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Whether it is a new pair of suede Birkenstocks, white sneakers, or leather oxfords, the only way to keep them looking fresh is to clean them on a regular cadence. Consider this your guide to keep your and your family's shoes looking clean and new. Cleaning shoes is not a fun task to add to busy schedules, but you won't regret doing it. As busy, working moms, we devised a guide that makes cleaning shoes easy and doable.
How to Clean Sneakers
Unfortunately, dirt, mud, and scuffs are impossible to avoid. But with a few occasional shoe cleanings, your sneakers will keep their new shoe shine for a little longer.
What you need to clean sneakers:
✔A toothbrush or dry brush
✔A mild laundry detergent or dish soap
✔Warm water
Step 1: Remove the shoe laces and insoles. If you are tight on time, you can skip this step. However, by removing the shoe laces, it makes it easier to clean the entire shoe.
Step 2: Remove loose dirt and debris. Use a cloth or the dry brush to quickly remove dirt and debris.
Step 3: Create a cleaning solution by mixing warm water with either a mild laundry detergent or dish soap. We have found that both the L'Avant High Performing Laundry Detergent and L'Avant High Performing Dish Soap work very effectively to clean sneakers without using harsh chemicals that can be hard on the shoes and your hands. Use a regular-size bowl and add a few drops of laundry detergent or dish soap, and mix with the warm water.
Did you know? We are proud to share that the L'Avant High Performance Laundry Detergent is officially a Better Homes & Gardens Clean House Award Winner for Best Stain Fighter.
Step 4: Scrub dirt off the sneakers with the cleaning solution. Dip your toothbrush or cleaning brush into the cleaning solution and lightly scrub stains and dirt. Don't forget to clean the shoe soles.
Step 5: Rinse the shoe with water. Lightly rinse the shoe off with warm water. If need be, repeat step 4 and 5.
Step 6: Air dry your shoes. Keep your shoes away from heat and sunlight to air dry the sneakers. Because it is best to air dry, take into consideration that you may not be able to wear the shoes for a day or two. Be sure to dry them at room temperature so that they do not attract mold.
Step 7: Clean the shoe laces. Using the same bowl in step 3, wash it out and create a new cleaning solution using warm water and a high-performing laundry detergent like the L'Avant High Performing Laundry Detergent. Put the shoe laces into the bowl and let them soak. If needed, use the toothbrush to scrub any extra stains or use your hands to massage the laces clean. Then rinse the shoe laces with warm water and hang them to dry.
A note about insoles: If your insoles have an odor, you can clean them using the same steps as above to clean the sneakers.
How to Clean Suede Shoes
There is nothing better than slipping on a pair of suede Birkinstocks or the new suede clogs from Quince. These comfortable, wear-anywhere, anytime shoes are easy to slip on for a day in the office, to school pickup, to the grocery store. This also means they can easily get dirty. But how do you safely clean suede shoes?
The number one tip to clean suede shoes: do not use water.
What you need to clean suede shoes:
✔ Stiff bristle brush. We love to use the L'Avant Wood Dish Scrubber Brush
Step 1: Remove the shoe laces. If you are tight on time, you can skip this step. However, by removing the shoe laces, it makes it easier to clean the entire shoe. This is specifically for suede sneakers.
Step 2: Remove loose dirt and debris with a brush. Use the dry brush or suede brush to quickly remove dirt and debris.
Step 3: Use rubber to remove stains. Ideally, have a suede rubber eraser on hand. If you don't, you can use a pencil eraser. Lightly rub the eraser on the stain and then use the brush to remove the eraser and dirt pieces.
Step 4: Clean the shoe laces. If you are cleaning suede shoes with laces, you can easily clean the shoe laces in a homemade cleaning solution. Use a regular-sized dish bowl to combine warm water and a high-performing laundry detergent like the L'Avant High Performing Laundry Detergent. Put the shoe laces into the bowl and let them soak. If needed, use the toothbrush to scrub any extra stains or use your hands to massage the laces clean. Then rinse the shoe laces with warm water and hang them to dry.
A note about suede: Never get your suede shoes wet. If you do, be sure to soak up the water as much as possible using a microfiber cloth or towel.
How to Clean Leather Shoes
Leather shoes can span a lot of different types of leather and shoes. For the sake of keeping it easy, this is the simplest way to clean leather shoes:
What you need to clean leather shoes:
✔ A toothbrush or soft brush
✔ A mild dish soap
✔ Warm water
✔ Dishcloth
Step 1: Remove the shoe laces. If you are tight on time, you can skip this step. However, by removing the shoe laces, it makes it easier to clean the entire shoe and then you can clean the shoe laces.
Step 2: Remove loose dirt and debris. Use a dry cloth or a soft brush to quickly remove dirt and debris.
Step 3: Create a cleaning solution by mixing warm water with a mild, high-performing dish soap. In a regular-sized bowl, we mixed a few drops of the L'Avant High Performing Dish Soap with warm water.
Step 4: Softly wipe the shoe with a damp cloth. Dip your dishcloth into the cleaning solution and then wring it out until it is damp. Lightly scrub stains and dirt.
Step 5: Pat the shoes dry and air dry. Pat the shoes dry using a dry towel and then leave in a room temperature space to air dry.
Step 6: Clean the shoe laces. Using the same bowl in step 3, wash it out and create a new cleaning solution using warm water and a high-performing laundry detergent like the L'Avant High Performing Laundry Detergent. Put the shoe laces into the bowl and let them soak. If needed, use the toothbrush to scrub any extra stains or use your hands to massage the laces clean. Then rinse the shoe laces with warm water and hang them to dry.
How to remove other stains on leather shoes: If you need to remove salt stains, scuff marks, grease stains, or ink stains, check out this helpful article from Vogue.
Key Takeaways to Keep Shoes Clean
This guide specifically focuses on the easiest and quickest ways to clean shoes using nonabrasive, but high-performing products. We recognize that there are many more ways to treat and condition shoes, but not everyone has the time and energy. In summary, this is what you need to keep most shoes clean:
✔ A brush: this can be a toothbrush, a soft brush, or even the L'Avant Wood Dish Scrubber
✔ L'Avant multitasking, nature-based cleaning, High Performing Laundry Detergent or Dish Soap. Both products can make your daily life that much easier…and, dare we say, pleasant, too! For all of life’s daily messes, L’AVANT Collective has an answer. And you can bet it’s available in a countertop-worthy bottle, too.
✔ A dishcloth that easily soaks up water. We love these dishcloths from Geometry.
✔ A suede eraser.
L'AVANT Collective was born out of the near-constant demand for cleaning up after our kids and pets, but wanting the products we used to be non-toxic, highly effective, and conveniently located. Our goal is to merge our modern home interiors and styles with the products we use daily in a sustainable and plant-based way. Our products are created to multitask, including using them to clean shoes or even unclog toilets.
