Get Rid of Shoe Polish Stains on Cotton Piqué in no Time!
Shoe polish stains on cotton piqué can be a nightmare to clean, but it doesn't have to be. With the right cleaning methods and techniques, you can easily get rid of those pesky shoe polish stains from your favourite cotton items.
Updated 23 Jun 2023
By Cyryl Wozniak
When it comes to removing shoe polish stains from cotton piqué, it’s important to understand what type of stain it is. Shoe polish is essentially made up of lacquer, wax and dyes, so it can be classified as an oily stain. Oily stains are among the toughest to remove because they tend to spread out and saturate fabric, which makes them difficult to get out. However, with the right cleaning materials and methods, you can easily remove shoe polish stains from cotton piqué.
What You’ll Need
- A white cloth
- Dishwashing liquid
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Clean white towels
- Iron
- Baking soda
Instructions
- Before you begin, make sure that you read the care label of cotton piqué garment to know material and any specific instructions for washing.
- Using a white cloth, dab stained area gently to remove as much of the shoe polish as you can.
- Mix a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a cup of cold water and use this solution to pre-treat the stained area.
- Drip a few drops of rubbing alcohol onto the stained area and blot the stain gently with a clean white cloth.
- Apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the stained area and blot with a clean white cloth until the stain is gone.
- Once the stain is removed, rinse area with cold water and dry it with a clean white towel.
- Once the area is dry, sprinkle baking soda over the stained area. Leave it for 10 minutes before brushing off the excess baking soda.
- Turn the garment inside out and set the iron to low heat. Run the iron over the stained area for 30 seconds to steam out the remaining stain.
Tips & Warnings
- Be sure to double-check the care instructions of the garment before attempting to remove the stain. Different fabrics may require different cleaning methods.
- Be sure to use mild detergents and avoid using harsh chemicals to prevent further damage to the fabric.
- Always test the cleaning efforts on an inconspicuous area of the garment before applying it to the stained area.
- Do not use bleach or products containing bleach on colored fabrics as this will cause the color to fade.