How To Clean Cloth Shoes Fast | Only 6 Common Steps

Your favorite white cloth shoes will keep their lovely structure and pleasant inside supports with careful care. Unfortunately, nothing can prevent dirt from gathering on the surface and turning your favorite shoes into a soiled mess, especially since white shoes are notoriously easy to dirty.

Even if this occurs, you can restore your shoes to their former glory by following four simple cleaning steps. Here’s how to get started on how to clean cloth shoes.

Cleaning fabric shoes

Shoes can be made from many fabrics. Just like anything else you wear, no matter how careful you are, over time they get dirty.

Unfortunately, you can’t just toss them in the washing machine like you would your clothes. The glue that holds the shoes together won’t hold up and leather linings or adornments can get damaged.

Cleaning fabric shoes needs to be done by hand, taking care not to damage them.

The cleaning supplies you will need

• Paper towels.
• Soft toothbrush.
• Soft shoe brush.
• Warm water.
• Dishwashing soap.
• Small bowl.

The way to clean your fabric shoes

1. Make sure your shoes are dry, especially if they have been contaminated with mud or dirt.
2. Brush the dry dirt and mud away with the soft shoe brush.
3. To eliminate any remaining surface dust or grime, wipe the shoes with a dry paper towel.
4. In a small bowl, combine one teaspoon of dishwashing soap with two cups of warm water.
5. Remove the soft toothbrush from the water and soap solution, shake off any excess water, and repeat.
6. Scrub the fabric lightly in small pieces at a time.
7. Work your way through the entire shoe’s fabric. This will assist to prevent spots and maintain a constant color.
8. Work in the same direction the entire time, with the fabric’s grain.
9. In a bowl of clear, warm water, soak several paper towels.
10. To remove any soap residue, wipe this over the shoes.
11. Carry on in this manner until all of the soap has been “rinsed” away.
12. Blot the shoes dry with a dry paper towel.
13. Allow the shoes to air dry in a cool, dry location away from direct sunshine.

Cleaning white fabric shoes

White cloth shoes, more than any other, are prone to getting soiled. You can bet that the minute you put them on and go out the door, everything will conspire against you keeping them clean.

It may be a new pair of Converse or Vans, or it could be your tennis shoes or sneakers. Knowing how to clean them will help to maintain them bright and white for a longer period of time.

What you need

• 2 old toothbrushes.
• 3 small bowls.
• Laundry detergent.
• Baking soda.
• Clean cloth or paper towel.

The method

1. Take the laces out of your shoes (if they have them).
2. Place the laces in a bowl with some warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap.
3. Let them soak for a while.
4. Remove and dry the item once it has been cleaned.
5. Make sure your shoes are dry, especially if they have been contaminated with dirt or mud.

CLEANING THE SOLES

1. Tap the shoes together at the soles to remove excess dirt from the treads.
2. Use one of the toothbrushes to clean out any remaining dirt from the tread or creases between the soles and uppers.
3. Using the second bowl, mix together equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste.
4. Dip the toothbrush in the paste and gently massage it into the soles of the shoes.
5. Once you have covered and cleaned all the soles, use a damp cloth or paper towel to remove the paste.

Cleaming the uppers

1. Fill the last bowl with cold water and a few drops of washing detergent.
2. Make sure everything is fully combined.
3. Dip the second clean toothbrush in the solution as well.
4. Clean the shoes in circular motions, making sure to work from the outside in on any stains.
5. Using fresh water and a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe away any remaining soap solution.
6. Steps 12 to 14 should be repeated until all of the shoes are clean.
7. To keep your shoes in shape, stuff them with paper towels or old clothes.
8. They should be air dried away from direct heat or sunshine.

This video shows you another method to clean white canvas shoes using hydrogen peroxide and soap.

Cleaning fabric dress shoes

Dress shoes could be made from fabrics like suede, velvet, or satin. These each present their own challenges when it comes to cleaning them.

Velvet shoes

When washing velvet shoes, take extra care. Fabric shoes cannot be cleaned using the procedure described above.

Lift the pile and remove dirt and dust from velvet shoes with a soft bristles brush like this one from Miscly. A dry cleaning solvent could be able to help you eliminate stains. Before using any cleaning agent on velvet, make sure you do a patch test on an inconspicuous spot.

Satin shoes

Satin shoes can mark easily and also retain watermarks. Special care should be taken when cleaning them.

What you need

• Clean cloths.
• Cold water.
• Gentle hand soap.
• Clean hand towel.

The method

1. To remove any dust or filth, wipe the shoes down with a dry cloth.
2. After that, dab any stains with a wet cloth dampened with cold water.
3. If you’re making a heel, start at the top and work your way down following the fabric’s grain.
4. Use a small bit of gentle hand soap to remove any stubborn stains that won’t come out with just water.
5. To make a lather, rub this on a cloth and then blot the spot with the soap.
6. Immediately wipe away all of the soap with a moist cloth. You can use light pressure to ensure that everything is gone.
7. Using a clean hand towel, dry the shoes. If you can’t get all of the water out, dry the shoe using a hairdryer on the lowest heat setting.

Suede fabric shoes

Suede is a leather type. It’s the animal hide’s brushed underside. It is far more delicate than full-grain leather, which is derived from the hide’s outer skin.

On suede shoes, it’s best to use a professional suede brush and cleaner.

FAQs

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FABRIC SHOES?

Stain repellents are available for a variety of fabrics. They will assist in keeping them clean and may also provide some waterproofing.

It’s crucial to note that any treatments should only be used on clean shoes. It’s important to get started right away when you first obtain them.

Most materials are suited for a product like this from Scotchgard. There’s another one made specifically for suede and nubuck.

Before using any protective spray, make sure you read the manufacturer’s directions.

CAN I WASH FABRIC SHOES?

You can clean them with soap and water as described above, but do not put them in the washing machine. They frequently feature leather or suede details, as well as glue to keep them together. Putting them in the washing machine may cause them to become damaged.

CAN I DRY FABRIC SHOES IN THE DRYER?

This one, like the washing machine, is off limits. The heat may cause the cloth to shrink or compromise the shoe’s integrity. Allow shoes to air dry away from direct sunshine or heat in a well-ventilated place.

CLEANING IT UP

Fabric shoes, whether they’re the latest heels, dress shoes, casual deck shoes, or sneakers, are becoming increasingly trendy. Keeping things clean and well-protected will help you get more usage out of them.

You now know how to do it without causing damage to your shoes. So go through your closet and start cleaning. You must have thrown some shoes in the back because they were filthy.

Shoestorenyc.com hope you liked and learned something from our guide. Please leave a comment and share this page so that others can learn how to clean cloth shoes as well.