Calamine on leather shoes

[Pas de Quatre]

I know many people use calamine lotion on pointe shoes - but has anyone ever tried it on pink leather shoes to make them look cleaner/prettier. Do you think it would stick or just flake off?

[Sheila Beelam]

I've never done this, but I should imagine due to the finish of the leather it may flake?

I guess the surface would have to be porous for it to stick - maybe you could try on an old pair of shoes first?

If the leather is scuffed up enough, it may make it rough enough to absorb the calamine?

I think I remember reading somewhere about a "paint" for ballet shoes - off to investigate!

[Balletmumfor2]

I used to clean my daughters leather shoes with a damp cloth and a bit of fairy liquid. This seemed to shift the black marks that seemed to appear on them over time. Calamine is usually used on satin shoes and canvas shoes can be washed regularly in the washing machine.

[BankruptMum]

Baby wipes are good with leather shoes.

[Sheila Beelam]

Actually now I do remember "gently scrubbing" a pair with a soft nail brush and some fairy liquid as well and they came up great. I used some cream on them after, that we had for our leather sofas as I figured they needed moisturising after their wash!

[Anna C]

Another vote here for baby wipes on leather shoes. We always used to use them before an exam.

[hfbrew]

clear wax on leather shoes. A tip I learnt in the shoe trade many moons ago...

[Pas de Quatre]

After experimenting, I have decided to stick with baby wipes/soap and water to clean, and foundation to touch up - which is what I have always done. However, calamine did help on drawstring casing and the elastics. Hfbrew, do you mean the wax cleans the shoe, or protects it from the beginning?

[drdance]

My mum always used to rub saddle soap onto my leathers - it's a bit like a very soft wax, the same sort of consistency of furniture polish (the sort you rub on with a cloth, not in a spray can!).