How to Remove Black Scuff Marks on White Dress Shoes

Erase ugly black scuff marks and restore your white dress shoes.

Black scuff marks are the bane of white dress shoes and you cannot always wipe them away easily. While you may be tempted to turn to harsh chemicals to restore the brightness of your white dress shoes, some cleaning products will damage the material of the shoes. Try a gentle cleaner first, and spend a little time scrubbing the marks away before you resort to harsh cleaners.

Things You'll Need

• Damp rag
• Clean towel
• Sponge
• Water
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Clean any dirt from the scuffed area of your white dress shoes with a damp rag and dry the shoes with a clean towel.

2. Wet a sponge under running water and then squeeze the sponge to remove most of the water.

3. Sprinkle baking soda onto the damp sponge. The baking soda will act as an abrasive to help scrub away the scuff mark without damaging the white dress shoes.

4. Rub the sponge on the scuff mark in a circular motion to remove the mark from your white dress shoes. Add more baking soda to the sponge as necessary.

5. Wipe away any remaining baking soda and water with a dry cloth after the black scuff mark is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Dip a cotton swab into nail polish remover containing acetone and gently rub the swab on stubborn black scuff marks. Continue to apply the nail polish remover until the scuff mark is gone and then wipe the area with a wet rag to remove all traces of the nail polish remover.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Winter Shoe Cleaning Tips
• Michigan State University Extension: Homemade Cleaners