How do I clean shoe polish stains off cotton oxford fabric?

Pretreat the stain with a laundry pre-treatment product, launder on the hottest setting allowed according to the fabric care instructions, and use liquid detergent and an old toothbrush to spot treat any remaining stains.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Shoe polish > Cotton oxford

Complete Guide for Cleaning Shoe Polish Stains off Cotton Oxford Fabric

Q: Can I dry the fabric while the stain is still present?

No, you should not place the item in the dryer while the stain is still present. Doing so can cause the stain to set and become almost impossible to remove.

Shoe polish stains on cotton oxford fabric are unsightly, but they don’t have to be permanent. Follow this step-by-step cleaning guide and you’ll have your oxford fabric looking as good as new in no time.

Updated 23 Jun 2023

By Matej Kramberger

Step 1: Pretreat the Stain

Start by gently dabbing the stain with a damp cloth to remove any excess shoe polish that you can. Once that’s done, apply a pre-treatment laundry product that is formulated to break down difficult stains, such as those from shoe polish. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.

Step 2: Launder

Once the pre-treatment has had time to work, it’s time to launder affected area. Wash the fabric on the hottest setting allowed according to garment’s care instructions. If the garment allows for it, also add a color safe bleach, such as oxygen or chlorine, to help remove the stain. Allow the clothing to air dry or tumble dry, but never iron the garment while the stain is still present.

Step 3: Pretreat & Launder Again

In some cases, shoe polish stain may still remain after laundering. If so, repeat step one and two to try and remove remaining stain. It’s always best to practice caution when dealing with tough stains like shoe polish, as taking extra steps is usually better than having a stubborn stain that won’t go away.

Step 4: Check the Stain

Once the item of clothing has been laundered a second time, it’s time to check the stain. If it’s gone, then congratulations, the cleaning process is over. If the stain persists, then it’s time to move on to step five.

Step 5: Spot Treat the Stain

If the stain still remains, take an old toothbrush and some liquid detergent to spot treat the area. Gently scrub the area until the stain begins to lift. Rinse the area when you’re finished with warm water and then launder the item of clothing according to step two.

Step 6: Dry the Fabric

Once the item of clothing has been through final laundering process, make sure to hang it up and let it air dry. Do not place the item in the dryer while the stain is still present. Doing so can cause the stain to set and become almost impossible to remove.

Conclusion

With patience and a little elbow grease, you can save your cotton oxford fabric from shoe polish stains. Just remember to pretreat, launder, and repeat until the stain vanishes. You can also try spot treating with liquid detergent to help loosen stubborn stains.

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