Hello! It’s Lee Ross Gómez, your familiar face from Classic Shoe Valet & Co.
First, I want to say that my goal is to break free from all the crazy daily distractions, going on in our country right now, so pray fully I’ll be posting little by little—be sure to check in from time to time!
Isn’t this year’s rainy season way too long?
I just want to see the sun, hang my jeans and chinos out to dry, and most importantly—wear my favorite shoes!
Lately, I’ve been checking the weather minute by minute, telling myself, “The rain will stop eventually…”
But despite the weather, I know many of you:
• Still wear leather shoes because you love them.
• Took a chance on the weather and got caught in the rain anyway.
To all the shoe lovers out there, today’s topic is all about rain-related shoe troubles!
The Most Common Rain Issue: White Stains
When people think of rain damage, they often imagine water stains—especially on light-colored dress shoes.
However, have you ever noticed white stains forming on your black dress shoes?
At our Signature locations, this is actually the most common rain-related issue!
What Causes These White Stains?
Most of the time, these stains are caused by salt deposits (commonly called "salt bloom").
Our feet naturally sweat, and that moisture gets absorbed into the pores of the leather. Over time, salt from the sweat of your feet accumulates inside the leather.
When your shoes get wet from rain, the salt gets drawn to the surface, leaving behind visible white marks.
Why Does This Happen When Shoes Get Wet?
Let’s take a closer look—here we go!
Salt Stains and the Mystery of Leather Craters
If you look closely at the upper part of the sole, you’ll notice the white salt stains—but do you also see those burn-like bumps and indentations around them?
These bumps, commonly called "craters," come from the same cause!
Why Do Craters Form?
Leather swells when it gets wet, but only in the specific areas that absorb moisture. As the leather dries, it hardens in that swollen state, leaving behind uneven textures.
Unlike controlled water washing, rain doesn’t soak shoes evenly. Instead, water tends to pool around the sole stitching, which is why craters often appear in those areas first.
Salt stains follow the same principle—as the accumulated salt dissolves in moisture, it rises to the surface.
That’s why salt stains and craters usually come as a pair, leaving your shoes in a shockingly rough state once they dry…
But Fear Not—Classic Shoe Valet & Co. Has the Solution!
We don’t just say “Too bad!” and leave it at that—no way!
At Classic Shoe Valet & Co., we remove both craters and salt stains with our special treatment:
"Crater Restoration" (Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like!)
This is an advanced water-washing technique—because water damage is best treated with water!
- We use a special detergent to draw out the deeply embedded salts.
- We carefully smooth out the bumps and craters with precise handwork.
- We rehydrate the leather using an emulsion-based treatment to prevent stiffness.
And then… Boom! Your shoes are back looking good!
Crater Restoration—A Complete Revival!
Both salt stains and craters have been completely removed!
Our Crater Restoration service also includes leather care and shoe shining, so we’ll take care of nourishing the leather and finishing with a beautiful mirror shine.
One Important Note…
Even after restoration, craters will reappear if the leather gets wet again—that’s just the nature of leather.
This means timing is crucial when considering crater repair.
- If your favorite shoes got caught in the rain unexpectedly, this service is highly recommended. We’ll restore, nourish, and shine them, bringing them back to their best condition.
- However, if you’re using dedicated rain shoes, you might want to hold off on frequent repairs. Otherwise, you’ll go through a cycle of fixing, wearing in the rain, and seeing craters form again.
For rain shoes, we suggest giving them a well-deserved "Wet Cleaning" sometimes knowen as a Swedish Bath treatment at the end of the rainy season, as a way to refresh and maintain them properly.
Leather & Rain—An Inevitable Struggle, But We’re Here to Help!
Water and leather will always have some level of conflict, but whether it’s stains or craters, feel free to reach out for advice anytime.
Because in the end… no rain lasts forever! ☀️