Sam Edelman
Shoe Care Basics - How to Clean Shoes Like a Pro
While the brain may struggle to compute the immensity of $140.3 billion, the footwear industry’s net worth is enough to raise anyone’s eyebrows. And though this should make sense—in that nearly eight billion humans have feet and feet need shoes—it’s important to understand what it truly means to wear (and care for) shoes well.
No matter where you fall on the shoe-saavy to new-to-shoes scale, we’ve got the answers to some of the most asked shoe care questions from shoe-connoisseurs everywhere. In this comprehensive shoe care guide, we’ll address all things shoe care basics, like:
• How often to clean your shoes (and why)
• Shoe care for various types of shoes
• Must-have shoe care supplies and cleaners
• Shoe care tips to save you time
• And so much more!
Let’s get started.
Shoe Care Guide: Why Should I Clean My Shoes?
As is true with any transaction, you’re never just paying for a product, you’re buying an experience. And while no one needs to break the bank to get their basics met, different factors influence different people.
Higher-priced items come with higher consumer expectations and for good reason—the experience should offer greater value. Depending on the brand, that value may be defined by longevity, quality processes, aesthetics, reliability, or all the above.
These attributes inform consumer relationships to products, suppliers, and associated brands. Essentially, price points aren’t all about what’s leaving your wallet, but what you’re getting in return.
Unfortunately, many overemphasize their shopping experience and underemphasize what comes next. You know, after your shoes land in the closet.
At Zappos, we want to be involved far beyond what goes in and out of your shopping cart. Here are some hot topics to implement shoe care basics like a boss.
How Often Should I Clean My Shoes?
As is true with anything, maintenance ensures the greatest outcome. Of course, the easiest way to know if your shoes need cleaning is from overt displays of muck, mud, debris, and stains, but why wait for them to get there?
Your best bet is cleaning your shoes every couple of weeks or with a quick spot clean after use. Too much cleanliness can actually perpetuate wear and tear, so be moderate with your motives.
Regardless of shoe type, assess your athletic shoes after last week’s 5K or yesterday’s puddle ‘o mud to assess the wear and tear.
Will your sneakers riot against you if you push your shoe cleaning regimen off a day or two? Likely not. (That’s part of why you bought them, right?) But will your loafers rage with hues of dark, drab, and dreary if such procrastination becomes a habit? You bet.
There’s a reason why some invest in daytime shoes versus nighttime shoes or indoor shoes versus outdoor shoes. Such distinctions set you up for the right expectations as it pertains to shoe care.
It might help to make a quick list of what types of shoes you currently have. In doing so, you might acknowledge that it’s been a wee-bit too long since you’ve cleaned them. Don’t sweat! This is about crafting a better tomorrow, not dwelling on yesterday.
Make it a project during your next take out and movie night, then set a better schedule for the long term. Quick Tip: We highly encourage busting out your white shoes first and fast.
Do Different Types of Shoes Need Different Types of Shoe Care?
In short, yes. However, shoes are much like clothing in that all of them need to be washed, but how you wash each slightly varies.
All types of shoes can benefit from the following shoe care tips:
• Use baking soda or a refresher spray to deodorize
• Avoid the elements unless wearing hiking or winter boots
• Switch up your shoes often to avoid fast wear and tear
• Keep a pair of shoes in the car to avoid mess
• Don’t wear wet shoes until completely dry
Before we unpack how to best service each type of shoe, it helps to know which shoe care supplies work best.
What Shoe Care Supplies Do I Need?
Given shoes are a lifetime investment (in that you’ll be buying shoes throughout your life), you’ll be best equipped with the following shoe care supplies:
• Shoe brush or microfiber cloth
• Shoe protector, refresher, or deodorant
• Water or stain-remover
• Shoe polish
• Leather lotion, conditioner, or boot oil
Note that depending on the type of shoes you wear, the products will differ, but you can tackle this on a shoe-by-shoe basis. We recommend getting your shoe care cleaners at the time of purchase, so you can start out on the right foot-pun intended!
Shoe Care for Various Types of Shoes
Here’s a quick breakdown of caring for various shoe types and even quicker shoe care tips for maintaining them.
