How To Clean Leather Shoes

Tennis shoes, sneakers, kicks, loafers, whatever you call them, they all get dirty. Based on proximity with the ground alone, it’s inevitable, so sooner or later your fancy new leather shoes will be dingy and dirty until you clean or replace them. Everybody feels great when wearing a new pair of shoes, but few of us are able to hold our heads high when sloughing around in dirty old sneakers.

If you have shoes made out of canvas or a similar material, you can just toss them in the wash, but most of us have at least one pair of leather shoes, and cleaning them is not so straight forward. You certainly don’t want to throw your shoes in the trash just because they have a little dirt on them, but proper tools and techniques can be complicated, expensive or both.

If you go with the expert recommendations available, you may end up thinking that you need a special cleaner and a special conditioning product to do the job right. Although specific, store-bought products will get your shoes clean, they are not the only option. As an alternative, you could opt for a home remedy that you make with stuff you already have. The results would not be guaranteed, and you may have to mess around to mix the right solution, but in many cases homemade shoe cleaners can work just as well as more expensive options. Despite the seemingly difficult nature of this job, it can be done effectively, at a low cost, and without any risk to the longevity of your footwear.

For the sake of thoroughness, we will detail the commonly used methods for cleaning leather shoes below, and after that, you can keep reading to discover a technique that is safer, cheaper and more effective in comparison.

Why Is Leather So Hard To Clean?

This is a common misconception. Leather is not actually that difficult to clean, so anyone can do a good job, and it’s not as easy as you might think to ruin your shoes in the process. Leather is a rather durable material, which is why it is used for footwear in the first place, but there are certainly things you should be careful of when cleaning it.

We all know that you do not want to get the material too wet, but you also don’t want to use something that will dry it out either. Over time, using the wrong stuff will cause fading and cracking, and eventually this will result in disposal because rejuvenation will no longer be possible.

Because it is a natural material, leather is pretty absorbent. This helps it to hold onto dirt and stains in the first place, but it can also make it hold onto the cleaning product you use as well. This will typically result in darker areas of leather that are never the same again, so care should be taken, and you should always test any cleaner on a small inconspicuous area first.

When using soaps that may result in drying, which is most, it is recommended that you also use a conditioner afterward. Some people may try to skip the expensive store bought versions, and go with an oil at home as an alternative. This can result in permanent damage, so instead of experimentation on your expensive shoes, it’s best to stick with proven techniques to achieve results in a safe manner.

The Traditional Way To Clean Leather Shoes

Lots of us like to get a new pair of shoes, even if the old ones are still wearable, but other folks would prefer each pair to last as long as possible. For best appearances, you should clean any dirt as it arrives, but for longevity, regular cleaning will ensure that your shoes last for the long haul.

The following cleaning technique is what any shoe store or professional might suggest, and it should work in most cases. Exact results will depend upon how dirty the surface is, and the exact products you choose to tackle the job. The main downsides would be that this traditional cleaning technique requires multiple products that are expensive, and it will not work to remove staining that is too severe.

Supplies You’ll Need:

Several clean cloths
Shoe specific cleaner or a comparable soap
White distilled vinegar
Shoe polish
Leather conditioner
Eraser (gray gum type)

Instructions:

To prepare for cleaning your leather shoes, take out the laces, and set them aside.
Use a cloth or brush to wipe away any loose dirt. Do not scrape or scrub, just remove anything that comes off easily because it will make the rest of the job easier.
Get your cleaning cloth damp and apply a small amount of soap or shoe cleaner.
Gently rub the the dirty areas and scuff marks to clean. A circular motion works best to work in the cleaner and remove the grime.
For salt stained shoes, use some vinegar. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water to come up with a solution that should remove winter related staining on your boots from road salt.
A gentle rubbing action is recommended when cleaning salt stains with vinegar as well.
Once the leather surface is clean, allow your shoes time to dry away from direct sunlight.
A little polish will lock in the cleanliness, so take another clean, dry cloth and some shoe polish for the next step.
Use a small amount of polish and apply it to the cloth. Work the polish into your shoes with a circular rubbing motion, and then wipe away any excess with a different cloth.
Do not apply polish to parts of your shoes that are made of non-leather material.
Allow drying time and then take another cloth to apply your conditioning product. This will lock in oils and moisture to prevent stiffness and drying.
Allow drying time and then use another clean cloth to shine and finish the job.

