How to Clean White Shoes

Despite how easily they get dirty, white shoes are very popular, especially during summertime. Depending on the fabric, there are different ways to get them bright again.

EditSteps

EditRubber Shoes

1. Use a cloth. Wash the cloth with a liberal amount of soap. Rub the soap all over the white part of the shoes.
2. Use a stiff brush. Brush all over the soap covered parts.
3. Wash the soap off with a clean cloth.

EditCleaning Shoes With Soaps

1. Use a soft cloth to remove obvious dirt and dust from the surface of the shoe.
2. Remove the laces.
3. Rinse the shoes with warm, not hot, water. Do this on the inside and outside of the shoes.
4. Prepare a solution of warm water and a ‘natural soap’. Common soaps for cleaning shoes include sand soap, dish washing liquid and hand soap.
5. Use a soft brush and scrub every part of the shoe with the soap mixture. Do not scrub too hard or you could damage the surface of the leather.
   • Remove scuff marks with a nylon backed brush, or wait until the conditioner is applied.
6. Rinse the shoes in warm water again, both inside and out.
7. Stuff your shoes with paper towels. The paper will absorb the water and make the drying process go faster.
   • Replace the paper when it gets water logged.
   • Do not use newspaper as the black ink can run and ruin your shoes.
   • Stuffing your shoes with paper also helps them hold their shape as they dry.
8. Allow your shoes to drip dry.

EditCleaning Shoes With Commercial Products

Shoe cleaners come in gels, foams, sprays, liquids and creams. You can also use leather cleaning products designed for car seats.

1. Put your shoes and all materials on top of several layers of newspaper before you begin.
2. Remove any laces.
3. Use a pre-cleaner. This is helpful if your leather shoes have a lot of old polish buildup.
4. Use a soft-shoe brush to rub the shoe cleaner into any cracks and seams.
5. Remove the cleaner based on the packet instructions.

EditPolish your shoes

An important stage in shoe cleaning is to polish your shoes. High-quality leather shoes should be polished at least once a month.

1. Choose the correct polish and color for your kind of shoe.
   • If you wish you can use multiple polishes: white for the white parts and black for the black.
2. Choose one of the four basic forms of shoe polish: waxes, pastes, liquids,and creams.
   • Creams and pastes add moisture to your shoe by soaking into the leathers as they work. Because they actually penetrate the surface of the leather, creams and pastes cover scratches and other imperfections. Creams and pastes work well on all types of shiny or smooth leathers.
   • Wax shoe polishes are good for protecting from the elements, but do not treat the actual leather of your shoes.
   • Liquid shoe polish is easy to apply, but like wax, doesn’t penetrate or condition the leather.
   • Shoe polish paste is the longest lasting, but is very messy and slow to work with. Shoe polish cream is a great compromise and is available in lots of colors.
3. Polish your smooth leather shoes.
   • Apply the polish to a small area of the shoe to make sure the color matches.
   • Rub the polish into the shoe with a soft and clean lint-free cloth.
   • Apply the polish in small, circular motions.
   • Be sure to get plenty of polish on any imperfections.
   • Allow the polish to dry.
   • Shine your shoes by buffing them with a soft cloth or brush made specifically for shining shoes.

EditAthletic Shoes

1. Create a mixture of water and a neutral cleaner. Dishwashing detergent or shampoo works well.
2. Remove the laces. Rinse the shoes with water both inside and out.
3. Grab a soft-tipped brush. Dip it into your cleaning mixture and scrub it over all parts of the shoes.
4. Remove any scuff marks with a nylon scrub pad. For alternatives, a toothbrush or sponge works well too.
5. Rinse the shoes inside and out once more. This way, you will be sure if you got all of the dirt and grime off.
6. Stuff the shoes with paper and allow them to dry overnight. This will help them to absorb excess water and keep their normal shape. Do not use newspaper or magazine pictures because the ink will run into the shoes.
7. Wash the laces in a load of laundry. Allow the inserts to dry out.
8. Put the laces and inserts back in once the shoes have dried completely.
9. Apply white cream shoe polish to the white leather parts.

EditSuede Shoes

1. Brush out any dirt. Use a suede cleaning brush to gently brush everything off. Make sure to brush in the same direction and do not go back and forth.
   • For stubborn dirt marks that won’t go away with a brush, try using a pencil eraser.
2. Remove scuff marks. The suede brush can now be used in a back and forth motion to removed scuffed areas.
   • For areas that don’t respond to the brush, try scraping the area with a knife to lift the nap.
3. Remove water stains. To remove the water that can affect discolored suede, apply a light coat of water with a nail brush. Use a sponge or dry cloth to soak up excess water and then let the shoes dry overnight.
   • Insert a shoe tree or newspaper into the show while it dries. This will help it retain its shape.
4. Protect your suede. Spray a coat of suede protector spray on your shoes after each cleaning. Make sure the excess dirt has been removed before doing this.

EditMachine Washing

1. Remove the laces and any other removable parts.
2. Use the warm, not hot, cycle.
3. Add regular detergent.
4. Let the shoes air dry overnight.
   • Do not use the dryer. This will either melt your shoes, destroy your dryer, or both.
   • Even if the shoe is machine washable, multiple washes can break down the adhesive that holds the shoe together.

