Let wet trousers and shoes dry slowly first. Then remove salt marks carefully with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Brush dried dirt off trousers and do not dry shoes on direct heat. A quick care routine helps prevent salt and dirt from setting in. Below you can read step by step how to go about it.
Why road salt is so damaging
Road salt dissolves in wet snow and meltwater on the street. That salty water splashes up against your shoes and the hem of your trousers. When it dries, the salt remains as white marks. On leather, salt draws moisture out of the hide, so it dries out, becomes stiff and can crack. On fabric, salt can leave white marks after drying.
Three ways to limit damage
- Protect your shoes. Treat leather shoes with polish or cream and then a protective spray. Treat suede only with a spray made specifically for suede. Repeat that a few times per winter.
- Choose the right length. Trousers that do not drag on the ground get wet and dirty less quickly. On wet days, ankle-length or slightly shorter trousers are more practical.
- Rotate. Do not wear the same shoes every day. Give shoes enough time to dry completely.
Your trousers: how to deal with salt marks and wet hems
The hem of your trousers catches the most. Proceed as follows:
- Let them dry first. Hang the trousers up by the waist, with the legs free. Do not rub wet mud or salt: that pushes it deeper into the fabric.
- Brush off dried dirt. Use a soft clothes brush and brush in the direction of the fabric.
- Dab salt marks with lukewarm water. Dampen a clean cloth with lukewarm water and dab the mark carefully. For stubborn marks you can add a few drops of detergent to the water.
- Let them dry again. In the open air, not on the radiator.
- Wash only when necessary. Follow the label. A local treatment is often enough.
Dark trousers hide a lot, but salt marks are actually clearly visible on dark. A black pleated trouser with a brushed lining or a high-waist pleated trouser in navy often has a white edge along the hem after a wet bike ride. With the steps above it usually disappears completely.
On warmer mid tones, splashed dirt shows up sooner than salt. A slim-fit herringbone trouser in taupe grey or an ultra high-waist pleated trouser in brown is more forgiving in that respect: the herringbone pattern and the warm brown tone hide small splashes better than a plain light fabric.
Leather shoes: removing salt marks
- Wipe off coarse dirt with a dry brush as soon as the shoes are dry.
- Dampen a cloth with lukewarm water, perhaps with a splash of white vinegar, and wipe the salt mark away carefully.
- Let the shoes dry at room temperature, with shoe trees or newspaper inside to keep their shape.
- Then nourish the leather with shoe cream, so it does not dry out.
Suede: extra careful
Suede is beautiful, but sensitive to water and salt. Suede loafers, such as the calf suede loafers in navy, are for a dry winter day, not for a snow shower. If they do get wet:
- Blot up the moisture with a dry cloth and let the shoes dry slowly, away from the radiator.
- Once dry, brush the suede with a suede brush to raise the fibres again.
- Treat salt marks with a suede eraser or a special suede cleaner.
Overview per material
| Material | For salt marks | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Trouser fabric | Dry, brush, dab with lukewarm water | Rub when wet, dry on the radiator |
| Smooth leather | Damp cloth, perhaps with a little vinegar, then cream | Let dry without nourishing |
| Suede | Dry, brush, suede eraser | Water and soap, hard brush on wet suede |
| Leather trainers | Damp cloth, then nourish | Washing machine |
A fixed routine in the hallway
Do not leave salt and moisture on material for longer than necessary. Make it easy for yourself with a fixed spot by the front door: a mat for wet shoes, a brush, a cloth and shoe trees. A short routine when you get home makes cleaning later easier.
What you can do on the go
You do not always come straight home. If you see a white mark appear at the office or at an appointment, dab it with a damp paper tissue and let it air dry. That prevents the salt from soaking in all day. A small shoe cloth and a pack of unscented wet wipes in your bag or desk drawer are no unnecessary luxury in winter. At home you then follow the full routine.
Cycling in winter
On a bike, the bottoms of your trouser legs in particular get a lot of splashed water. A mudguard with a mud flap helps enormously. A trouser clip or turning up the legs briefly stops the hem from dragging through the wet dirt. At the office you can keep dry trousers or a pair of smart shoes for the wettest days.
You will find more care tips in the washing instructions. Also take a look at our trousers for men, trousers for women and loafers.
Shop the look
Frederick: pleated trousers, black
Arabelli: high-waist pleated trousers, navy
Ulysses: herringbone trousers, taupe grey
Philippa: ultra high-waist pleated trousers, brown
Laurence: suede loafers, navy
Frequently asked questions
How do you get white salt marks off your shoes?
Let the shoes dry first, then wipe the mark away carefully with a damp cloth with lukewarm water and perhaps a splash of white vinegar. Then nourish smooth leather with shoe cream.
Can you wear suede shoes in winter?
On dry days yes, especially if you treat them beforehand with a protective spray for suede. In snow and on wet, salted streets you are better off choosing leather or a water-resistant shoe.
Can you dry wet shoes on the radiator?
Preferably not. Direct heat makes leather dry out, shrink or crack. Let them dry at room temperature with shoe trees or newspaper inside.
