You don’t need to get your shoes soaking wet, just get them wet enough to keep a lather worked up as you scrub.
A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can also help remove stubborn grime on rubber soles. [5] X Expert Source Marc SigalShoe Care Specialist Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
Don’t use a soaking wet cloth and avoid drenching your shoes with water. Let them dry for a few minutes before moving on to polishing them; however, it’s fine to polish them when they are slightly damp.
Most people prefer to preserve the original look of the tags, so they need to be protected against the black shoe polish.
You can get this kind of shoe polish at any shoe store, as well as grocery stores and big box stores. Start with one shoe and complete the process before moving on to the next one.
You’ll see the black polish immediately begin to renew the color of the fabric.
The surface of the shoe should not look soaked in polish. Don’t leave any polish pooled on the surface of the shoe. Give scuff marks and faded areas additional attention as needed.
Don’t forget to polish the black plastic rings around the lace holes. The tiny brand tag near the lace holes should be avoided, unless you don’t mind covering up the Vans logo. Some black vans have white rubber side strips. If yours don’t have black rubber soles, you can omit this part.
Peel the masking tape off the heels once the shoes are dry to the touch.