I pulled out shoes I haven’t worn all winter and found white fuzzy patches growing on the leather. What is this?

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# I Pulled Out Shoes I Haven’t Worn All Winter and Found White Fuzzy Patches Growing on the Leather. What Is This?

![Image](https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/jwUewSX_1xFSvUtlCyBVdPwtUAk%3D/1500×0/filters%3Ano_upscale%28%29%3Amax_bytes%28150000%29%3Astrip_icc%28%29/how-to-remove-mildew-from-leather-2147182-FINAL-5b5719bdc9e77c0037e7f284-bd486d08a90c4ea0b0b10fcfc4daff72.png)

![Image](https://www.mychonly.com/uploads/33582/info/p20250909162756a4425.png)

![Image](https://us.theshoecareshop.com/cdn/shop/articles/Water_damage_shoes_900x400_crop_center_277f6f43-bfd8-42f1-8a59-72b5d24b5363.jpg?v=1719570347\&width=2048)

![Image](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s–H7vy7b6G–/b_white%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive.strip_profile%2Cg_xy_center%2Ch_972%2Cq_auto%2Cw_972%2Cx_1955%2Cy_1261/https%3A//reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/1423686220000/Salt-Stained-Boots-Hero.jpg)

You open the closet, reach for a favorite pair of shoes you haven’t worn all winter, and—ugh. White, fuzzy patches have appeared on the leather. They look alive. They weren’t there when you put the shoes away. And now you’re wondering: *Is this mold? Is it dangerous? Are my shoes ruined?*

Take a breath. This is a common problem, and in most cases it’s fixable. Let’s break down what those white fuzzy patches usually are, why they show up after months of storage, how to tell the difference between similar culprits, and exactly what to do next.
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