Removing Shoe Polish Stains From Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

Removing Shoe Polish From Washable Fabric

1. Remove Solid Chunks

   Lift any solid pieces of shoe polish off the fabric with the edge of a dull knife or a spoon. Take care not to press or smear the shoe polish into the fabric fibers.

2. Spray the Stain

   Cover the stain with a laundry pre-treatment spray or gel, such as Shout or OxiClean. Use your fingers or a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, to rub the product gently into the stain, working from the outer edge towards the center.

   Tip

   If you don't have a pre-treatment spray or gel handy, use a small amount of your heavy-duty laundry detergent instead. Work the detergent into the stain with your fingers or toothbrush.

3. Let Pre-Treatment Soak In

   Wait for 15 minutes while the stain treatment works its magic, and then rinse the fabric from the reverse side with hot water.

4. Wash the Garment

   Wash the garment in the hottest water recommended by the care instructions. Add heavy-duty laundry detergent and oxygen-bleach to the load, following the manufacturer's directions for amounts.

   Warning

   Use oxygen bleach, which is safe for all colors of fabric, not chlorine bleach, which can only be used on whites.

5. Check for Lingering Stains

   Check the washed fabric. If the stain is gone, dry it as usual. If any stain remains, do not put it into the dryer. Instead, go on to the next step.

6. Treat Lingering Stains

   Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach, such as OxiClean or Purex 2 Color Safe Bleach, and cool water in a bucket or large sink, following the bleach directions as to how much product per gallon of water. Completely submerge the garment, and allow it to soak for at least eight hours.

7. Repeat as Necessary

   Check the garment. If the stain is gone, wash and dry as usual. If a trace remains, however, mix a fresh batch of oxygen bleach and water, and soak the garment for another eight hours. Stubborn stains might take two or three such treatments, but eventually, the stain should come out completely. Once it is gone, wash and dry the garment as usual.

Removing Shoe Polish From Carpet and Upholstery

The following steps can be used on carpet and most upholstery. However, if the upholstery is silk or a vintage material, call in a professional cleaner, do not attempt to treat the stain yourself.

Before getting started, It's a good idea to test an inconspicuous area first to be sure that there aren't any unwanted color changes to the carpet or upholstery.

1. Lift Away Solids

   Lift any solid pieces of shoe polish from the carpet or upholstery with a dull knife or spoon. Take care not to smear the shoe polish into the fabric fibers.

2. Blot the Stain

   Blot the stain gently with a clean paper towel. Don't rub or scrub and don't blot too hard. Lightly press the paper towel to the stain until no more transfers to the paper.

3. Mix a Cleaning Solution

   Mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent, one tablespoon of household ammonia, and two cups of hot water in a clean, empty spray bottle.

4. Spray and Blot the Stain

   Spray the solution onto the stained area, and then blot the stain with a clean paper towel. Continue to blot until the stain is lifted. You might need to repeat this step two or three times before all of the shoe polish is gone.

5. Rinse with Cold Water

   Rinse the treated area by blotting with a clean rag or paper towel soaked in cold water. Blot until all traces of soap are gone, and then blot again with dry rags or paper towels until the area feels damp, not wet. Allow the treated area to air dry.

6. Vacuum Carpet

   Vacuum dry, treated carpet to restore the fibers to their usual fluff.

Additional Tips for Handling Shoe Polish Stains

If the stain remains despite your best efforts, it's time to call in a professional. Take a shoe-polish-stained garment to a dry cleaner, or call a professional carpet or upholstery cleaning service for stains on furniture or floors. Be sure to let the cleaner know the type of stain as well as the products you've used attempting to remove it.