I had a dilemma a few days ago which led me to write an earlier article about the reasons why patent leather gets sticky. I also shared one of the best ways to deal with sticky patent leather.
I received a few emails from some of my lovely cherished readers about other ways or methods for removing the stickiness from patent leather items. So in this article, I will share some additional methods you can use to clean sticky patent leather.
So how do you clean sticky patent leather? You can clean sticky patent leather using white vinegar by mixing two tablespoons of dish soap, one teaspoon of baking soda, and ¼ cup white vinegar in a bowl of water and then use the mixture to scrub the surface of your sticky patent leather item. After that use a clean damp cloth to clean all residues, condition, and leave to dry.
I have to tell you that I am very open-minded about the different ways and techniques for cleaning patent leather; however, full disclosure, I will only resort to home remedies only when I do not have the means to get a special patent leather cleaner.
Let’s start by taking a look at using special patent leather cleaners and which brand I prefer and where to get them.
Using Patent Leather Cleaner
As explained earlier in my previous post this is my go-to when I want to clean any patent leather item of mine that has become sticky.
The cleaner is specially formulated for patent leather and will remove the stickiness from the surface of your shoes, bags, jackets, boots, without any worry of messing up the color or the patent leather item. Going this way removes all the guesswork.
One of my preferred places to buy this cleaner is Amazon. I usually get this Patent Leather Cleaner. There are couple more products similar to this one on Amazon.
All you do after you have picked out the product of your choice is to follow the instructions on the bottle and you will be all set.
1. Using Baby Oil And Toothpaste
There are two ways you can use this method to clean your sticky patent leather items. Let’s start with the first method.
Using Baby Oil And Toothpaste Method 1:
This method is for those who are on a budget and do not want to spend their money on cleaners. Using these two common household items works great because they are readily available and do their job well.
Baby oil is mainly used to moisturize the skin, but it works for other purposes as well. It’s gentle and non-greasy. You can apply it to your patent leather item, let it sit for a few minutes, then use a clean cloth to wipe it off.
The oil should dissolve the stickiness and also moisturize your patent leather item at the same time.
Toothpaste is a common household item that you probably have sitting in your bathroom. I am sure most of us do keep toothpaste around the house because it’s a great household item that can be used for various purposes.
Toothpaste works the same way as baby oil does in removing stickiness from your patent leather items. You just apply the toothpaste and wipe it off using a clean cloth after you have let it sit for a few minutes.
You can also combine these two items and here’s how you use them to get rid of sticky residue from the surface of leather goods.
Step One:
Take a small amount of baby oil and apply it to the surface area where there is sticky residue. Let the oil sit for a few minutes.
Step Two:
Take a small amount of toothpaste and apply it to the surface area where there is sticky residue. Let the toothpaste sit for a few minutes.
Step Three:
Use a clean cloth to wipe off both baby oil and toothpaste from the surface of the patent leather item.
You can rub a little hard if the sticky residue has not been removed fully from the surface yet.
Once all of the oil and toothpaste residues are gone, the stickiness should be gone as well. Leaving your patent leather surface looking and feeling fresh.
Also if you find the stickiness is still on the surface of the patent leather, repeat the process one more time.
Using Baby Oil And Toothpaste Method 2:
The second way to clean your sticky patent leather using toothpaste and baby oil is by;
Step One:
In a small bowl add some baby oil, toothpaste (gel type works best), water, dishwashing liquid to create a thick paste.
Step Two:
Stir until all ingredients are well mixed together then apply it to your shoes or other patent leather items that have become sticky.
Step Three:
Let the mixture sit on your patent leather item for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Step Four:
Use a clean cloth to wipe off the mixture from the surface of your patent leather item.
The sticky residue should come out with the baby oil and toothpaste mixture. You can as well repeat the entire process if you see the stickiness is still there.
2. Using Soapy Solution
Another method I learned about when I was experimenting on how to clean sticky patent leather is using a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
I was surprised to notice how it worked but I must add that it only worked on patent leather items that have just started to feel sticky. All you will need are a bowl, dish soap, warm water, a sponge, a microfiber cloth, and a towel (lint-free).
Step One:
Pour some warm water into the bowl, then add some dish soap, and then mix the two ingredients together.
Step Two:
Lightly dampen the surface of your patent leather with the soap solution and leave it to sit for a few minutes.
