white turning off white

9inchheel · 25th March 2008, 23:23

does anyone know of a proven method on how to keep leather and pvc white boots and shoes as white as the day they were purchased.

Guy N. Heels · 2nd April 2008, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9inchheel

does anyone know of a proven method on how to keep leather and pvc white boots and shoes as white as the day they were purchased.

White liquid polish ought to work on the leather shoes. I don't know what to say about the PVC. You might try alcohol on a hidden portion of the shoes and see how that works.

shoerepairer · 25th June 2008, 13:25

whites always a difficult shade to keep looking original, but there are cleaners available for white leathers, but your PVC/patent is not so easy!

the pigment in the boots changes over time, which is unavoidable

Prevention is better than cure here!

store them in a cool dry place, to much heat (near a radiator) will shorten the life of the upper.
Store them out of site of natural light, as uv light will accelerate discoloration.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY Following each wear leave the shoes/boots in a well ventilated area to allow the moisture in them to evaporate (your sweat contains acids which are not leathers best friends) this moisture will often soak through the leather/PVC/patent causing discoloration from the inside out, which is not good in the case of PVC/patent.

Lee

Guy N. Heels · 1st July 2008, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoerepairer

whites always a difficult shade to keep looking original, but there are cleaners available for white leathers, but your PVC/patent is not so easy!

the pigment in the boots changes over time, which is unavoidable

Prevention is better than cure here!

store them in a cool dry place, to much heat (near a radiator) will shorten the life of the upper.
Store them out of site of natural light, as uv light will accelerate discoloration.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY Following each wear leave the shoes/boots in a well ventilated area to allow the moisture in them to evaporate (your sweat contains acids which are not leathers best friends) this moisture will often soak through the leather/PVC/patent causing discoloration from the inside out, which is not good in the case of PVC/patent.

Lee

GOOD ADVICE!

UV light resides in the 250 nm range and is fairly easily blocked, even by ordinary glass. As for the ventilation, I have seen ads for special blowers that one can put inside a pair of tall boots. For shoes, perhaps a small fan in the closet or storage area will help.

shoerepairer · 2nd July 2008, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy N. Heels

UV light resides in the 250 nm range and is fairly easily blocked, even by ordinary glass.

Not strictly true!

Ultraviolet C resides at around the 250nm range, The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation in the UVA, UVB, and UVC bands, but because of absorption in the atmosphere’s ozone layer, 98.7% of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is UVA. This as you know resides around the 400 nm – 315 nm wavelength. but this is all scientific blar blar, not something I try to blind people with

to prove the damaging effect not keeping your white patents/PVC's in a dark place, Take a piece of white paper or newspaper, tear it in half. Place one piece where ever you would leave a pair of shoes, say by your back door but in natural light. Or behind a window to exaggerate the experiment.

Place the other half in your closet or a box out of light in a cool dry place as suggested.

Now leave them for a week or two!

I'd be willing to put money on it that after a week or two when you put them together again they WOULD be different colours, even with white paper. why? because that UV light is the worlds natural bleach!

Lee

Amanda Snake · 2nd July 2008, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9inchheel

does anyone know of a proven method on how to keep leather and pvc white boots and shoes as white as the day they were purchased.

I always thought they were supposed to look a bit grubby.

9inchheel · 12th July 2008, 01:55

great advice folks. thanks.I guess i should stick with pinks, blacks, and reds. they seem to stay in their beautiful original color

crotchboots-m · 16th July 2008, 02:14

the best method would be not to wear them at all and store them in a sealed totally environmentally controlled environment. and what fun would that be...wear them and have a good time in them...if they get ratty,chuck them and get a new pair...