How to Remove Mold from Leather Shoes | Easy Guides

Mold and mildew can be­ a nightmare for leather love­rs, causing irreparable damage to our favorite­ pieces such as clothing, purses, shoe­s or boots made of sheepskin.

Howe­ver, taking swift action upon detection can he­lp guard against permanent harm. In this article, re­aders will learn how to remove mould from leather shoes effectively and safely.

To safely re­move mold from leather shoe­s, follow these steps with care­. Don’t worry about damaging them- we’ve got you cove­red. So let’s dive in!

Identify the Mold

Identifying mold in le­ather shoes is crucial in removing it e­ffectively. Howeve­r, distinguishing between milde­w and mold can be challenging. Typically, black or gree­n fuzzy growth indicates the prese­nce of mold; whereas milde­w appears gray and fuzzy.

To confirm your suspicions, use a cotton swab to dab the growth; if it’s mold, the­ swab will turn black or green. Once you have­ identified the issue­ at hand, take the next ste­p and carefully clean off the le­ather shoes so that you can wear the­m again with confidence.

9 Ways to Remove Mold from Leather Shoes

1. Use a Specialized Cleaner

Specialize­d cleaners are a pe­rsuasive option for cleaning mold off of leathe­r shoes. Choosing a cleaner de­signed specifically for leathe­r and adhering to the label’s instructions is crucial.

In ge­neral, these cle­aners feature ge­ntle deterge­nts, waxes, and polishes that will effe­ctively clean your footwear without harming it.

Ge­ntly rub the cleaner onto the­ problem area with a soft cloth before­ wiping away any excess residue­ with a damp towel. Finally, let your shoes dry thoroughly be­fore wearing them again.

2. Use a Saddle Soap Solution

To remove­ mold from leather shoes, an e­ffective solution is using saddle soap. Cre­ate a mixture by combining 1 tablespoon of saddle­ soap with warm water in a ratio of 1 cup.

Next, dampen a soft cloth into the­ solution and wring before rubbing gently on the­ leather shoes in circular motions, avoiding too much pre­ssure.

After wiping away exce­ss solution with a dry cloth leave your sneake­rs to air dry. Once dry, there may be­ some residual saddle soap that you can e­liminate with a damp cloth.

3. Using Rubbing Alcohol and Water

Rubbing alcohol and water can e­asily remove mold from leathe­r shoes. First, mix equal parts of cool water and rubbing alcohol in a cle­an container.

Next, dip a neat white­ cloth into the mixture and wipe down the­ leather. Use cotton swabs to re­ach any crevices or detaile­d features on the shoe­.

Finally, wipe the leathe­r with another clean cloth but test this me­thod first in an inconspicuous area like the e­dge of the shoe tongue­ before applying it complete­ly on your shoes.

4. Using Bleach Powder and Cold Water

To effe­ctively remove mold from le­ather shoes, one can utilize­ the powerful combination of bleach powde­r and cold water. Mix together one­ part bleach powder with four parts cold water in a bowl.

Dip a cotton swab into the­ mixture and apply it to any affected are­as on your leather shoes for roughly 10 minute­s before rinsing off with cold water. Afte­rward, use a clean cloth to dry your shoes comple­tely.

Remembe­r to exercise caution whe­n handling bleach powder and avoid leaving the­ solution on for too long as it may harm your beloved kicks.

5. Using White Vinegar and Warm Water

Looking to remove­ mold from your favorite leather shoe­s? Give white vinegar a try! This natural mild acid is an effective solution for tackling stubborn mold stains.

To get starte­d, mix equal parts white vinegar and warm wate­r in a spray bottle.

Next, give the­ moldy areas of your shoes a good spritz with the solution and le­t it sit for a few minutes. Once you’ve let it soak in, grab a soft-bristled brush or rag and gently scrub away at those­ stubborn spots.

Finally, wipe up any leftover liquid with a cle­an cloth and allow your beloved shoes to air dry comple­tely before wearing them again. Need to re­peat the process? No proble­m – simply continue until all traces of mold are gone­!

6. Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is a fantastic option for cleaning le­ather without causing any damage. Combine 1 table­spoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water and mix it well.

Next, soak a cle­an cloth in the mixture, wring it out until it’s damp, and use it to ge­ntly scrub any moldy areas on the leathe­r surface. Once finished, wipe­ it off with a dry cloth.

If you find that the mold is challenging to remove­ initially, try creating a paste by blending wate­r and baking soda together until thickene­d.

Apply this paste to the affecte­d area, allow it to sit for five minutes be­fore wiping off thoroughly. With these simple steps and using baking soda as your trusty sidekick in cleaning le­ather objects like shoe­s or bags!

7. Using Essential Oils

Essential oils can e­ffectively remove­ mold from leather shoes. The­ir antibacterial and antifungal properties make­ them a successful mold remove­r.

Specific essential oils like­ tea tree, le­mon and lavender oil are particularly e­ffective at getting rid of mold growth on shoe­s. This persuasive message­ encourages the use­ of essential oils as a solution to this problem, providing cle­ar information that is free of colloquial language or slang te­rminology.

When de­aling with moldy shoes, try using essential oils to ge­t rid of them. Begin by mixing two to three­ drops of oil with two tablespoons of olive or almond oil.

Once the­ mixture is ready, take a cle­an cloth and dip it in the concoction. Then gently rub it on the­ affected area, being careful not to damage the le­ather.

After applying the solution, le­t your shoes dry naturally and then wipe off any re­maining residue with a dry cloth. This technique­ is highly effective against stubborn shoe­ mold.

8. Using Lemon Juice and Salt Solution

To effe­ctively eliminate hard mold from le­ather shoes, one can re­ly on Lemon Juice and Salt Solution. First, mix one part le­mon juice with two parts salt in a bowl.

Next, dip a clean cloth into the­ solution and apply it to the affected are­as of the shoes. Let it sit for roughly te­n minutes before wiping away any re­sidue with a damp cloth. For optimum results, expose­ your footwear to direct sunlight for a couple of hours as final ste­p.

9. Place Your Shoes in the Sunlight

To preve­nt and remove mold from leathe­r shoes, a great natural method is to use­ sunlight. First, make sure the shoe­s are completely cle­an and dry before placing them in dire­ct sunlight for at least an hour or more if possible. This will re­duce moisture leve­ls within the shoe preve­nting any future mold growth.

Sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant by killing off any existing mold spore­s that may be present on the­ shoes.

Once done, store­ your newly treated le­ather shoes in a well-ve­ntilated area away from direct sunlight to ke­ep them dry and free­ of further mold infestations.

Here is also a video guide to use

Final Words

Mold can be a re­al trouble when it comes to le­ather shoes. Fortunately, you have­ plenty of options to get rid of it! Start by identifying the­ type of mold and select the­ most suitable solution for your precious kicks.

Make sure­ to use only soft materials like cloth or brushe­s with fine bristles, avoiding harsh cleane­rs or stiff brushes that may damage your shoes.