EditCondition Your Shoes

Conditioning your leather shoes will help soften and moisturize the leather, and protect it from drying out and cracking.

1. Use a leather conditioner especially made for smooth leathers. Do not use a cleaner and conditioner in one product.
2. Use a ‘natural’ conditioner that absorbs into the material. Do not use a synthetic conditioner.
   • Choose a conditioner that is the same color as your shoe. If you still see scratches or other imperfections choose, a shoe conditioner in a shade one shade lighter than the color of your shoe.
3. Condition your shoes
   • Rub a small amount of conditioner into the shoe using a clean cloth or applicator.,
   • Cover the entire shoe with conditioner.
   • Wait a few minutes.
   • Wipe the shoes free of any extra conditioner.

EditFolk Remedies

1. Westley’s Bleche-Wite whitewall/blackwall tire cleaner. This is reported by some to be an excellent leather shoe cleaner.
   • Use a scrub brush and rinse the shoe with water.
   • Use a clean cloth to rub in the tire cleaner.
   • Rinse.
     • Grease stains on leather can be treated with this method.
2. Toothpaste. This is used by many people to clean their leather shoes.
   • Put a dab of toothpaste on a washcloth or old toothbrush.
   • Gently rub the stains with the toothpaste.
   • Rinse.
3. Petroleum jelly. This is reported by some to be a good cleaner and protector for leather shoes.
   • Apply jelly to a smooth, clean, lint-free cloth.
   • Rub in the jelly using a circular motion. Let the shoes rest.
   • Wipe off the jelly using a clean cloth.
4. WD40. This is used by some to clean and protect their leather work shoes.
   • Remove any obvious direct, mud or other debris.
   • Spray the shoes with WD40.
   • Gently buff using a lint-free cloth.
5. Furniture polish. Furniture polish is used by some to keep their leather shoes in good condition. This may not be the best solution for white shoes, but if you can find white furniture polish it may work.
   • Clean dirty shoes with a household cleaner.
   • Spray the polish lightly over the shoe.
   • Wipe away any excess polish with a clean cloth. The polish helps seal in moisture so leather shoes don’t dry out and crack.
6. Olive or walnut oil. These two oils may also clean and protect smooth leather.
   • Test the oil in an inconspicuous spot (like the tongue of the shoe) to ensure color fastness.
   • Work a small amount into shoe using a soft cloth.
   • Polish with a soft cotton cloth.
7. Lemon juice. This is used to remove regular dirt spots from leather ;:
   • Mix 1 part lemon juice and 1 part cream of tartar.
   • Work the paste into the spot with a soft cloth.
   • Let it sit for a few hours, if needed. Come back and apply a little more paste.
8. Vinegar and oil mixture. This helps keep leather supple.
   • Mix 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts linseed oil.
   • Pour the solution into a jar with a lid.
   • Shake well and apply to the leather with a soft cloth.
   • Let it sit for 12 hours and buff. If the cloth starts to soil, be sure to change it often.
9. For leather shoes/sneakers, a mixture of bleach, dish detergent and warm water.
10. VO5 hair conditioning gel. This is also reported to be a good leather cleaner.
    • Remove most of the dust and obvious dirt with a damp cloth or brush.
    • Rub a dab of gel over the surface and wipe with a soft cloth to a shine.
11. Use Magic Eraser for white canvas sneakers.

EditVideo

EditTips

• There are many products on the market for cleaning leather shoes. Any leather cleaner, be it for jackets or car seats, will also clean your leather shoes.
• When removing spots from leather, always test any cleaning method on an out-of-the-way spot first.
• The next time you buy a pair of leather shoes, condition them before ever wearing them. This will help insure that your shoes are best protected from the start and will save time on future cleanings.
• Leather should be kept out of direct sunlight.

EditWarnings

• Don’t try to use shoe polish to change the color of your shoes. If you need your shoe color changed, consult a shoe repair shop.
• Rags or clothes used that come in contact with the shoe polish should be immediately discarded.
• Commercial shoe polishes can contain potentially harmful chemicals. Even those products that claim to be free of chemicals usually do not list their ingredients, so it is difficult to know for sure.

EditThings your will need

• Newspapers
• Gloves
• Soft cotton cloths or rags
• Soft shoe brush (optional)
• Smooth leather shoe cleaner
• Leather conditioner for smooth leather shoes
• Shoe polish, or a shoe polish alternative
• Leather protector (a waterproofing product)
• Laundry detergent
• 50%/70% rubbing alcohol

EditRelated wikiHows

• How to Clean Tennis Shoes
• How to Make Your Sneakers Look New Again
• How to Polish Shoes
• How to Clean Suede Shoes
• How to Wash Shoes
• How to Keep Your Shoes from Stinking
• How to Clean Smelly Sneakers
• How to Clean Your Converses
• How to Clean Road Salt off Leather Shoes
• How to Shine Your Tap Shoes

EditSources and Citations

• EPA Warning on shoe polish
• Sneaker cleaning tips

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How to Clean White Shoes