How to Clean Shoes

Considering everything that we might step in during the day, it's a wonder that we bring our shoes into our homes at all. Cleaning our shoes not only gets all that grime back out the door, but it makes the shoes look better and last longer.

Things You'll Need

• Shoe brushes
• White vinegar
• Soft cloths
• Nylon bristle brush
• Pencil erasers or fine sandpaper
• Leather cleaner or saddle soap
• Leather conditioner
• Waterproofer
• Shoe polish
• Shoe polishing cloths
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Clean smooth leather shoes by first removing the laces and giving them a vigorous brushing with a shoe brush.

2. Clean salt stains from shoes by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water and dampening a small cloth. Use the cloth to scrub the stained area. For suede or nubuck, use a nylon bristle brush.

3. Use leather cleaner or saddle soap to clean the leather with a soft cloth. Pay particular attention to the seams.

4. Clean suede or nubuck with a pencil eraser or fine sandpaper, then rub with a bath towel to bring up the nap again.

5. Apply leather conditioner to all leather shoes, taking care to use the correct kind for smooth leather or suede. Conditioner keeps your shoe leather soft.

6. Waterproof your shoes.

7. Polish your shoes to help protect them and to give them a clean-looking gloss.

8. Deodorize your shoes by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda into them and shaking the shoes to distribute it inside. Let stand overnight, and then shake the baking soda out.

Tips & Warnings

• In a pinch, you can use a little vegetable oil or petroleum jelly to clean shoes and give them a little shine.

• Leather athletic shoes should be cleaned in the same way as other shoes. Fabric athletic shoes (or any shoe with a fabric upper and rubber sole) can be washed in the washing machine after removing the laces.

• Do not to use the same brush for your white shoes right after polishing your black shoes.

• Never dry any shoes in the dryer; stuff them lightly with newspaper and let air dry.