TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 32

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES

HOMELY BUT EFFICIENT CLEANING METHODS REMOVING STAINS To prevent unsightly white stains appearing on shoes after contact with sea-water, rub them with a rag soaked in milk, and polish in the usual way. The milk fills the pores of the leather, and the polish seals it on the outer surface, so that water cannot penetrate. To remove dark stains from brown shoes, warm the affected parts for a minute, and wash with a little warm water and carbolic soap. Rub with an ammonia solution —ten drops of ammonia to half a cupful of watei- — until the stains disappear, set the shoes aside to dry, and polish in the usual way. Stains on suede shoes may be removed thus: Moisten with methylated spirit and leave for ten minutes. When the stain is softened and the spirit has evaporated, make a stiff paste of fuller’s earth and cold water, a d apply this to the marks. Leave until dry, and brush with a stiff brush until the nap of the leather is raised. If you do not happen to have a wire brush, a few rubs with a piece of fine sandpaper will do almost as well. COLOURED SHOES To preserve llzard : skin, and blue, brown and red kid shoes, rub them with the juice of a tomato, set them aside for half an hour, and clean in the usual way. Not only is the colouring preserved by this means, but the leather takes on a rich and lasting polish.