How to disinfect leather dress shoes

August 30, 2015 12:17 PM

Found a small amount of mouse (chipmunk?) droppings in some otherwise very nice men's leather dress shoes I mistakenly stored in the garage. Can anyone recommend a best course of action for disinfection without damaging the shoes?

My initial, completely rational, not at all germaphobic inclination is to nuke them from orbit, but that seems like a waste.

posted by novelgazer to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

Using my naked palm and the tender vulnerable digits attached, I would take up in turn each very nice men's dress shoe and invert it so that the sole faced the sky. Then I'd gently tap the shoe over a trash receptacle, allowing the frass to roll out of it. Then I'd say to myself, "Thoroughly sanitized. I'm a goddamn boss." Then I'd shove my socked foot right in there and I'd toddle off to the prom. But that's me and I don't tend to huff my shoes much so I labor under the irrationally sanguine notion that I won't contract the hanta virus from garage shoes.
posted by Don Pepino at 12:26 PM on August 30, 2015 [37 favorites]

I do what Don Pepino does. If I was specially concerned I might spray some cleaner on a paper towel and wipe them out.
posted by jessamyn at 12:36 PM on August 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The outside of your shoes are already exposed to the detritus of the street every time you put them on. Chant that to yourself as you remove any obvious dirt from the uppers with a cloth or brush.

For the inside, after removing solids, I'd be inclined to give them a good wipe down with a disinfectant wipe or a spritz of an aerosol. Then set them out in the sun for several hours to let the magic of the full light spectrum do its thing. Polish as needed and call it good.
posted by peakcomm at 12:42 PM on August 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

I would wipe the interior down with a rag liberally dampened with rubbing alcohol. If I were really anxious, I would wipe them down with a soapy rag, quickly rinse them and let them dry away from heating elements.
posted by Frowner at 12:44 PM on August 30, 2015

Response by poster: Don Pepino -- though your braggadocio has emboldened me, I'm taking baby steps here. Peakcomm has recommended a course of action that seems to split the difference between your complete indifference and going full CDC on the shoes. That mantra is being added my repertoire.

Thanks all!
posted by novelgazer at 12:55 PM on August 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I think you're doing the right thing. I'd actually probably take a paper towel with alcohol on it and wipe 'em out, and I'd definitely do the sunbath. That is a great idea--after all, blasting them with sunlight is nuking them from orbit. Just so long as you say to yourself when the process is complete, "Thoroughly sanitized. I'm a goddamn boss." You have to do that part, or. I don't even want to think about it if you skip that step.
posted by Don Pepino at 1:08 PM on August 30, 2015 [9 favorites]

A. Shake out mouse poop over trash can.

B. Wear as normal.

With maybe a step A and a half in there that consists of a wipe with a wet cloth if you wear these barefoot or are especially germ-phobic.
posted by MsMolly at 2:37 PM on August 30, 2015

Use a Clorox wipe on the inside of the shoe after you shake out the mouse poop, followed by a wipe with a paper towel moistened with salt water. Leave out to dry!
posted by Everydayville at 1:23 PM on August 31, 2015

1. Dump the mouse poop out
2. Spray inside shoe with Lysol or other disinfectant spray, let dry
3. Insert foot
posted by IpsoFacto at 1:23 PM on August 31, 2015