Scuffs and scratches are the bane of the existence of the shoe aficionado. Nothing can put a damper on a nice pair of shoes more than a misstep here or rubbing against a different surface there.

But alas, not all hope is lost. There are a number of products we offer—along with some home remedies—that can get your shoes back to their former glory.

Light Scratches and Scuffs on Leather

Light scuffs or scratches on leather shoes are common and fairly easy to buff out. Applying some mink oil paste and using the brush from our Mink Oil Paste Kit to buff is an option, as is traditional Shoe Cream Polish.

In addition, petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is a household item you can use for light scratches. Apply onto the scratch with a dry cloth, but be sure to remove any excess product if you're applying with a cloth.

Deeper Scratches on Leather

Don't despair! First, clean the affected area with a leather cleaner (we recommend our Foaming Cleanser) before taking any other action.

Next, use some distilled white vinegar and softly dab it onto the scratch. Once it dries, apply colorless shoe polish to try and blend with the rest of the surface. If you can still see the scratch, try rubbing some olive oil into the scratch and then blend it again with more shoe polish. Common skin moisturizers can also help reduce the visibility of a deep scratch. Baking soda and nail polish remover have also been proven to be effective, but you might want to test those on an inconspicuous area of the shoe to make sure it won't damage the material.

But whatever you use, you'll want to do it quickly; once marks get a chance to set in, they're even more difficult to remove or hide.

Removing Scuffs and Scratches on Suede or Nubuck

Suede and nubuck can't get wet, so you'll have to take a different approach here. Fortunately, all you need is our Suede Brush and Eraser Set to clean up any imperfections. You'll want to first use the eraser and then clean with the brush. In a pinch, you can use a standard pencil eraser and toothbrush.

To complete the job, apply Red Moose's Suede Renewer for a perfect finish.