Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years. Show
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Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking. Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board Fact checked by Sarah Scott Fact checked by Sarah Scott Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija In This Article Expand
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With just a few supplies and some easy steps, you can clean every type of shoe, even slippers. Many steps are the same for every material, from fabric and leather to synthetics and sneakers. Pay special attention to the unique differences when following these step-by-step guides for cleaning your shoes. Proper care of your favorite pairs will extend the life of your shoes. How Often to Clean Your ShoesHow often to clean your shoes is a personal preference, but if you want them to look brand-new at all times, it's a good idea to clean your shoes at least once a month. Shoes you wear only on occasion can be cleaned on an as-needed basis. You should also take care to properly clean or dry your shoes any time they're subjected to poor weather, like rain, mud, or snow and salt. Before You BeginWhen faced with dirty shoes, especially fabric shoes, the instinct might be to throw them in the washing machine. But generally speaking, this is not a good idea, because the long soaking and rough handling of the agitator can damage them and loosen the glues that hold the parts together. And be realistic in your expectations, no matter what cleaning method you use. With shoes made of delicate materials, or shoes that are very heavily stained, it's virtually impossible to restore them to like-new condition. But with the methods described below, there's every reason to think you'll be able to make your shoes presentable again and get extra life from your footwear.
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InstructionsHow to Clean Fabric ShoesThe Spruce / Taylor Nebrija Fabric shoes can be strappy sandals, sneakers, pumps or flats. No matter the style, the fabric will eventually get dirty. You may find some hacks online about tossing fabric shoes in the washer, but this can actually be a bad idea. Your washer's cycles can be aggressive and the force of the agitator or tumbler—combined with the temperature and friction of the moving water—can warp or tear at the shoe. Instead, clean fabric shoe surfaces by hand with just some dishwashing detergent, warm water, an old toothbrush, and paper towels.
How to Clean Leather, Patent Leather, and Faux Leather ShoesThe Spruce / Taylor Nebrija When it comes to cleaning leather, patent leather, or faux leather shoes, you will be dealing with two signs of wear and age—dirt and scuffs or fading. You'll want to take care of both with your "cleaning" in order to ensure your shoes stay looking their best.
How to Clean Suede, NuBuck, and Sheepskin ShoesThe Spruce / Taylor Nebrija The key to keeping suede or any napped surface shoe looking its best is regular care. The surfaces should be kept as dry as possible and cleaned with a soft-bristled brush after every wearing to remove loose dust and soil. Treat stains as quickly as possible.
How to Clean Rope or Cork WedgesThe Spruce / Taylor Nebrija Because they're made of natural fibers, cork and rope shoes take a little extra TLC when they're being cared for. After you've cleaned the upper fabric or leather part of a wedge shoe (using the methods above), it's time to tackle the rope or cork-covered sole.
How to Clean Athletic Shoes in a Washing MachineThe Spruce / Taylor Nebrija Although it's generally not advised to wash any shoes in the washing machine, an exception can be made for fabric athletic sneakers and tennis shoes, including those with wool uppers like the styles from Woolloomooloo. Athletic shoes have sturdy construction that can generally stand up to a few machine washings. Simply toss them into the washing machine on the gentle or delicate cycle and clean with a good, heavy-duty laundry detergent like Persil or Tide. Before washing, remove any inner soles and the laces and wash the laces separately. To control odor and fungus, wipe down the inner soles with a 50:50 vinegar-water solution before placing them back in shoes or replace with new liners. FAQ
11 Common Shoe and Boot Problems a Cobbler Can Fix Article Sources The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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