Krissia Garcia, CEO and founder of KrissKlean, recommends taking time to prep your surface before cleaning: “If there is a lot of hair, it has to be removed first before you apply any products.” The same goes for dirt and other debris. Our top pick, Jason Markk’s Shoe Cleaner Essentials, comes with everything to prep and clean your shoes, including an effective and versatile formula. Here are the best shoe cleaners for making your footwear look brand new. Jason Markk’s Shoe Cleaner Essentials is our top pick for a shoe cleaner. Not only is this formula very effective, the essentials kit comes with everything you need to apply the cleaner and touch up your shoes. It is safe to use on any fabric and any color, so you never need to worry about keeping multiple products around and remembering which ones you can use on which shoes. The essentials kit comes with a small bottle of cleaner and a stiff bristle brush. The brush is a bit small, so you may want to upgrade to the more expensive starter kit once you know that this is the right answer for you. Don’t be fooled by the small bottle of cleaner that comes with the essentials kit, however. While it is only 4 ounces, a little bit goes a long way. For most cleaning needs, this tiny bottle lasts for over 100 uses. Using too much can actually make it harder to get your shoes clean, since you will need to wipe off the excess cleaner and use the brush to get it into the fabric. The brush is a bit stiff for delicate fabrics, such as suede. But, you can purchase a separate premium brush with softer bristles or a specific suede kit. Travel kits, foam cleaner, water repellent, and other cleaning towels are also available. Because these cleaners are a bit expensive, we recommend starting with this versatile, effective, and expansive essentials kit to decide if purchasing the specialty products meets your needs. Price at time of publish: $18 What’s Included: Cleaner, bristle brush | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: All fabrics and colors You will need to get an application cloth or brush separately, but the cleaner comes in a spray that is easy to direct onto your shoe. After spraying it on your shoe, use a brush to work it into stubborn stains or dirty areas. Then, wipe away any excess, and rinse your shoe with regular water from the sink. You can use it on everything from boots to outdoor shoes and children’s sneakers. Just keep in mind that you will need to rinse the surface of the shoe, so you should be careful using it on suede or other dyed leathers. Always test a small area first to make sure the colors in your shoes won’t run, as well. Price at time of publish: $7 What’s Included: Spray cleaner | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Plastic, leather, canvas, and rubber
The kit comes with a bristle brush, the ideal tool to work the formula into your shoes. It is a full-size brush and large enough to work on sneakers and boots, too. You can add a microfiber cloth, sold separately, to your kit which is made of saddle soap, gentle oils, and conditioners so your shoes can actually improve with routine application. This is especially important to keep fabrics like leather supple and conditioned. Notably, the team behind the product also has a lot of experience and is very responsive to questions. All in all, there isn’t much to be desired after adding this pick to your cart. Price at time of publish: $25 What’s Included: Cleaner, bristle brush | Ingredients: Saddle soap, oils, conditioners | For Use On: Leather, canvas, suede, vinyl, cloth, and other fabrics The wipes work on sneakers and outdoor shoes, but are not safe for leather or suede. They do not require any water or application materials. Just be sure to close the lid to keep them moist, since they will not work if they dry out. They are a bit pricey considering the quantity, and will not last for as many uses as traditional cleaners. Still, they are a great option for convenience and upkeep. Price at time of publish: $15 What’s Included: 60 wipes | Ingredients: Water, spunlace fabric, cleaning agent, wetting penetrating agent | For Use On: Canvas, rubber, plastic, and mesh The whitener can be used on the edges of shoes, as well as any leather sections. It should only be used on the white parts because it does brighten them. Using it on dyed leather or rubber edges may impact the color. The kit comes with tape, so you can tape off the sections you don’t want to use the whitener on. Notably, you can keep everything stored in the carrying case and even take the cleaning kit with you on-the-go, too. Price at time of publish: $15 What’s Included: Cleaner, whitener, brush, microfiber cloth, tape | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Leather, canvas, vinyl, mesh, and nylon Because this brush has two sides, it can be hard to use without getting cleaning solution on your hands. If this might bother you, get two separate brushes from Alloda. They also make one with a longer handle that can be more comfortable for some to use. This option comes with a storage case so you never have to worry about the excess cleaner or polish getting on other items in your cleaning kit or your hands. Price at time of publish: $7 What’s Included: One brush, storage case | Ingredients: Boar hair, nylon, wood | For Use On: Leather, mesh, canvas, suede, rubber, and other fabrics This formula is also safe to use on leather goods and carpet—in addition to your canvas sneakers—such as your car interior and furniture. It is also very affordable, making it a popular, all-purpose choice. It does have a linen scent, which can be enjoyable. If you are ever unsure of the uses for this cleaner, they have the compatible fabrics printed right on the front of the bottle to make application foolproof. Price at time of publish: $8 What’s Included: Cleaning solution | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Suede, nubuck, vinyl, straw, canvas, carpet, goretex, and other fabrics This kit is specifically for leather and won’t work on other fabrics. It does require a bit more prep when you first use it. You should brush away any dirt and debris beforehand. With routine use, it gets easier to polish your leather shoes to a shine. You can even use it on other leather goods, such as purses and bags. It’s not ideal for deep cleaning, however. For that, consider adding a separate cleaning solution to your closet. Price at time of publish: $35 What’s Included: Black, neutral, and brown polish, 3 cleaning cloths, 2 application sponges, 2 horse hair brushes, 1 shoe horn, and 1 case | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Leather only
Application Method
Brushes are the best way to get the cleaner into the fabric and lift out dirt and stains. Sponges and cloths are also helpful when applying cleaner, but be ready to polish for a while to buff out any extra. If you use a cloth, make sure that it doesn’t leave lint behind on your shoes. Microfiber cloths are a popular and effective choice because they’re smooth and easy to clean with.
Ingredients
Shoe cleaners usually use some sort of soap or surfactant to get your shoes clean. Some also have fragrances, which can be a pro or a con depending on your sensitivity to smells and personal preferences. If you are cleaning leather shoes, you may want a cleaner that includes a conditioner and polish to keep them in the best shape possible, such as Stone & Clark’s 12-Piece Leather Shoe Cleaning Kit.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. As a military veteran, Katie has personal experience keeping shoes spotless and shined, including leather dress uniform shoes and boots. She also talked to Krissia Garcia, CEO and founder of KrissKlean, about the best tips and tricks to get tough fabrics clean.
