How to Clean Black Patent Leather Shoes

By: Kimbry Parker

Leonard Mc Lane/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Black patent leather shoes dress up a casual pair of pants, are a required part of a tuxedo ensemble and add elegance to an otherwise plain dress. If your shoes are dull and dirty, this sophisticated look is doomed. Patent leather shoes are constructed of regular leather, but a hard, high-gloss finish over the surface gives them their distinctive shine. When your black patent leather shoes need a good cleaning, skip the shoe cleaning products because you likely have what you need to clean them right at home.

Step 1

Wipe the shoes with a dry, lint-free rag to remove surface dust and dirt.

Step 2

Spray a light misting of window cleaner onto the outside of each shoe. Rub a clean, lint-free rag gently over the shoes to remove dirt and debris from the patent leather.

Step 3

Put a few drops of oil onto a clean rag. You can use mineral oil, vegetable oil, castor oil. Petroleum jelly also works to revive black patent leather.

Step 4

Rub the oil or jelly evenly over the surface of the shoes. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to buff off any excess.

Step 5

Cover up any remaining scuff marks on black patent leather by rubbing petroleum jelly or mineral oil onto the mark, then using a dry, lint-free cloth to rub it away.

Step 6

Remove any dings or stubborn marks on black patent leather shoes by dabbing a black felt-tip marker onto a damp paper towel. Rub the marker part of the paper towel lightly over the scuff mark to conceal it.