How To Clean Velvet Shoes And Protect Them
Velvet Shoes Maintenance Tips
Is there anything that makes you feel as fabulous as a stunning pair of velvet shoes? The glamour and opulence of this material are sure to make you feel a million bucks when you step out of the cab for your next event. But shoes this glamorous come with a downside in that they will need a little more care to keep them looking as amazing as possible for the long run.
Although cleaning velvet shoes might seem like a mission, as long as you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t need to be difficult at all! Velvet is a surprisingly durable material (just think of all the velvet antiques in thrift stores) and with a bit of TLC, you’ll be able to keep your velvet shoes in tip-top condition for years to come.
1. Choose Your Events
Of course, wearing your velvet shoes in the rain, mud, or snow is sometimes unavoidable, but if you can avoid these instances, your shoes will definitely thank you! If you must go out in the rain, consider carrying your shoes in a plastic bag and changing when you arrive at the venue and try to wear them indoors only as much as possible to prevent stains, water, or dirt from getting on them in the first place.
If you can’t avoid making a mess of your beloved footwear, our top tips will help you minimize any damage and get your shoes looking good as new in no time.
2. Removing Dirt
If you get a bit of dirt or mud on your velvet shoes, try not to panic! Generally, if you allow the shoes to dry (dried mud is far easier to remove than when it’s wet), you should be able to simply brush away the mud with a soft brush. Avoid the temptation to scrub, as this will only force the dirt deeper into the fabric pile, and always brush with the grain.
3. Removing Water & Other Liquids
Water is a nightmare for velvet, so you’re going to want to act fast if your velvet shoes get wet! Blotting the fabric with a microfiber cloth straight away is the best thing to do in this situation, remembering to softly brush the fabric back into position once you’re done.
4. Removing Stains
Unfortunately, sometimes stains will occur on your velvet shoes that can’t be removed by blotting or brushing. In this instance, you can use either dishwashing liquid or a simple lemon/baking soda solution to clean them quickly and efficiently. Simply mix whatever solution you’ve chosen together until there are plenty of suds, then use an old toothbrush or soft brush to gently scrub the suds into the material. Using the suds rather than liquid will help minimize the amount of liquid that goes onto the shoes as you should try to avoid getting velvet wet whenever possible. Let the solution sit on the stain for a couple of minutes before gently wiping off the solution, then dab dry with a microfiber cloth. Leave your shoes to air dry for the best results and gently brush the fibers back into place before you wear the shoes again.
5. Protection
As with so many things, prevention is always better than the cure when it comes to cleaning and protecting your velvet shoes. Always invest in a protective spray for shoes when you first take your shoes out of the box and remember to treat them every 6/8 wears to keep them looking their best. It’s a good idea to test the protective spray on a small inconspicuous area first to ensure it won’t damage or decolor the fabric and triple-check the spray is velvet-safe before spraying!