Step Three:
Now use your sponge soaked with the soap solution and begin to scrub the surface of the patent leather item.
The warm water and the soap should dissolve the stickiness from the surface of the patent leather.
Step Four:
Use a clean lint-free towel to dry and if you can still see some stickiness, you can repeat the process.
3. Using White Vinegar
One other method to try is using white vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. White vinegar contains cleaning agents that can help dissolve the stickiness of your patent leather item.
The role of baking soda in this method is to neutralize the vinegar’s acidic nature so that it does not affect the appearance of the patent leather.
You will need a bowl (preferably plastic), water, dish soap, baking soda, white vinegar, and a sponge.
Step One:
Pour some water into the bowl then add two tablespoons of dish soap, one teaspoon of baking soda, and ¼ cup white vinegar.
Step Two:
Mix all ingredients together then wet your sponge with the solution and begin to scrub the surface of your patent leather item.
Step Three:
Wait until you see all the stickiness on the surface of your patent leather has been removed then use a clean cloth to dry.
Step Four:
If you feel like some stickiness is still there then you can repeat the entire process.
Step Five:
Once all residues are removed, leave your patent leather item to dry completely before using it.
4. Using Olive Oil
There is something magical about using olive oil to clean sticky patent leather. I used this method recently and it worked perfectly for me, however, you must be very careful not to apply too much oil on the surface of your patent leather item.
Using Olive Oil Method 1:
The first method you can try is by using olive oil, dishwashing liquid soap, and water.
Step One:
In a small bowl add some olive oil, dishwashing liquid, and water to create a thick paste.
Step Two:
Stir until all ingredients are well mixed together then apply it to your shoes or other patent leather items that have become sticky.
Step Three:
Let the mixture sit on your patent leather item for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Step Four:
Use a clean damp cloth to wipe off the mixture from the surface of your patent leather item. The sticky residue should come out as a flaky residue.
Using Olive Oil Method 2:
Another method I learned about when I was experimenting on how to clean sticky patent leather is using only olive oil and a piece of microfiber cloth.
As mentioned before all you will need is a bottle of olive oil, a microfiber cloth, and a towel.
Step One:
Pour some olive oil on the microfiber cloth and begin to wipe over your patent leather item.
Step Two:
Wait few minutes and use a clean towel to wipe off the excess oil from your patent leather item. Wiping the oil will remove the sticky residue in the process and your patent leather should be looking good as new.
Step Three:
If you feel like some sticky residue is still there, then repeat the entire process until all residues are removed. But this time wait for about 15 minutes before wiping off the oil.
Step Four:
Leave your patent leather item to dry completely before using it.
5. Using Nail Polish Remover
Another home remedy for dealing with sticky patent leather is using nail polish remover. This stuff can be pretty strong so you should use it with caution. I recommend using this as a last resort as it might be too harsh for some patent leather items.
Step One:
Dip a cotton bud into the nail polish remover and start to rub it on your patent leather item.
Step Two:
If you feel like your patent leather is still sticky, then continue to rub it with the nail polish remover until all sticky residues are removed.
Step Three:
Wipe off the excess nail polish remover using a clean damp cloth.
Step Four:
Leave your patent leather item to dry completely.
Step Five:
You can now clean and condition your patent leather item.
Step Six:
If you are satisfied with the result then go ahead and use your patent leather items as usual.
6. Using Saddle Soap And Mineral Spirit
Unlike things like acetone and other harsh chemicals, the mineral spirit is less likely to cause any harm, especially on your patent leather items. It is a great substance for cleaning patent leather.
Its role in this method will be to remove the stickiness of your patent leather items while the saddle soap will work to clean your patent leather items in the process.
Step One:
Dip a clean cloth in a mineral spirit and start to rub it on your patent leather item.
Step Two:
Let the mineral spirit sit on your patent leather item for about five to ten minutes before wiping it off with a clean cloth.
Step Three:
Repeat the entire process until all sticky residues are removed from your patent leather item.
Step Four:
Once all of the sticky residues is gone, use the saddle soap to clean your patent leather thoroughly. This will stop the reaction or remove any remaining mineral spirit residue from the patent leather.
Step Five:
Now leave the saddle soap to sit on your patent leather item for about five minutes before wiping it off with a damp microfiber cloth and finally letting the patent leather dry completely.
Step Six:
Condition your patent leather items with the help of some high-quality conditioner. This will make it look shiny and beautiful like new.