“Colour bleeding” and “fading” sound alike, but they are opposite problems. Colour bleeding means colour has been added to the shoe from somewhere else. Fading means the original colour has been lost over time. The first can usually be removed; with the second, no amount of cleaning brings the colour back.
Telling them apart from the start saves you from scrubbing a mark that will never come out, and from paying for a service that does not match the problem. For an overview of other shoe conditions, see our shoe cleaning service.
Tell them apart in a minute
| Colour bleeding | Fading | |
|---|---|---|
| What it looks like | A foreign colour spreading onto a differently coloured area: denim blue on white shoes, red from the trim into the fabric | The original colour turns pale, whitish or patchy, most visible at the toe, heel and creases |
| Cause | Long soaking, hot water, rubbing against new jeans, storing with items that shed dye | Sun, friction from wear, harsh chemicals, repeated incorrect washing |
| Treatment | Remove the foreign colour | Replace the lost colour |
| Service | Shoe Cleaning | Colour restoration, part of shoe repair |
Colour bleeding on shoes
Why it bleeds
The dyes in fabric and leather never bond completely. In water, especially warm water and long soaking, some colour dissolves and runs into the neighbouring area. Multi-coloured shoes and shoes with dark trim on a white base are the most prone.
What to do as soon as you notice
- Do not dry them in the sun or with heat. Heat sets the bled colour into the fibres, turning a treatable mark into a very difficult one.
- Rinse again with cool water if the shoes are fabric or canvas and the mark is still wet. Freshly bled colour has not set yet.
- Let them dry in the shade, stuffed with plain white paper. Newspaper can print ink onto light-coloured linings.
Chances of removal
Fresh colour bleeding that has not been exposed to heat usually comes out very well. Older bleeding, or bleeding that has been in the sun or washed a few more times, is harder, and the result is usually clearly lighter rather than completely gone. We tell you this upfront after seeing the shoes.
Do not use laundry bleach on colour bleeding. It removes the original colour too and yellows the fabric, turning a bleeding problem into a fading one. If your white shoes are also stained, see our article on whitening white shoes.
Faded shoes
Why cleaning cannot fix it
Once colour is gone, there is nothing for cleaning to reveal. A thorough clean only makes the shoes cleaner, while the faded patches stay. Sometimes they even look more obvious after cleaning, because the dust was partly hiding them.
Faded leather
This is the case that restores best. The process is to clean and prepare the leather surface, mix a colour to match the original, apply the new colour, then buff to a finish. Faded toes and heels, scuffs from knocks and sun-bleached leather all belong here.
Faded fabric and canvas
Much harder. Re-dyeing fabric on a finished shoe rarely comes out even, and easily stains the stitching and sole. With lightly faded fabric shoes, many people choose to leave them, as it is the natural worn look of the pair. We will tell you honestly if yours is not worth re-dyeing.
Faded suede
Faded suede usually comes with matted, dull fibres. Brushing to lift the nap properly sometimes brings back a good deal of the colour. The rest needs a dye made for suede, different from the one used on smooth leather. See our guide to caring for suede shoes.
Keeping shoe colour longer
- No machine washing, no long soaking, no hot water.
- Wash dark-coloured shoes separately from light ones.
- Dry and store shoes in the shade; sun is the number one cause of fading.
- Condition leather shoes regularly; dry leather fades faster than conditioned leather.
- Be careful wearing new jeans with white shoes, especially on rainy days.
Reference prices at Foxpro
- Colour bleeding is covered by our deep cleaning package at 150,000d. Heavy or widespread bleeding is quoted by our technician after seeing the shoes.
- Faded leather uses our leather colour restoration, 400,000d to 650,000d depending on area and severity, see also our shoe repair.
The final price is given after an in-person check, and we only start once you agree, with no extra charges along the way.
Not sure whether yours is bleeding or fading?
Take one photo of the whole pair and one close-up of the damaged colour in natural light, and attach them when you book. Our technician will tell you clearly whether it needs removal or colour restoration, and the cost of each option.
Book colour bleeding treatment Book leather colour restoration
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between colour bleeding and fading?
Bleeding is colour transferred from elsewhere and can be cleaned off. Fading is the shoe's own colour gone, which needs touching up or repainting; cleaning will not fix it.
Can jean dye be cleaned off white shoes?
Fresh marks come off fairly easily. Left too long, the dye soaks into the fibres and only fades partly; an even finish then needs touching up.
What does colour restoration cost at the shop?
Leather colour restoration is 400,000d – 650,000d depending on the area and how faded it is. See shoe repair pricing.
Does touched-up colour last?
It lasts better if you keep the shoes out of soaking water and harsh sun. Areas that flex most, such as the toe crease, still lose colour first, and the technician says so with the quote.