If your shoes are neatly stacked in your closet or scattered on the floor, it would be nice to take a look at them. The selection of materials, finishes, and colors is nearly endless for most of us. There is no longer a time when leather heels can only be black or brown.
Even with so many options out there, one person can only have so many shoes. Is there a way to extend their life while keeping them looking attractive? Yes! Which honestly allows me to get the most out of my footwear purchases, and build a closet like fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw.
The best part about my tried and true methods for cleaning various styles of shoes are the ingredients. Everything listed below you will likely already have in your home. Which just makes cleaning less daunting and a lot easier. It may seriously make you want to start building that dream closet and shoe collection you’ve always wanted.
You can follow a few simple ingredients and procedures to properly clean any shoe, including not only loafers but slippers as well.
Here are the proper cleaning methods for different types of shoes. Remember to read carefully because the worst thing you can do is give up and throw your cute Uggs or loafers in the washing machine or dryer, and ruin them out of frustration.
How To Clean Suede, NuBuck, And Sheepskin Shoes
Don’t you love suede loafers? I adore mine, and keeping my suede loafers looking great isn’t a hard chore. After every other wear, or at least once a month, I give my suede loafers a good clean, so the next time I wear them, they’re fresh and ready to go. Suede loafers can also pair with most casual outfits.
Keeping suede shoes, suede boots or other napped surface shoes clean and looking their best requires regular maintenance. To clean suede, you can try to dry the surface of the suede shoes as much as possible and regularly wipe them with a soft-bristled brush (or suede brush) after each use to eliminate loose dust and filth. Using a suede protector, you can immediately treat stains and protect suede shoes from water damage. While a suede protector isn’t necessary, your shoes will keep their appearance longer in between washing.
- Using a pencil eraser and a suede brush to restore the nap will remove scuffs and marks.
- Baby powder or cornstarch can be sprinkled on oily stains to absorb them. After applying the powder to the stain, wait at least an hour before brushing it away. Once the nap is raised, brush it again until all the oil is absorbed.
- A damp cloth or paper towel can be used to absorb moisture from wet spots. If you use a spray bottle, you risk ruining your designer shoes. Air dry completely away from direct heat. Using a circular motion, brush the nap smooth.
- It is common for sheepskin boots to have shearling linings, which get dirtier than the outside. Keeping fungus and stink at bay is as simple as wiping the inside of the boots with a cloth dipped in a wool shampoo solution, then rinsing with a vinegar-water solution. Before wearing fully dry shoes, let the boots to air dry for at least 24 hours.
How To Clean Leather, Patent Leather, And Faux Leather Loafers
Some outfits pair so well wit leather loafers. So how do you keep leather loafers looking their best?
To clean leather shoes, leather loafers, patent leather shoes, or imitation leather shoes, dip a soft cloth into a solution of equal parts lukewarm water, distilled white vinegar, and wipe off any dirt on the whole shoe. (A shoe brush works here as well as a brushing tool.) The method works very well for removing winter salt stains. Make sure the shoes are completely dried by air.
You can polish business shoes, penny loafers, or casual sneakers with a professional polish or leather conditioner, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. For white athletic shoes or today’s rainbow of hues, dampen a soft towel and dip it in baking soda. The scuffed area should be rubbed gently in a circular motion and the residue should be wiped away using a clean cloth. Before buffing with a clean cloth, allow the entire shoe to dry completely.
Using a soft cloth dipped in some petroleum jelly, you can buff off scratches on patent leather, natural leather loafers, and imitation leather shoes. Alternatively, you can use a soft cloth and ammonia- and alcohol-free glass cleaner to bring back the shine to leather loafers as well.
How To Clean Fabric Shoes
The fabric shoe genre includes strappy sandals, sneakers, pumps, and flats. It is inevitable, however, that the cloth will eventually become soiled, no matter what the style may be.