Homemade Cleaners For Leather Shoes

We all have stuff around the house that can be mixed up to provide a home remedy for this job. These will not always be the best option for the each shoe type or specific dirt, but they will work in a pinch, for someone that is low on funds, or for someone that prefers something a little more natural. A homemade option will take a bit more work because you’ll have to create the substance that you’ll be cleaning with, but the end results can be similar when compared to going at it with the traditional tools and techniques found at the shoe store.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Lemon Juice and Cream Of Tartar

Most people have these two things at home, and the resulting scent may be welcomed by some. When mixed together in the right amounts, this team of ingredients is said to be effective for spot cleaning leather. If you have a few small marks on your shoes then a mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar may be a good option.

This homemade solution will not be incredibly powerful, and you’ll need to condition after cleaning to prevent drying, but if you have dirty sneakers, a lemon and some baking supplies, you may be able to prevent purchasing anything while still making your footwear look better.

To make this home remedy shoe cleaning solution take equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar and then mix together into a paste.
To clean with it, simply apply the paste with a clean cloth and work it into the stained leather material.
To finish, use a clean part of the same cloth, or a new one, to wipe the surface clean. Use one simple motion to remove the cleaning paste and any loosed dirt at the same time.
If dirt still remains, let the shoe sit for a bit, and then try the process again.
If results do not improve with a second application, you’ll need to try something a little bit tougher, so move on to another method.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Vinegar and Water

In agreement with the professional recommendation, this mixture is highly regarded as an effective way to clean shoes with stuff you already have at home. It will sort of work for dirt and stains, but it is best used for water spots and salt stains on boots and other leather shoes.

Some regular spots caused by moisture alone can be eliminated by just wetting the whole area again and letting it dry evenly, but hard water spots and road salt grime will need some help to disappear. This vinegar solution does the trick in a lot of cases, but it will dry the material, so be sure to condition your shoes afterward to keep the leather soft.

To make the cleaning solution, mix equal parts water and vinegar together. For tough jobs, you may want to use a ratio that has less water and more vinegar.
To clean your dirty shoes, simply apply the vinegar solution with a clean cloth and a blotting action.
You will probably have to go over the same area several times to finish the job, but with enough effort this method does work.
Condition the leather when you finish cleaning to prevent drying.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Cornstarch

Got an oil stain on your kicks? Run to the cupboard and grab the box of cornstarch because it may be just the thing to absorb the greasy stain and get your shoes clean. This will not work at all on an older spot, but when caught right away, it can be an effective home remedy to get your shoes clean.

To clean a grease stain on a leather shoe rub the cornstarch right into the spot.
Continue rubbing vigorously to free the bond and clean the area.
Keep rubbing, and add more cornstarch if necessary. As it loosens it’s hold the cornstarch will be able to soak up the oil before the leather does.
If cornstarch is not available, another absorbent powder would make a good substitute.

Other Stuff You Can Do With Cornstarch.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Toothpaste

Some folks will recommend toothpaste to clean almost anything. This is a pretty old school suggestion, and it only works with certain types of toothpaste. Much of the newer ones have whitening agents that are bound to cause problems, and anything that looks like a gel is not going to work either. You need a simple, paste-style product to use it for cleaning

Because the results are not that great in general, and the stuff you have on your bathroom sink is probably not right, we would have a hard time endorsing this method. If you do borrow your grandma’s tube of toothpaste and use it sparingly, it may do the job, but most likely you will just end up with a minty fresh stain. If you do want to give it a whirl, use the steps below to clean your leather shoes using toothpaste.

Choose an adequate paste. As discussed above, not all will work.
Use and old tooth brush and apply a small amount of paste right on the stain.
Work the paste into the stain gently, and then rub it off with a clean cloth.
Condition the leather afterward to prevent long term problems with the material.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Hair Spray or Nail Polish

If you are truly desperate to get your sneakers clean, you may read about methods of cleaning that utilize hair spray, nail polish or both, and you may decide to give them a try. This is probably a bad idea because whenever the risks outweigh the benefits, you are probably doing it wrong. Although many people have had success with hair spray and nail polish, you can also permanently damage your shoes if you’re not extremely careful.

