Shoe Care Tips: How to Clean, Protect, and Make Your Shoes Last Longer

A great pair of shoes deserves better than being kicked into the bottom of the closet and forgotten until next season.

Whether you own boots, sneakers, wedges, loafers, sandals, faux suede shoes, or everyday casual footwear, a little routine shoe care can help keep your favorite pairs looking better for longer.

The good news?

Taking care of your shoes does not have to involve a complicated collection of brushes, sprays, and mysterious products that require their own storage closet.

A few simple habits can make a big difference.

Why Shoe Care Matters

Shoes take a beating.

They deal with dirt, moisture, pavement, grass, spills, scuffs, and whatever else your day throws at them.

Regular shoe cleaning and maintenance can help:

• Remove dirt before it becomes harder to clean

• Reduce stains and discoloration

• Protect certain materials from moisture

• Help shoes maintain their shape

• Keep interiors fresher

• Extend the wearable life of your favorite footwear

And considering how attached some of us become to our favorite shoes, keeping them around a little longer seems like a worthwhile investment.

Always Check the Shoe Material First

Before cleaning any shoe, identify what it is made from.

This is one of the most important shoe care tips because a method that works perfectly on one material can damage another.

Common shoe materials include:

• Genuine leather

• Faux leather

• Suede

• Faux suede

• Canvas

• Mesh

• Fabric

• Synthetic materials

• Cork

• Rubber

Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions when they are available.

When trying a new cleaning product, test it on a small, less visible area first.

Your favorite shoes are not the ideal place for a cleaning-product experiment.

How to Care for Suede and Faux Suede Shoes

Suede and faux suede are popular materials for women’s boots, booties, loafers, and fall shoes, but they require a little more care than some smoother materials.

Start by allowing any wet dirt or mud to dry completely.

Once dry, gently remove surface dirt with a suede brush or another soft brush appropriate for the material.

Brush lightly rather than aggressively scrubbing the surface.

For small marks, a suede-specific eraser or cleaning product may help, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Try to avoid soaking suede or faux suede with water.

Moisture can affect the texture, appearance, and color of these materials.

How to Clean Leather Shoes

Leather shoes can last a long time when cared for properly.

Begin by removing loose dirt with a soft, dry cloth or brush.

For deeper cleaning, use a product specifically designed for the type of leather you are cleaning.

After cleaning, some genuine leather footwear may benefit from a leather conditioner to help prevent excessive drying or cracking.

Do not assume every leather-looking shoe should be conditioned.

Faux leather and genuine leather require different care, so always confirm the material first.

How to Care for Faux Leather Shoes

Faux leather is generally easy to maintain.

For routine cleaning, gently wipe the surface with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Avoid saturating the shoe with water.

For stubborn dirt, use a cleaner recommended for synthetic or faux leather materials.

After cleaning, allow the shoes to dry naturally.

Avoid placing them directly next to heaters or other high-heat sources, which may damage some synthetic materials.

How to Clean Sneakers

Sneakers are some of the hardest-working shoes in the closet.

They also seem to have a remarkable ability to find dirt approximately four minutes after you put them on.

For basic sneaker care, start by removing loose dirt from the upper and sole with a soft brush or cloth.

If the shoes have removable laces, taking them out can make cleaning easier.

Clean according to the materials used in the shoe.

Mesh, canvas, leather, suede, and synthetic sneakers may all require different methods.

While tossing sneakers into the washing machine may seem convenient, machine washing can damage certain shoes, adhesives, cushioning, finishes, or decorative details.

Check the manufacturer’s instructions before machine washing footwear.

How to Keep White Shoes Looking Cleaner

White shoes are beautiful.

They are also apparently magnetically attracted to dirt.

Routine cleaning is often easier than waiting until white footwear becomes heavily stained.

After wearing your white shoes, wipe away visible dirt before storing them.

Pay particular attention to rubber soles and edges, where dirt tends to collect.

Use a cleaner designed for the shoe’s specific material rather than assuming one product works on every white shoe.

And remember: white leather, white canvas, and white mesh are still three completely different materials.

How to Care for Cork Wedges

Cork wedges are popular because they offer a casual, lightweight look that works beautifully with spring and summer outfits.

To care for cork footwear, avoid soaking the cork portion of the shoe.

Use a soft, slightly damp cloth to gently remove surface dirt when appropriate.

Let cork wedges dry naturally and keep them away from prolonged exposure to excessive moisture.

Because Corkys and other wedge styles can contain several different materials in one shoe, clean each section according to its material.