There is a trick online for washing cloth shoes. While it may seem like a good idea, washing cycles (even the delicate cycle) may be harsh, and the force of the agitator or tumbler combined with the friction of the running cool water can rip or distort the shoe’s surface.
If you prefer to clean fabric shoe surfaces by hand, use dishwashing soap, warm water, a toothbrush, and paper towels.
- A dry paper towel or shoe brush can be used to remove any excess dirt and loose surface soil from the wet cloth.
- In a small bowl, combine one teaspoon dishwashing liquid with two cups of warm water.
- Brush the cloth gently with the soft toothbrush after dipping it in the soapy solution. Work on a tiny portion at a time. Be careful not to get your hands too wet. Move all over the shoe with the grain of the cloth so that the color remains consistent, and wipe clean.
- To get rid of soapy residue, wipe the shoe with a damp paper towel. You may need multiple towels to thoroughly “rinse” the shoe.
- Once the shoes have been blotted with a dry paper towel, allow them to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight. Some shoes can be kept in shape until they are completely dry. Stuff dry paper towels inside their toes or heels, and you’ll notice a huge difference in maintaining the shape!
Wet cleaning is not recommended for velvet loafers or shoes. Use a dry cleaning solvent and a soft-bristled brush to remove spots more effectively. Wet cleaning can ruin your favorite pair of shoes!
How To Clean Rope And Cork Wedges
Once you’ve washed the upper fabric or leather portion of the wedge shoe, you should clean the scuff marks off the rope or cork-covered sole. It is not necessary to use a shoe cleaner on these types of shoes, you can use a DIY solution instead.
To treat the affected area, combine four cups of warm water, one-fourth cup of distilled white vinegar, and one teaspoon of liquid detergent. Clean surfaces using an old toothbrush, soft brush, or towel, working in tiny areas at a time. A good way to prevent rope soles from fraying is to work in one direction.
After the shoes have been cleaned, wipe them down with a towel soaked in plain water to remove any soapy residue and let them air dry.
Storing Your Loafers
The first step to storing your shoes effectively with a shoe tree or cube shelving is to organize your shoes into groups. You can begin by sorting your shoes into two categories:
- Shoes you wear regularly
- Your seldom-worn shoes
I suggest putting your lesser-worn shoes at the top of the cube or shelf to avoid more dirt and dust accumulation. Shoes or loafers you find yourself wearing often can go in more easily accessible slots in your shoe cube or tree. Or, if you have a top rack in your closet, any seldom worn pairs can live there as well.
I also use dust bags and some boxes for all my leather kicks. Does my closet sorta look like a rendition of Carrie Bradshaw’s? Yes. But hey, it’s organized and well-kept…most days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Clean Suede Shoes?
You should ideally wash suede loafers and shoes about once a month, given their level of wear. If your suede shoes have more scuffs than you like, weekly cleaning is also okay to keep the suede loafers looking their best.
How Often Should I Polish Leather Shoes?
Regular shoe maintenance includes polishing your shoes every four to six weeks, depending on how often you wear them. Shining your shoes to a high shine, requires extra effort if you actually want to see your reflection in the leather itself.
I always buff and polish my leather footwear after each wear just to keep the leather looking its best. If you don’t want to make a DIY leather polish solution, there are many leather polishes available commercially that can do the trick.
How Often Should I Clean Fabric Loafers?
The best rule of thumb is to clean your footwear at least once a month. But if they get particularly grungy, follow the above directions to safely clean fabric loafers.
Is OxiClean Safe to Use on a Fabric Shoe?
As a laundry cleaner, OxiClean combines dried hydrogen peroxide and ordinary washing soda. Additionally, it can be used to pretreat dirty or smelly fabric shoes. You should soak fabric footwear in the solution for 1 to 6 hours after mixing the detergent with water, then machine wash them. A common problem with white sneakers is that they are notoriously hard to get white again.
All that being said, only wash a really dirty pair in a washing machine as a last resort. Follow my above tips for machine washing so your kicks don’t lose their shape or quality.
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