How to Clean Leather Athletic Shoes

Leather athletic shoes require special care to maintain their shape and stability.

Wearing in a pair of leather athletic shoes allows the shoe to mold to the contours of your feet, ensuring a snug but comfortable fit. Once they have been broken in, you need to take care of the leather. Properly caring for your athletic shoes will help the leather stay strong, maximizing the life of your sneakers. You need to regularly clean and restore leather athletic shoes to ensure they stay in good condition.

Things You'll Need

• Goop multi-purpose hand cleaner
• Hand soap
• Lint-free towels
• Paper towel
• Olive oil or petroleum jelly

Instructions

1. Prepare the leather athletic shoes using Goop, a waterless multi-purpose hand cleaner available at any automotive store. Apply a generous amount of Goop directly the leather surface. Rub it in with a soft, clean towel using a circular motion; apply more pressure for soiled areas. Let it sit for 30 to 45 minutes. Dampen a separate towel and wipe away the Goop.

2. Mix a solution of 1/2 tsp. soap to 16 ounces of water and mix it by stirring or shaking. Dip a clean towel into the solution and wipe down the shoes. Dampen a towel with water and use it to wipe away any soapy residue. Dry them with a paper towel, ensuring that the leather surfaces are dry.

3. Apply a thin layer of olive oil or petroleum jelly to the shoes to restore and condition the leather. Wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water and dry them. Use your fingers to rub olive oil or petroleum jelly into the leather, using just enough to lightly coat the leather surface. Allow the shoes to sit overnight and keep them out of direct sunlight. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to remove excess olive oil or petroleum jelly. Rub in a circular motion to buff them to a shine.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid taking your leather shoes outside in the rain without using a restoration or conditioning treatment on the leather first. Dry them as soon as you can after exposing them to water to prevent any long-term damage.

References

• Stetcher: Caring for Leather Shoes
• Mrs. Clean USA: How to Clean Leather