Words//Dani Bursill
Twitter//@soultrxppin
Twitter//@soultrxppin
So – you’re out for a night on the town, or a day in the city. You’ve got your new white cleats on, and you’re feeling all pretty. But, when terror strikes - to see you’ve got a huge scuff, you’ll panic and wish your gait wasn’t so rough.
Whether you’re an urban tripper or a countryside ambler, the streaks on your shoes really are no fun at all. That’s why we’ve compiled a guide to help you through your daily nightmares, because, let’s face it – is there really anything worse than a mark of muck?
Whether you’re an urban tripper or a countryside ambler, the streaks on your shoes really are no fun at all. That’s why we’ve compiled a guide to help you through your daily nightmares, because, let’s face it – is there really anything worse than a mark of muck?
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Before getting underway with our fashion-fixers, you may want to make a note of these items which you’ll find useful when erasing the scratches that signify where you’ve been:
-Anti-bacterial wipes
-Eraser
-Cotton wool balls/pads
-Cotton buds
-Nail varnish remover
-Anti-bacterial wipes
-Eraser
-Cotton wool balls/pads
-Cotton buds
-Nail varnish remover
Hack 1: Anti-bacterial wipes are now your best friend
Anti-bac wipes are the most obvious way forward. Whether the scuff is as clear as the Mediterranean Sea, or as visible as the Great Wall of China from space, small steps like these are all you need to get started.
Begin by gently wiping your shoe with a wipe of your choice (baby wipes work too, for the record). This will ease off any light dirt, removing the simple scuffs away; in essence, prepping you for the storm that’s coming with the embedded marks. And just to add – using wipes is basically a cheat version of scrubbing away with a bucket of soapy suds and hot water. You could ultimately try both, but the wet wipes are great for someone with limited time (which is practically everyone these days, ugh).
Hack 2: Erasing your mistakes just became easier
Putty erasers are handy for the removal of your mistakes - or the ones that are practically tattooed onto your shoes - not just the accidental line you drew when you slipped sketching the trees in view at the local park.
You should approach this step with caution, and take care not to grind against your footwear; rub the scratch extremely smoothly. After a moderate brush (depending on what the satanic scuff was caused by), the mark should appear lighter. Yes, it’s still there, but it’s kind of gone; a bit like that one ex that still tries to linger about in your life. The further away you are from it, the less noticeable it becomes.
Hack 3: Who said nail varnish remover was just for nails?
Now this is where you begin to feel on edge and undoubtedly question the advice you’re about to receive, because technically, you’re putting your flash footwear at risk. But the gamble is definitely worth the outcome (most probably, anyway).
Since you’ve realised your peep-toes lie in potential danger, treat the nail varnish remover as a hazard, especially if it’s acetone-based (we fully recommend using a non-acetone based remover, otherwise you can kiss goodbye to your lily whites and say ‘hello’ to a drab yellow). Take care to shake a few drops of the liquid into a small container, maybe even the cap of the bottle, and dip your cotton bud in, soaking it completely. It is advised to gently rub the scuff marks, lifting the grime away. The scuff won’t disappear on first contact with the remover lotion, after all, it’s not Aladdin’s lamp Genie, it’s a liquid used to abolish the paint from the end of our fingers (and toes for that matter). You’ll most likely need the patience of a Saint when labouring this process, so good luck with it.
Even better, you can up your game to the cotton wall balls; a larger cotton surface area will definitely improve your cleaning experience. Like before, shake a few drops of the liquid onto a pad, and carefully wipe the mark, dismissing it from the vinyl surface. Great, huh?
You can dip from tip to trick or maybe try all three hacks consecutively. They all work. It’s down to you to discover what one suits your striders best. However, we must warn – these tips and tricks should be used at the owners risk; don’t come running to us when the shimmer is snatched from your shiny-white town shoes. This isn’t a game, it’s a challenge. Obviously.
Anti-bac wipes are the most obvious way forward. Whether the scuff is as clear as the Mediterranean Sea, or as visible as the Great Wall of China from space, small steps like these are all you need to get started.
Begin by gently wiping your shoe with a wipe of your choice (baby wipes work too, for the record). This will ease off any light dirt, removing the simple scuffs away; in essence, prepping you for the storm that’s coming with the embedded marks. And just to add – using wipes is basically a cheat version of scrubbing away with a bucket of soapy suds and hot water. You could ultimately try both, but the wet wipes are great for someone with limited time (which is practically everyone these days, ugh).
Hack 2: Erasing your mistakes just became easier
Putty erasers are handy for the removal of your mistakes - or the ones that are practically tattooed onto your shoes - not just the accidental line you drew when you slipped sketching the trees in view at the local park.
You should approach this step with caution, and take care not to grind against your footwear; rub the scratch extremely smoothly. After a moderate brush (depending on what the satanic scuff was caused by), the mark should appear lighter. Yes, it’s still there, but it’s kind of gone; a bit like that one ex that still tries to linger about in your life. The further away you are from it, the less noticeable it becomes.
Hack 3: Who said nail varnish remover was just for nails?
Now this is where you begin to feel on edge and undoubtedly question the advice you’re about to receive, because technically, you’re putting your flash footwear at risk. But the gamble is definitely worth the outcome (most probably, anyway).
Since you’ve realised your peep-toes lie in potential danger, treat the nail varnish remover as a hazard, especially if it’s acetone-based (we fully recommend using a non-acetone based remover, otherwise you can kiss goodbye to your lily whites and say ‘hello’ to a drab yellow). Take care to shake a few drops of the liquid into a small container, maybe even the cap of the bottle, and dip your cotton bud in, soaking it completely. It is advised to gently rub the scuff marks, lifting the grime away. The scuff won’t disappear on first contact with the remover lotion, after all, it’s not Aladdin’s lamp Genie, it’s a liquid used to abolish the paint from the end of our fingers (and toes for that matter). You’ll most likely need the patience of a Saint when labouring this process, so good luck with it.
Even better, you can up your game to the cotton wall balls; a larger cotton surface area will definitely improve your cleaning experience. Like before, shake a few drops of the liquid onto a pad, and carefully wipe the mark, dismissing it from the vinyl surface. Great, huh?
You can dip from tip to trick or maybe try all three hacks consecutively. They all work. It’s down to you to discover what one suits your striders best. However, we must warn – these tips and tricks should be used at the owners risk; don’t come running to us when the shimmer is snatched from your shiny-white town shoes. This isn’t a game, it’s a challenge. Obviously.