper care, you can not only maintain a presentable appearance, but also significantly increase the life of your shoes.