How to Dye Leather Shoes

Leather shoes come in a vast array of styles. Before you realize it, your closet starts filling up with an enormous amount of them. Instead of throwing away a few of your unused leather shoes, consider dyeing them to change their look. Not only will this let you express your creative style, but it is a great way to update an old style. With a few simple tips, you'll learn how to dye your forgotten leather shoes and bring them back to life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Leather shoes
• Dye
• Lint free cloth
• Masking tape

1. Take an inventory of all of the unused leather shoes you have stashed away in your closet. Pull out each one and inspect them before you consider dyeing them. If they are in horrible shape and can no longer be worn comfortably, then toss them aside and keep looking. It doesn't make sense to dye leather shoes that are extremely tattered and in bad shape.
2. Think about all of your current outfits and if you should dye a certain number of leather shoes to match them. Dyes for leather shoes come in a large variety of colors and choosing the best one for you can become a long process. The best way to choose a satisfactory dye color is to make sure it allows you to be completely versatile. Finding an affordable deal for leather shoe dye won't be a difficult task. Many of them can be easily found locally or online.
3. Clean your leather shoes thoroughly. Dyeing them when there are an ample amount of extra particles will look very unprofessional and horrible. Set aside some extra time for this process and then strategically clean each shoe with a gentle lint free cloth and a mild soap. You don't want to use anything rough or harsh because it will scratch your shoes.
4. Allow your newly cleaned leather shoes to air dry in an open space. Stay away from the thought of using a blow dryer or placing them in a laundry dryer. This will cause unnecessary harm to your leather shoes. Depending on how dirty your leather shoes were and how much cleaner needed to be used, it may take a couple of hours for them to be completely dry and ready to be dyed.
5. Use masking tape to cover the soles of your leather shoes. This will prevent the soles from absorbing the dye during the process. If you don't have an issue with the soles being dyed, then just leave them uncovered. Set aside an open space for your dyeing process and make sure that there is no exposed furniture that will be at risk of being dyed as well. Gently stir your leather dye when it is opened with a paint stick. After doing this, use a soft sponge to evenly apply the dye to multiple areas on the leather shoes. Once the first coat has dried fully, repeat this step until finished.
6. Place your newly dyed leather shoes outside in an open space. You don't want to be exposed to the fumes for an extended amount of time because it could make you drastically sick. Before you attempt to wear your revived leather shoes, allow them to dry at least twelve hours. If you try to wear them sooner, then your leather dye will gradually rub off and onto everything else.