How to Clean Shoes

From scuffs and scratches to dust and dirt, we know that it’s all too easy for your shoes to accumulate signs of wear and tear over time.

However, keeping your kicks in good nick is surprisingly easy, and could be the trick to prolonging their lifetime.

So, if you’re wondering how to clean your shoes, this handy guide is here to walk you through our top tips.

What Do You Need to Clean Shoes?

Before you start cleaning, make sure you’re equipped to take on the most stubborn of stains and thick layers of dirt.

We’ve included a full list of materials and tools below, however, as a starting point, we recommend picking up a good-quality polish and a decent dry shoe brush.

Tools:

• Shoe polish
• Leather soap
• Leather conditioner
• Waterproofing spray
• Shoe whitener
• Dry shoe brush
• Lint-free or microfibre cloth
• Small detail shoe brush (or clean toothbrush)
• Washing-up liquid
• Anti-odour spray
• A brush and a jar of dirt on a white surface

What Is the Best Way to Clean Shoes?

While the optimal way to clean shoes largely depends on the type of material, here are a few steps to follow to get you started:

Step One: Prepare Your Shoes

Before you start cleaning, we recommend removing any laces, undoing buckles and detaching the leather fleurettes. You may also want to set any insoles you have aside.

Step Two: Start Cleaning

With your footwear ready, begin by removing the bulk of any dirt. Carefully wipe any patches of caked-on mud and clear them of debris and dust.

A smaller, more precise shoe brush, or toothbrush, can be used to clean the nooks and crannies of intricate details and fiddly features (though we don't recommend this for patent styles, as this could damage the material).

Once most of the grime has gone, dampen your shoes with warm, soapy water (we suggest using a couple of drops of washing-up liquid) and gently clean them with a soft cloth. Skip this step if you’re tackling suede or nubuck footwear, as these fabrics don’t tend to agree with excessive moisture.

If you’re wondering how to clean the inside of shoes, simply lather the interiors with plenty of warm soapy water before leaving them to air-dry. You could also finish them off with an anti-odour spray.

Top Tip: If you aren’t sure how to clean white shoes, follow advice specific to the material. Shoe whiteners are usually a perfect match for reviving leather trainers and canvas shoes, but suede and nubuck styles may require gentler tailored cleansers.Step Three: Dry Your Shoes

Now that your shoes are clean, simply leave them to air-dry indoors in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area for a few hours until they are dried through.

Whether they’re leather, nylon, suede or canvas, using a hairdryer on them, positioning them near radiators and heaters or in direct sunlight could result in cracked material, molten glue and shrinking.

Can Shoes Be Washed in the Washing Machine?

Generally, we recommend keeping your footwear away from the washing machine. As tempting as it can be to throw them in on a quick cycle, exposing materials like leather and suede to high temperatures and hot water may warp and damage them.

How to Clean Laces and Insoles

As you know, insoles and laces can become particularly grimy after extensive wear.

Cotton laces tend to fair well in the washing machine so feel free to put them on a gentle, quick spin. However, we recommend handwashing satin, silk and wax laces. Simply remove them, wash them with warm soapy water and allow them to air-dry fully.

You also can revive our fleurettes with a dry soft brush.

How to Clean Leather and Patent Shoes

As it tends to be hard-wearing and resilient to staining and dirt, leather footwear is relatively easy to clean. With our top tips, they’ll shine in no time.

Leather: gently dry brush to remove any excess dust and dirt.

Patent: avoid brushing altogether, as this can scratch the glossy finish. Instead, lather them with a damp soft cloth and a few drops of washing-up liquid.

For a more intensive clean, a leather conditioner will help to leave your footwear looking fresh and may also work to restore the material’s natural oils to prevent cracking and drying.

How to Keep Shoes Clean and in Good Condition

The secret to keeping your kicks sparkling is little and often. Try to give them a regular clean to keep on top of any considerable build-up of dirt and dust. Whether that’s a weekly brush or a biweekly buff and polish, make an effort to maintain your shoe care routine. By doing this, you may help to extend their lifetime.

Storing your footwear properly is also key to keeping them clean. Shoe racks are a useful way to keep your kicks organised and off the floor. Or, if you have the space, hold on to their boxes to keep them safely stowed away between wears.

Top Tip: You may want to go the extra mile and stuff them with the paper they came with or use a shoe tree to help keep their shape.

Take care to undo your laces, hook and loop fastenings and buckles fully before slipping your shoes off and on each time. You could also maintain their shape by using a shoehorn to put them on.

Waterproof spray is another way of helping to protect your footwear from the elements. Simply ensure the one you’re using is appropriate for your shoe material.

 

It’s important to bear in mind that not all types of shoes can be treated the same way. Due to their delicate nature, suede and nubuck footwear require a little extra care to help them look their best. Explore our tips and tricks to help you give them the TLC they deserve.