Removing Shoe Polish Stains from Underwear - A Step-by-Step Guide
Spill a bit of shoe polish on your favorite pair of underwear? Don't worry. It's not the end of the world – this is a surprisingly common problem, and there are several ways to safely remove those stains.
Updated 23 Jun 2023
By Noemi Denker
The first step in removing a shoe polish stain from underwear is to create a cleaning solution. Start with 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent mixed with a quart of warm water. If this doesn’t seem like enough liquid for the size of the stain, feel free to double or even triple amount of detergent.
Once you've created cleaning solution, dunk the stained underwear in the mixture and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. After this time has elapsed, work the material gently by rubbing it between your fingers. If necessary, use a soft cloth to help scrub away any remaining shoe polish residue.
If the cleaning solution isn't working as well as you'd like it to, try creating a paste from equal parts baking soda and water. Once the paste has been prepared, spread it over the affected area, give it some time to settle in, and then rinse it off with cool water. Repeat this process until the stain is gone.
If you're still having trouble getting rid of the stain, try spot treating the area with white vinegar. Dip a cotton ball or q-tip in the vinegar and blot it on the stain. Wait for the vinegar to dry and then follow up with the cleaning solution outlined earlier.
Finally, if all else fails, take the underwear to professional dry cleaner. Professional cleaners have experience with a variety of tough stains and can often provide better results than what you'd get with a DIY cleaning solution.
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