Hey, don’t fret. You can fix them at home with this easiest guide ever on how to fix scuffed Doc Martens.
With a piece of damp cloth and a little amount of leather conditioner, the scuff marks could be repaired. And for more stubborn scuffs, you may need an eraser sponge or nail polish remover.
Having a pair of Doc Martens doesn’t guarantee that they will never get scuffed or scratched.
Yes, they are one of the finest leather shoes that are built to last. But no matter how carefully you use them, scuff marks still appear after a certain period.
However, you must know how to do it right. Otherwise, the scuff marks might get worse.
So, let’s dive into the correct way of fixing your scuffed Docs.
How to Fix Scuffed Doc Martens?- Materials You Need
To repair scuffed or scratched Doc Martens, you need the following things-
- Newspaper
- Damp Cloth
- Pencil eraser/ Eraser sponge
- Toothbrush/ Welt brush
- Shoe brush
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton pad/ ball
- Wonder Balsam
- Wax polish
- Polishing brush
- Edge dressing
- Horsehair brush
- White vinegar
- Felt-tip marker
Dig the Dirt out of the Docs
First thing first, you need to dig the dirt out of your Dr. Martens. To do so, take the shoelaces out and place them aside.
Then proceed with a shoe brush to clean the scuffed areas. And for hard-reaching areas like edges and stitchings, a welt brush comes in handy. A regular toothbrush also works, though.
Clean the shoes thoroughly, including insoles and outsoles. You need to get rid of most of the dirt and mud in this step.
Later, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the shoes. Repeat the process several times by rinsing the cloth for deeper cleaning of the dirt.
Now, let your shoes dry before treating a scuffed pair of Docs.
Additional Tips:
- Always place the shoes on a newspaper to keep the work surface clean.
- Clean your Docs at least every three months to keep up the newish shine alive.
- You must dry them thoroughly after the initial dirt cleaning.
- Once you clean the shoes, don’t let any extra dirt get added to them before you polish them.
- You can occasionally take the help of sandpaper to treat too many scuffs or scratches. But overuse is strictly prohibited.
Treat the Scuffs
Now, it’s time to fix the scuffed shoes so that they get back to their best.
Try with a pencil eraser first. Rub it against the scuff marks. Hopefully, it will help hide the marks if the condition is not so poor.
But if the scuff marks are scattered all over the body, you better use an eraser sponge.
Nevertheless, if you find a sponge eraser of no help, we suggest trying a nail polish remover.
Wondering what you will do with such a cosmetic item often found in a lady’s handbag?
Well, it works exceptionally well to get scuff marks out of Dr. Marten shoes, especially the stubborn scrapes and scratches.
Just dip a cotton ball into it and rub the ball against the scuffs to cover the marks. You must rub the cotton swab in a circular motion to treat the scuffs better.
Finally, wipe up the residues with a clean damp cloth.
Plus, baking soda is a widely known stain remover and it works for disguising scuffs too.
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with lukewarm water to make a thick paste. Then apply the paste where you find the sign of scuff or scratch.
Apparently, a good polishing with a piece of cloth will help the scuffed shoes heal. Then take a soft damp cloth to wipe up the excess paste.
Additional Tips:
- You need to treat the sole scuffs differently as they are more stubborn. Use edge dressing to retain the actual shine.
- For an expensive pair of Docs, prevention is always the best cure. So, avoid using the shoes roughly on gravel/concrete surfaces.
- Store the shoes carefully far away from direct sunlight. A cool and dry place is suggested.
Bring Back the Luster
After masking the marks, it’s time to restore the shine of the shoes.
As these are leather kicks, you can use a good quality wax polish to condition them. You can use either a sponge or a horsehair brush to apply some polishing wax on the leather upper.
Again, move the brush gently in a circular motion and keep applying the wax polish until you are satisfied with the finish.
Instead, you can use Dr. Martens wonder balsam, a nourishing wax especially made for Docs leather.
Apply it using a brush or use your finger to polish the body, toe, and outsole of the shoes.
With the help of a shoe brush, brush the Doc Martens upper multiple times for a smooth coating.
Let the varnish slightly dry for a minimum of five minutes. Then buff off the excess wax with a cloth.
Once you are done with the primary polish, you will see the scratch, scuff, or peel marks to be disguised under a matte coating.
But still, the shoes need final polishing to restore their brand-new shine.
So, take the shoe brush again and softly circulate it throughout the DM’s body. It will make the matte look gradually disappear and give the Docs a military-grade shimmer.
Additional Tips:
- To get a glossy toe of your favorite Docs, gently rub the toe with a shoe-polishing cloth.
- How to polish cherry red Dr. Martens? Simply use cherry-colored wax.
- Get black wax for black shoes and burnish with Dr. Martens black shoe polish. A neutral-colored wax is suitable for all other Docs colors.
Docs Are Unshakable, Not Unbreakable
Well, it’s a fact that everything in the world has an expiry date and so are Docs.
Regardless of the highest material quality and brilliant craftsmanship, they are susceptible to wear and tear.
So, it will be wise to treasure your precious Docs and not use them against rough surfaces.
But how long? They will wear out at one point or another. So, it’s better to be prepared for the worst.
If you find that the leather upper of your Docs is deucedly damaged, distilled white vinegar might help. Dab a cotton pad into this solution and press the pad on the leather.
Resultantly, the surrounding leather will swell to camouflage the scratches.
For deeper scratches, however, we suggest picking a similar color felt-tip pen to your shoes and coloring the marks to cover them.
Sure, scratches are irreparable, but they still can be fixed with the right technique accompanied by a little bit of elbow grease.
Final Words
Honestly speaking, we all have been there, getting our favorite pair of shoes unwantedly scuffed. But that’s not the end, especially, not for Docs which definitely leave a mark on your bank account when you buy them because they are so expensive.
So, what will you do? The answer lies above. If you follow this How do you stop a doc from scuffing guide properly, you can definitely reuse the shoes for a few extra years.
All the methods alluded to above are extremely easy, 100% effective, and utterly affordable. So, say goodbye to those scuffed Dr. Martens and welcome the brand-new shimmery shoes to rock on the road
Good luck!