If you were guaranteed results it would be one thing, but you’re not. Hair spray and nail polish may or may not remove tough stains, but 100% of the time you will be risking damage. For hair spray specifically, it will require several applications, and the sticky residue will need to be removed afterward. This is probably one technique to skip, because there are definitely better options available.

Cleaning Leather Shoes With Soap and Water

A mild soap like Castile or saddle soap is often recommended for cleaning leather products. You will need to be careful so that the material does not get too wet, but if used correctly, this combo should be somewhat effective for removing light dirt from the surface of your shoes.

If you end up adding too much moisture, the leather will absorb it and this will result in additional stains to clean. Saddle soap works well because it is designed for use on leather, and has a higher oil content than others.

To clean leather using this techniques, use a damp rag, and apply the soap to the leather directly.
Rub the soap into your shoes with a circular motion.
Continue rubbing until a lather builds, and the dirt starts to lift.
Once the dirt is loosened and lifted, take a clean, dry towel and wipe the area clean to finish.
Follow up with a conditioning product to prevent any drying and future damage.

Homemade Leather Conditioners

Pretty much every home remedy that will work well for your dirty shoes will also leave them dry after you finish. For this reason, you really need to condition the leather after you clean in order to prevent stiffness, cracking and an early demise. This can be tricky, but there are some options available. In most cases, if you want to avoid a store-bought product and stick with a home remedy for conditioning the leather most recommendations point to some sort of oil to do the job.

If you add too much oil the material will darken, and food grade oils like olive oil can cause long term damage even though they are widely suggested as a good idea. Cooking oils do work to condition the leather, but they are often sticky and stinky upon application, and over time it may actually cause your shoes to age quicker.

A homemade mixture that seems to produce good results would be a combo of vinegar and linseed oil. It is safer than straight olive oil and other similar options because it will not cause the same sort of damage.

Other Leather Cleaner Options

Other stuff like WD-40, banana peels, baby oil, Vaseline, rubbing alcohol, shampoo, etc. are also offered as things you can use to clean or polish your leather shoes. All of these are less likely to work when compared to the options listed above, but feel free to give them a try as some folks have had success in the past. Any of these will be a bit more risky and less likely to give the end result you are after, but theoretically they should clean adequately in some situations.

A Safe and Easy Way To Clean Leather Shoes

Want to get amazing results like in the pictures above? Would you believe that you can rejuvenate your shoes without tons of effort, time or money? Well.. You can.

If you would prefer an easier way to get your shoes clean while conditioning the leather at the same time, then continue reading for a better way to do this job. You don’t need to rummage around your house to keep costs low and prevent the purchase of expensive shoe specific products, and you don’t need to go through fourteen different steps just to finish the job.

Quick N Brite offers an incredibly effective way to clean leather shoes, and it conditions at the same time, so you’ll complete the job in one easy step. Quick N Brite will remove way more dirt and staining than any of the methods listed above, and it runs no risk of permanent damage. You can use it with very little moisture, or you can clean with no water at all. Use it to remove mud, grass stains, salt stains, regular dirt, and virtually anything else coating you kicks.

No toxic smells will sting your nose, and the cleaner is safe to use with your bare hands. It will not discolor your shoes, or dry out the material, but it will eliminate all dirt as it makes your shoes look like new again.

How To Use It:

Quite possibly the best way to clean leather shoes, Quick n Brite is easy to use, and the results are amazing. Whether you are cleaning a child’s cleats after the big game, or improving the appearance of pair or gardening shoes, this will be the perfect product to use. It’s ideal for brown work boots coated with mud and other grime, but it also works to make dingy sneakers bright white again.

It would be difficult to find something that this stuff won’t clean off, and you will not have to scrub and scrub to do it. When you finish, the leather will feel soft and smooth to the touch because this powerful cleaner will eliminate all dirt while allowing the material to hold onto the natural moisture within. For this reason, you do not need to polish or condition your leather shoes when you finish cleaning them because you will accomplish that simultaneously with the one step cleaning process.

