If you don't have the budget to buy a pair of genuine leather shoes, synthetic leather shoes can be an ideal alternative to getting cheap and good shoes. Although synthetic leather is more durable than genuine leather, it does not mean that synthetic leather is immune to damage. Scratches and scratches can make the appearance of the shoes unsightly. Luckily, with a little skill, you can make your shoes look like new again.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning and Testing Problem Areas
Step 1. Clean the problem area
Use a soft cloth and warm water. Then gently press the area with a little distilled white vinegar. Treat the area around the scratch with vinegar.
- Pour a small amount of distilled white vinegar on a paper towel and rub it over the area around the scratch.
- The vinegar will make the area slightly puffy. Synthetic leather will cover some of the scratches. Vinegar will also remove stains such as salt as well as clean them.
Step 2. Polish the problem area with a colorless polish
After cleaning and applying vinegar, wait for the area to dry. Then, polish it with a transparent polish.
- Polish the shoe in circular motions to spread the polish evenly over the problem areas. Use medium pressure to spread the polish without damaging the shoes.
- Transparent polish will not affect the color of the shoes. Polishing will help blend the problem area with the rest of the area around it.
Step 3. Take an acrylic paint that matches the color of the shoe
Take your shoes or boots to a home improvement or craft store to find the right paint color.
You can buy paint with different types of varnish. As much as possible try to find a varnish that matches the shoe, such as neutral, eggshell, or glossy. Acrylic paint is best suited for patching scuffs and scratches on shoes
Step 4. Purchase a bottle of Modge Podge or Shoe Goo at a craft store
Again, you should look for the type of varnish that is closest to shoe lacquer, such as matte, satin, or glossy.
- Modge Podge is an all-purpose glue, a protective coating, as well as a varnish finish. You can use it for a variety of craft projects. In addition, you can use it to deal with the problem of synthetic leather shoes.
- Shoe Goo is a product similar to the Modge Podge and can be used to treat a variety of shoe problems. Shoe Goo can be used as a glue, protective coating, and varnish coating. You could say Shoe Goo is liquid rubber in a tube. Once applied and dried, Shoe Goo turns into a strong and flexible material like rubber. Once dry, the Shoe Goo will remain clear.
- You can choose one of the products according to the damage you want to repair. One may be more suitable than the other or you can use both.
Step 5. Apply a small amount of paint on the scratched area
You'll need to apply a small amount of paint to the hidden area after the polish dries to see how it works on the shoe.
Apply a small amount of paint to the hidden areas to make sure the paint color blends in perfectly with the shoes. If you are satisfied with the result, you can move on to the next step
Part 2 of 3: Dealing with Problem Areas
Step 1. Prepare all the necessary repair materials
You will need Modge Podge and/or Shoe Goo, paint, brush, small paint container, paper napkins, shoe polish, shoe spray and nail clippers or fine sandpaper.
- Use a small brush so you can paint over the scratched area without hitting the surrounding area.
- You can use nail clippers or fine sandpaper to remove any loose debris around the scratch. Nail clippers provide more accurate results, while sandpaper is more effective for areas closer to the soles of shoes or boots.
Step 2. Use nail clippers to remove any debris that is sticking out or hanging from the shoe
Scratched synthetic leather will cause small flakes around it. You should remove these small splinters so they can patch up the scratch and not push the splinter into it. The area to be repaired should be as smooth as possible.
Again, nail clippers or tweezers will allow you to remove debris in specific areas. However, if the area to be repaired is larger, sandpaper will be a more effective solution for smoothing it out
Step 3. Carefully apply the paint over the area to be repaired
Once you've wiped your shoes and removed any unnecessary debris, you can now start painting the scratches.
- Dip the tip of a small brush into the container of paint. You only need a little paint. Using a small amount of paint will allow you to spread it evenly.
- Apply paint to the stroke in gentle strokes. Leave it for 1-2 minutes. Wipe the brush with a paper towel to remove any excess paint.
Step 4. Let the paint dry and add a second coat if necessary
Repeat the process of adding layers of paint using only a small amount of paint at a time.
- Keep adding layers of paint until all the strokes are evenly covered.
- Make sure you only use a small amount of paint to add each layer. Too much paint will cause bubbles to form, making the problem area look uneven.
Part 3 of 3: Protecting Troubled Areas and Shoes
Step 1. Apply Modge Podge or Shoe Goo
Once the paint is completely dry, apply a thin coat of Modge Podge or Shoe Goo and cover the entire treated area to protect it.
- We recommend that you use a different brush to apply Modge Podge or Shoe Goo. If you only use one brush, be sure to wash it thoroughly and wipe off any excess paint with a paper towel before using it again.
- After applying Modge Podge or Shoe Goo, clean the brush with a paper towel to remove excess product. Then, use the brush to smooth out the edges of the painted area carefully so as not to leave a clear line of difference.
- Shoe Goo is usually clear, while Modge Podge is white. Don't worry if you apply it on top of colored paint because once it dries it will turn clear.
Step 2. Polish the shoes with polish
Once everything is dry, you can polish the shoes with a polish that matches the color of the shoes.
- The polishing process will help make the shoe color more uniform. The polish will even out the area around the scratch that looks irregular. Also, polishing will give your shoes a new look.
- You may need to polish the problem area after painting before applying a protective layer, depending on the severity of the scratch. Polishing the scratched area and applying a protective layer will make the polish under the protective layer more permanent.
Step 3. Clean all other parts of the shoe or boot
After you've dealt with the scratch, clean any areas of the shoe that may still be dirty or require maintenance. If you have to treat a large area of the shoe, do so before polishing the entire shoe. Clean all the rest of the shoe following the procedure outlined above with a clean cloth, water and a little white vinegar if you find any stubborn salt or dirt stains.
- Finish your job by cleaning all the shoes so they look like new.
- Wait until everything is completely dry before you put on your shoes. If you put it on before things have hardened and dried, there's a chance that cracks and scratches will re-open.
Step 4. Protect your shoes by spraying them with a waterproof product
You can take it a step further to provide better protection for your shoes or boots.
- Use a waterproof spray or apply shoe wax to protect your shoes from salt, water, and dirt stains.
- This additional step helps prevent repaired scratches from reappearing. In addition, this step also prevents damage to other areas.
- When spraying shoes, do so in a room with a good ventilation system.
- Make sure the product you use to spray shoes or shoe wax is suitable for your synthetic leather shoes.
Tips
- Instead of using paint, you can try treating the scratch with a liquid pen or marker, depending on the type of varnish and the size of the scratch.
- When using this kind of product, you should do it in a well-ventilated room. It's also a good idea to put a sheet of newspaper in order to protect the floor or other surface.
- This repair method is usually most effective for parts of the shoe that are not bent. If the leather is bent, the paint and Modge Podge will crack.
- Before applying paint or varnish, do a test on a hidden area. Make sure the colors match and blend well.
