Shoe cleaning is an important part of shoe care – it helps to extend their life and keep them in good condition. Below is an overview of common types of shoe materials and recommended cleaning methods for each of them.
Content of the article
- Shoe laces
- Leather
- Textile materials
- Synthetic materials
- Rubber boots
- A combination of materials
- Principles of shoe care
- Are the shoes still dirty after cleaning?
Shoe laces
To properly clean your shoes, first remove the laces, which you will clean separately. If the manufacturer does not allow this or if you do not have information available about the composition of the laces, it is better to avoid washing them in the washing machine so that they do not accidentally shrink.
Instead, wash them by hand in warm water with soap, washing powder or a special cleaning product. Then let the laces dry properly before retying them in the shoes. In general, we recommend that you clean your shoes and laces well in advance of using them, so that you have room for quality care.
Leather
For smooth leather, the easiest way to remove dust and dirt is with a clean damp cloth. For more stubborn dirt, you can use a cleaning agent, applied by circular movements of the cloth. Let the shoes dry and nourish them with impregnation grease.
Suede leather should not come into contact with water, so clean dry to avoid damaging the surface hairs. A crepe brush works great on suede, gently brushing dirt away in the direction of the hairs. You can try to remove persistent stains with a special spot cleaner for suede, on which the dirt is packed when rubbing the hair.
Similar rules apply to nubuck leather as suede. When dry, with a suitable nubuck brush, remove stubborn dirt with a nubuck cube.
On the contrary, do not use the brush on artificial leather, so as not to scratch the leather too much. A cloth and soapy water will work better.
Life hack: You can remove grease stains from suede with baby powder. Pour it on the stain, leave it on for an hour (it soaks up the grease), then brush it off. A paper towel is sufficient for wet stains. To remove grease from artificial leather, wipe with a cloth with a little petrol.
Textile materials
You can clean shoes made of textile materials (textile, canvas, cotton, ...) with a brush and lukewarm water with a little washing powder or soap. A small amount of water is enough to make the powder more like a mash, apply it to the brush and clean the stains with circular movements. Then rinse the shoes with water and let them air dry well.
Life hack: To keep white sneakers bright white for as long as possible, add baking soda to the cleaning mixture, and a weak solution of white vinegar will help with salt stains.
Synthetic materials
Synthetic shoes can be cleaned in the same way as textile shoes, but they can withstand more intensive wet cleaning, or even washing in a washing machine, if the manufacturer allows it.
In general, washing shoes in a washing machine is not highly recommended, as even lukewarm water can dissolve some of the adhesives connecting the sole to the rest of the shoe. However, if you do decide to put the shoes in the washing machine, at least close them in a mesh bag or wash with larger rags to avoid too much flying and chipping of the shoes inside the drum.
Rubber boots
The easiest way to clean rubber shoes is with lukewarm water and soap, to remove larger dirt and stains you can try white vinegar or a special cleansing foam.
A combination of materials
For shoes that combine leather and textile (or other materials), always follow the recommendations for the given types of materials. Be careful not to get the textile parts too wet.
Principles of shoe care
Cleaning shoes helps remove dirt and stains, but comprehensive shoe care also includes drying shoes, nourishing them with cream and protecting them with impregnation. Care for your shoes regularly to keep them in great condition. Proceed gently and with sensitivity, so you don't scrape or otherwise damage the shoes by cleaning.
Don't forget the inside of your shoes, which you can freshen up with odour eliminator or scented pads. The recommended care for individual types of footwear and materials may vary, so always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
Are the shoes still dirty after cleaning?
If the above advice or special shoe care products did not help, then there is probably nothing better to do. Although regular care significantly extends the lifespan of shoes, you cannot restore the original shine of old and worn shoes. If the appearance or functionality of the shoes is no longer sufficient, we recommend that you look for a new pair.