The upper, insole, sole, and wedge may not all require the same care.

Protect Shoes Before Wearing Them

For some materials, a protective spray can help reduce the effects of moisture and stains.

Look for a protector specifically designed for your shoe’s material.

There are different products for:

• Suede

• Leather

• Fabric

• Canvas

• Synthetic materials

Follow the directions carefully and test the product first.

Do not assume a waterproofing or stain-resistant spray is safe for every shoe.

Let Shoes Dry Naturally

If your shoes get wet, resist the temptation to speed up the drying process with direct heat.

Hair dryers, heaters, fireplaces, and other high-heat sources may damage adhesives, finishes, leather, synthetic materials, or shoe structure.

Instead, allow wet shoes to air dry naturally at room temperature.

If appropriate for the shoe, loosely stuffing the interior with clean paper can help absorb moisture and support the shape while drying.

Avoid printed newspaper on light-colored interiors because ink may transfer.

Rotate Your Shoes

Want one of the easiest ways to help shoes last longer?

Do not wear the same pair every single day.

Rotating shoes gives them time to air out and recover between wears.

This is especially useful for shoes worn for long periods or during warm weather.

Besides, if anyone questions why you own multiple pairs, you now have a perfectly legitimate shoe-care explanation.

You're not shopping.

You're maintaining a rotation.

Store Shoes Properly

Where you store shoes can affect how they look over time.

Keep footwear in a cool, dry location away from prolonged direct sunlight.

Sun exposure can fade certain colors and materials.

Avoid piling shoes on top of each other whenever possible, especially structured shoes or pairs with decorative details.

For boots, consider using boot shapers or another gentle support to help prevent the shafts from folding and creasing during storage.

Keep Shoes Away From Excessive Moisture

Moisture can create problems for many shoe materials.

If shoes become damp, allow them to dry completely before storing them.

Avoid putting wet shoes into closed boxes or containers.

You also want shoes to have some airflow before being packed away for long-term seasonal storage.

Clean, dry shoes are much happier shoes.

Yes, we are assigning emotions to footwear now.

This is Traci's Craziness. It was probably inevitable.

Clean Shoes Before Seasonal Storage

Before packing away sandals, boots, or other seasonal footwear, give them a quick cleaning.

Remove dirt.

Check for stains.

Clean the soles.

Make sure the shoes are completely dry.

This prevents you from opening a storage container six months later and discovering that last season left you a surprise.

It also makes your shoes ready to wear when their season returns.

Take Care With Rhinestones and Embellishments

Statement shoes often include rhinestones, beads, metallic details, buckles, or decorative hardware.

Clean around these areas gently.

Avoid aggressive brushing or soaking unless the manufacturer specifically says the shoe can tolerate it.

For rhinestones or glued embellishments, excessive moisture and heat may weaken adhesives.

And nobody wants to spend Saturday afternoon searching the carpet for missing rhinestones.

Do Not Forget the Soles

When cleaning shoes, it is easy to focus only on the part everyone sees.

But soles collect dirt quickly.

Use an appropriate brush or cloth to remove dried dirt and debris from the bottom and sides of the sole.

Keeping soles clean can improve the overall appearance of a shoe and prevents you from carrying quite as much of the outdoors into your house.

Your floors will also appreciate this tip.

How Often Should You Clean Your Shoes?

There is no single schedule that works for every pair.

How often you clean footwear depends on:

• How frequently you wear it

• Weather conditions

• Shoe material

• Where you wear the shoes

• How dirty they become

For everyday footwear, removing visible dirt after wearing them is often easier than waiting until they need a major cleaning.

A little maintenance now can save considerably more effort later.

Simple Shoe Care Can Make a Big Difference

Taking care of your shoes does not need to become another chore on your weekly list.

The most important habits are simple:

Keep them dry.

Clean dirt before it builds up.

Use products appropriate for the material.

Avoid excessive heat.

Store them properly.

And give your favorite pairs a little break between wears.

Do that consistently, and your shoes have a much better chance of staying part of your wardrobe for seasons to come.

Find Your Next Favorite Pair at Traci’s Craziness

Of course, taking great care of your current shoes does not mean you cannot buy new ones.

We would never suggest anything that unreasonable.

At Traci’s Craziness, you can shop women’s boots, booties, wedges, loafers, sneakers, sandals, clogs, and boutique footwear in styles designed to make getting dressed more fun.

Take care of the shoes you love.

And when you are ready for another pair, we will be here.

Traci’s Craziness…where we fuel your crazy!