I wear light-coloured footwear most of the time, rain or shine. And yes, it does get dirty. But I’m vigilant about keeping my light footwear clean and pristine because I bat for Team Polished. This is how I do it.
A Once Over with Moist Wipes
You’ll be surprised at how well a moist wipe works to remove grime from most leather shoes (not only light-coloured styles). It takes the edge off and instantly makes them look better. Moist wipes tend not to remove stubborn scuffs and stains (see tricks 2 and 3 below for that) and don’t use them on suede footwear. This method works well for my white loafers.
Magic Eraser for Suede Shoes
The best way to clean light suede footwear is with a magic eraser. Wet the eraser and gently scrub the dirty areas of the suede. Keep on going over the areas until the marks are going, and make sure the eraser is very moist. Bits of the white magic eraser crumble onto the suede as you’re scrubbing, but they brush off easily. Allow the shoe to dry and Bob’s your uncle. You might not have removed all the marks, but you’ll definitely notice an improvement. This is how I clean my silver grey suede ankle strap pumps which have been getting a lot of wear this year.
Nail Polish Remover for Scuffs
This trick works like a bomb. I’ve removed footprints, scuffs and denim dye from my white flat booties and white Franco Sarto Holts with ease using nail polish remover and a cotton pad. Nail polish remover is also great at removing scuffs off patent footwear (all colours). I first give them a once-over with the moist wipe before I apply the nail polish remover.
Please share your own tips for cleaning light-coloured footwear in the comments section.
