How to Remove Black Shoe Polish
Oh the irony of black shoe polish! It can remove scuffs from your shoes brilliantly but get it anywhere else and you have quite the mess on your hands. Don't worry; shoe polish stains are far from permanent. As long as you have some rags and basic cleaning supplies, the stains should be gone in no time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Removing Black Shoe Polish from Flat Surfaces
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1
Pour a couple drops of ammonia and a few squeezes of dish soap into a bucket of warm water.
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2
Dip a cloth into the water. Make sure not to soak the cloth completely. Just dampen it.
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3
Rub the wet cloth on the surface you wish to clean. The ammonia should take the black shoe polish off.
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4
Rinse away the soapy water with clear water. Dry off the surface with a cloth.
Removing Black Shoe Polish from Walls
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5
Wet a cloth slightly. Sprinkle baking soda on the cloth.
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6
Rub the baking soda cloth on the stain. Do not rub too hard or you can permanently damage/stain the wall.
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7
Wipe the baking soda away with a new damp cloth.
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8
Dry wall with a dry cloth. Patting the wall dry will help ensure that water streaks are not left on the wall.
Removing Black Shoe Polish from Carpet
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9
Scrape the solids off of the carpet with a dull instrument such as a butter knife. Make sure your instrument isn't sharp or you could damage the carpet. Don't over scrape. Your main goal with this initial step is remove the thicker layers of polish.
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10
Squeeze carpet shampoo on a sponge or cloth. Rub the sponge or cloth over the stained area. Give the rug a good scrub, but don't rub too vigorously or you can damage your carpet's fibers.
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11
Clean off the sponge with clear water as it begins to pick up the stain. If the stain is especially thick, use a second sponge to make sure you don't recontaminate the area.
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12
Soak up the water/shampoo with dry cloths. Salt can help absorb some of the moisture too, but make sure you vacuum up the salt when the area is dry. If you don't properly dry your carpet, mildew can form.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To get shoe polish out of clothing, regular laundry detergent should work. You can scrub the stain directly with a mix of water and detergent first and then run a regular wash.
Take proper precautions as you use household cleaners. If you have pets or kids, make sure they are removed from the area while you clean and that you properly wash off all cleaners. Certain cleaners can also stain. Test the cleaner on a small inconspicuous patch to make sure it doesn't discolor your rug or wall.