You can always spot clean specific areas for a quick way to improve the look of your shoes. Below we will detail how to do a thorough cleaning of the full shoe. Simply modify slightly to do a single spot or small area.

To prepare your leather shoes for cleaning, remove the laces and set them aside.
Take a dry cloth or soft brush and quickly wipe away any loose dirt on the surface of the leather to make the job easier.
To clean the laces put them in a cup of hot water and add 1 Tbs of Quick N Brite. The liquid is ideal for something like this, but you can also melt down the paste at low heat too.
Once the laces are submerged in the solution, mix thoroughly and then LET SIT for 15-20 minutes. Although there is not bleach or anything similar, this process will take dingy white laces and make them look like new again.
Once the laces have soaked, rub them together a bit to free anything more stubborn, then rinse, wring and lay flat to dry.
To clean your shoes, get the included scrub sponge wet with warm water, and wring out until it no longer drips.
Use the scrubby side of the sponge to pick up a small amount of paste, and then apply it to your shoe. The sponge has a non-abrasive surface that is ideal for working in the cleaner, and is safe for most shoes.
If you are concerned about the abrasiveness on your pair, you can also use a damp cloth instead.
Rub the cleaner into the leather using a circular motion until all areas are covered.
Unlike other cleaners, you don’t have to stop with the leather. Any material on your sneaker can be coated and cleaned with Quick N Brite.
Once the cleaner has been applied, LET IT SIT for five or more minutes. Use a longer amount of time for serious soil. It can sit for any amount of time without worry.
As the cleaner remains on the leather surface, it will break down the dirt, release the bond with the leather, and float it off the surface to make it easy to wipe away.
The slippery cleaner will mix with and surround the grime as it lifts it up. This makes it very easy to eliminate.
After the cleaner sits, use a dry terry cloth towel to wipe the surface of your leather shoes until they are clean.
All dirt will transfer to your cloth and your shoes will be left spotless.
No conditioner is necessary, because QUick N Brite leaves the natural oils, and the ingredients also condition the leather material as it cleans.
When finished, your shoes will be super clean, but also soft and flexible to the touch. Because no drying will occur, cracking and deterioration are impossible.

Stop wasting money on expensive products that are only good for shoes. Quick N Brite will do a better job on your footwear, and it will also work on hundreds of other jobs too. This versatile cleaner is incredibly safe, and amazingly effective. Get it to make your sneakers look like new, and keep it around to remove stains from clothing, hard water spots from your tub, grease from kitchen cabinets and so much more.

Unlike any other method above, this one is guaranteed to produce great results, and it’s also way less risky. Guessing and experimenting with stuff around the house can be fun, but you’ll never get the surface as clean in comparison. You may be tempted to go with a home remedy in order to save money, but when you look at the cost, this natural cleaner will only set you back a few pennies for each cleaning. With a full money back guarantee, you can be sure that it will give you a safe, easy and effective way to clean your leather shoes.

Other Tips

Even if they are not very dirty, taking care of your shoes on a regular basis can make them last longer. Regular cleanings are important for any pair that gets soiled regularly, but an occasional one for your loafers will keep them looking great for as long as you care to wear them.
Suede is not the same as the smooth kind of leather. Do not use the above techniques for suede. A gum eraser can take of surface dirt from this material, and light blotting with a cleaning product can remove other dirt.

Warning

You should avoid cleaning suede with any product specifically designed for regular leather, and you should never get suede leather wet. This version is much different, and much more difficult to work with. Even a small amount of moisture can cause permanent damage.

Tip Contents

Why Leather Is Hard To Clean
The Traditional Way To Clean Leather Shoes
Cleaning With Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar
Cleaning With Vinegar and Water
Cleaning With Cornstarch
Cleaning With Toothpaste
Cleaning With Hair Spray and Nail Polish
Cleaning With Soap and Water
Other Cleaning Options
Homemade Leather Conditioner
An Easy Way To Clean Leather Shoes
Step By Step Instructions
Other Tips and Warnings

Products Mentioned

Quick N Brite Cleaner

Tip Contents

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