Leather
Of the classy and sophisticated shoe family comes leather. To care for them in times of muck and mire:
• Remove the laces
• Apply baking soda or cornstarch
• Prepare a damp cloth
• Massage the problem areas gently
• Set it and forget it overnight
• Revisit in the morning
As tempting as it may be, refrain from putting hair dryers, direct sunlight, vinegar, lemon, or peroxide on leather as this causes the fibers to harden or crack.
Wait for the leather to dry completely before wearing them again and apply a rejuvenating leather balm to polish and spiff before reuse.
Suede
Oh yes, we couldn't forget the suedes.
For blemishes and scuffs:
1. Rub problem areas with a dry brush
2. Erase with a rubber eraser
3. Apply a touch of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol for stubborn patches
4. Let dry and finish with another dry brush
For oil stains:
1. Dust with baking soda on problem areas
2. Let sit for at least an hour
3. Brush and reapply baking soda as necessary
4. Let sit, then repeat as needed
For water stains:
1. Use soft cloth to blot the water stains
2. Let dry completely (not in direct heat)
3. Use dry brush to even out
Note: Suede and wet don’t mix. Avoid water to clean this material all in all.
As you can see, various stain types will impact how to clean them. If you’re not sure, take your best guess and go slow and steady. Your shoes are more resilient than you think!
Corks and Wedges
If you’re rocking wedges, espadrilles, rope, or cork shoes, keep a clean toothbrush handy, as these materials are more delicate than others.
Bust out your best DIY home laboratory with a solution of 2:1 tablespoons of water to baking soda. This should concoct a paste-like solution. If it doesn’t, add more baking soda.
Scrub the solution onto the problem areas. Then, wipe it with a wet cloth and let it dry. Note that warm water works best and you can adjust the proportions based on the size of the problem areas. Keep your scrubbing motion consistent and circular.
Sneakers and Athletic Shoes
For your everyday sneakers or running shoes, you may see the most wear and tear. To clean:
1. Like leather, remove the laces
2. Remove the insoles and liners for a quick dry and to avoid more moisture, mildew, or mold
3. Use a brush to remove hardened dirt or debris
4. Mix warm water with a small amount of dish soap and clean problem areas
5. Rinse with clean water
6. Wipe with microfiber cloth
7. Let dry
Note that you can also throw your kicks into the washing machine with your standard laundry detergent for a gentle, cold-rinse cycle. If you use this method, just remember these shoe care tips beforehand:
1. Remove the soles and laces as mentioned previously
2. Don’t expose to high heat
3. Always air dry
It’s likely best to do a solo wash for these types of shoes instead of throwing them in alongside your bedding and whites (but our guess is you already knew that).
How to Store My Shoes
It’s all too easy to overlook the importance of storing your shoes. We get it: Walk in the door, kick off your shoes, relax. This moment can’t come fast enough.
But the last step is storing them wisely so you can consistently enjoy the fruits of your labor. We recommend storing like-shoes (or shoe families) together. While closets are the obvious storage space, how you store them matters.
Tired of hurriedly searching for your left heel, which you find moons later sitting on top of a paif of morning slippers? Say, Goodbye, madness!
Invest in a shoe rack, shoe bags, or an organization system that keeps everything neat, tidy, and sane. You won’t be sorry.
Next, while closets are usually dark, there's a reason for that! Keep your shoes tucked away with a comfortable room-temp environment. Extremes in either direction can cause unnecessary problems!
If you have dirty or damp shoes, remove them from the bunch, as no one needs this disaster in the making. Return to the baking soda, lather the soles with it, and let them rest on their own elsewhere.
For your last shoe care tip of the day, consider investing in boot stands for the boots that depend on that long and lean look.
Achieve Shoe Care Mastery
At the end of the day, shoe care is more intuitive than you think. As with anything, there’s a short period of trial and error with shoe care basics. Still, to avoid any irreparable damage, we’re here every step of the way.
Keep this shoe care guide nearby as you venture into the world of proper shoe care. You’ll come out feeling like a new and improved version of you, we’re sure of it. See you on the other side!