Essential Cleaner for Footwear Materials

1. What Is a Cleaner?

    A cleaner is a chemical product designed to remove oil, dust, sweat marks, oxidation layers, adhesive residue, and processing contaminants from material surfaces.

    Cleaners are typically formulated with organic solvents, degreasing agents, surfactants, and stabilizers. They can quickly break down surface contamination without damaging the material, restoring a clean and stable surface condition.

In industries such as footwear manufacturing, leather goods production, electronic component processing, and daily material care, cleaners are basic but essential materials. They not only improve the appearance of finished products, but also provide a reliable foundation for subsequent processes such as adhesive bonding, coating, and lamination.

2. Can Vinegar Remove Adhesive?

    Many people use white vinegar to clean light household stains, but there is a common misunderstanding when it comes to removing adhesive. White vinegar can remove some very light adhesive residue, but in most cases, its effectiveness is limited.

    Main reasons include:

    1. Household vinegar has low acidity and almost no dissolving power for industrial adhesives.

    2. It may cause whitening, softening, or discoloration on footwear materials such as rubber, PU, and leather.

    3. Acidic residue left on the surface can affect adhesive bonding performance and reduce bonding strength.

    Recommended solution:

    For glue marks on shoe uppers, footwear material pre-treatment, or industrial adhesive residue, a professionally formulated cleaner should be used. It provides stronger dissolving power, higher safety, and better material compatibility without damaging the substrate.

3. Types of Cleaners & Application Scenarios

(1) Classification by Composition

    ① Solvent-Based Cleaners

     Fast evaporation and strong cleaning performance

     Highly effective for oil, mold-release agents, and adhesive residue

     Widely used in shoe factories, leather processing, EVA molding, and rubber manufacturing

     ② Water-Based Cleaners

     Mild odor and more environmentally friendly

     Gentle on materials, suitable for light stains and daily cleaning

     Commonly used for fabric shoe uppers and household applications

    ③ Hybrid / Combined Cleaners

     Combine the efficiency of solvents with the mildness of water-based systems

     Broader applicability, suitable for most footwear materials, leather, and industrial pre-treatment processes

(2) Application Scenarios

    ① Shoe Upper Stain Cleaning

    Removes oil stains, dust, and slight oxidation caused by storage.

    Suitable for leather, suede, fabric, and rubber shoe uppers when the appropriate cleaner type is selected.

    ② Glue Marks & Adhesive Overflow Removal

    During production or daily wear, adhesive overflow or glue marks may appear on shoe surfaces.

    Cleaners can quickly dissolve adhesive residue and restore a clean, smooth appearance.

    ③ EVA (EV) & RB (Rubber) Pre-Bonding Cleaning

    Pre-treatment cleaning plays a key role before bonding:

     Removes oil films, dust, and other contaminants that affect adhesion

     Improves adhesive penetration and bonding strength

     Reduces quality issues such as delamination, edge lifting, and weak bonding

    Commonly used in outsole bonding, upper bonding, and rubber product assembly processes.

4. How to Use a Cleaner

    Steps

    1. Prepare tools: non-woven cloth, clean wiping cloth, cotton pads, or lint-free wipes.

    2. Apply the cleaner to the cloth, avoiding direct application onto the material to reduce localized damage.

    3. Wipe the surface evenly in one direction; repeat if necessary.

    4. Allow natural evaporation, typically 10–60 seconds.

    5. Check cleanliness; repeat the process if visible contamination remains.

    6. Proceed to the next process, such as bonding, lamination, adhesive application, or surface care.

    Precautions

     Store in a well-ventilated area and keep away from fire sources.

     Test on an inconspicuous area before full application.

     Wear gloves to avoid prolonged skin contact.

     Avoid excessive wet wiping to prevent penetration into porous materials.

     For industrial use, keep containers tightly sealed to minimize solvent evaporation.