How to Clean Leather Shoes

My teenage son was so excited when his new white leather sneakers arrived; his first question was, "Do you know how to clean leather shoes? I want them always to look this white!"

Thankfully, this wasn't nearly as difficult a question as his adolescent mind imagined. So began lesson one of how to clean leather shoes safely.

The first step in leather shoe care is the most important—applying a leather protectant to the surface of a new pair. This crucial step protects your shoes from dirt and stains, ensuring they always look their best. 

This is true whether the shoes in question are sneakers, pumps, or boots. Once primed for wear, when the inevitable stain or splotch happens, here's how to clean leather shoes.

How To Clean Leather Shoes

You'll need the following items to clean leather shoes:

• Tarp or newspaper. This will be used to create a protected cleaning area that will prevent cleaners from staining the floor or table. Cleaning leather is a dirty job.

• A shoe brush. You'll need this a couple of times during the cleaning process. 

• Dishwashing detergent to clean away dirt and grime.

• An eraser. For cleaning rubber soles and sides.

• Paper towel, cotton balls, or a clean cloth. You'll use this to apply the cleaner. 

• White vinegar. To spot clean leather shoes.

• Leather conditioner. This will help keep your shoes in excellent condition in the future.
  

• Soft cloth. For buffing dry. This can be any clean and dry cloth, such as a t-shirt or towel.

Set Up a Shoe-Cleaning Area

While cleaning leather, protect your floor or other surfaces with a tarp or newspaper. To make cleaning easier, remove the shoelaces so they won't block parts of the shoe's surface. 

If your laces need a good cleaning, too, you can wash them in a container with warm water and laundry detergent.

Brush Surface Dirt and Debris Off Shoes

Brush debris and dirt from your leather shoes with a horsehair shoe brush. Gently brush in one direction to loosen the dirt, then brush it off.

That way, you're cleaning the leather material itself and not rubbing in any dirt when you add soap or cleaner.

Apply either the water-and-vinegar solution or a stain solution of water and mild dishwashing detergent.

Create a rich lather using as little water as possible. Lather on both shoes using a damp paper towel or cloth. Use a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove the excess soap from the shoes before conditioning and to dry them. 

For more resistant marks, dab with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, then wipe with an absorbent cloth.

To clean white leather sneakers, make a paste of three tablespoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of water, and use a toothbrush to scrub the shoes clean. 

Then, for rubber soles and sides, use a household mark-eraser product such as Mr. Clean.  

Protecting Shoe Leather

Now that my son has learned how to clean his shoes, he's kept his white leather Adidas sneakers looking pristine. We should all be so diligent about our shoe-cleaning routine!

Apply the leather protectant while shoes are still damp. Gently rub the conditioner onto your shoes and allow them to air-dry.

Keep them away from heat and direct sunlight, which can cause damage and cracking in the leather surface.