How to Dye Patent Leather Shoes

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shoes image by Einar Bog from Fotolia.com

Dyeing patent leather shoes is a fairly easy process. The shiny coating on patent leather makes it harder than regular leather to dye, so you'll have to apply more than one coat. Dye sticks easily to any leather material, even if it is covered in a shiny, patent coating. Dyeing is also permanent, so take care when deciding what color to dye your shoes. You will be able to switch them only to an even darker color later, so so if you're unsure what hue you want, start off with a light color.

Wet a rag with shoe stripper and wipe your shoes thoroughly with it. This will remove any oils and dirt from the shoe, providing the dye with a clean surface. Use a toothbrush dipped in stripper to get at hard-to-reach areas. Let the stripper dry for 10 minutes.

Dip the brush provided with your shoe dye into the dye. Brush on a coat of dye and let the shoes dry for 30 minutes.

Apply a second coat of die and let the shoe dry for 30 minutes before applying any additional coats. Let the shoes dry for two hours after the final coat.