Cleaning Shoes

Tip: Blood Stain Removal from Leather Shoes
You can spot clean leather by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist´s eraser. A stain on leather that won´t brush or wipe off should be taken to a leather cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a leather-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect both leather and suede articles by spraying them with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores. If you are willing to take a chance, risking irreparable damage to the shoes, you can try to remove the blood stains with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or by covering the stains with a paste made of either salt or meat tenderizer and cold water. Let sit for 30 minutes, then sponge with cool water.

Tip: Flip Flops Cleaning
To clean and refresh your flip flops, or rubber sandals, you can simply place them on the top shelf of your dishwasher and run them through the wash cycle. They will come out clean and disinfected. If you do not have a dishwasher, they can also be cleaned in your washing machine, and set out to air dry.

Tip: Yellowed White Canvas Shoes
The yellow you see on your white canvas shoes after washing them is likely caused from the glue holding your shoes together. The only way to prevent this is to have your shoes dry cleaned rather than washing in water. You cannot really remove the stains that are there, but you can cover them up with a white shoe polish.

Tip: Whitening Rubber Shoe Soles
To get your white rubber soles white again, try using white-wall cleaner (designed for tires). Follow the package directions for cleaning tires. You could also try ice skate cleaner that you can purchase from a sporting goods shop.

Tip: White Canvas Sneakers Care and Cleaning
The best way to clean white sneakers is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy´s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most sneakers can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, they can be covered up with white shoe polish.

Tip: Leather Shoe Insoles Cleaning
You can clean leather shoe insoles by scrubbing them with a nail brush or similar small brush and either a commercial leather cleaner that you can purchase at a shoe repair shop or saddle soap. Murphy´s Oil Soap also works well. Allow them to dry in the sun, and do not wear them until they are thoroughly dry.

Tip: Suede Shoes Care and Cleaning
Suede is a very difficult material to clean. New suede shoes can be treated with a protective suede spray. Never use water to clean suede. To restore its nap, rub suede with a bath towel, nail brush or suede brush. Dry stains and marks can be removed by gently rubbing with a pencil eraser or fine grit sandpaper on the affected area. If the suede has an oil stain, try using talcum powder to absorb it. Leave the powder on overnight, then use the suede brush to lift the nap. You can apply a small amount of white vinegar to a damp cloth as a last resort for cleaning suede shoes, but be aware that this may leave a vinegar smell; gently rub the surface of the shoe with the cloth, then allow it to air dry. All other stains on suede should be professionally treated.

Tip: White Rubber Soles on Shoes
To get your white rubber soles, white again, I would recommend using white-wall cleaner (designed for tires). Follow the package directions for cleaning tires. You could also try ice skate cleaner that you can purchase from a sporting goods shop.

Tip: Gasoline Stain Removal from Shoes
To remove gasoline from your shoes, first place the stained areas facedown on paper towels. Apply dry-cleaning solvent to the back side of stain, replacing the paper towels frequently. Allow to dry, then rub in liquid detergent or dampen stain area with water and rub with bar soap or detergent paste. Rinse and launder (if washable). If any odor remains, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of you washer, as this should take out any remaining smell. Air dry, stuffed with paper towels or newspaper to help the shoes retain their shape.

Tip: Dyeable White Fabric Shoes Cleaning
The best way to clean white fabric shoes is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy´s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most shoes can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, the dye will not likely evenly cover the shoes, so you will want to do as thorough of a cleaning as possible.

Tip: Sneaker Cleaning
The best way to clean white sneakers is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy?s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most sneakers can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, they can be covered up with white shoe polish. If you choose to wash your sneakers in a washing machine, remove the laces and wash them on their own or with a couple of old towels. Don´t use bleach. Let your sneakers air dry or machine dry on a “fluff air” cycle, since the heat of the dryer can melt parts of the sneakers. “Air” type sneakers cannot be washed in a machine. For spot removal, you can try some white-colored (but not whitening) non-gel toothpaste and a soft toothbrush, then rinse with water.

Tip: Satin Shoes Care and Cleaning
It´s risky to wash satin shoes, as there may be dyes underneath the fabric that would leach through, and the shape of the shoes may be lost. Have them professionally dry cleaned.

Tip: Pancake Syrup Removal from Bottom of Shoes
To remove pancake syrup from the bottom of your shoes, treat it with a mix of 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly, then follow up with 1 tablespoon of ammonia in 1/2 cup of water.

Tip: Spot Cleaning Leather Shoes
You can spot clean your leather shoes by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist´s eraser. A stain on leather that won´t brush or wipe off should be taken to a leather cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a leather-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect leather articles by spraying them with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores.

Tip: Fast Drying Canvas Shoes
You should be able to dry your shoes in the dryer, but I would recommend stuffing them with tissue paper, or something similar, to keep their shape. You might want to try sticking tea towels or old rags inside them. If you can control the heat level on your dryer, set it to low, so as not to overheat the rubber on your shoes.

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