Shoe Cleaning Products [Top 10]


Shoe Cleaning kits

Footwear has become a new trend over the past century. Still, one thing has remained constant, and that is the fact that shoes will always need proper cleaning and care to keep them in good condition.

In this article, I will discuss the Top 10 shoe cleaning products that may help you clean your shoes. These are:

  1. Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner Brush And Solution
  2. Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaner Kit 8 Oz. Bottle
  3. Crep Protect Cure Shoe Cleaning Travel Kit
  4. KIWI Shoe Shine Kit, Black
  5. UGG Accessories UGG Shoe Care Kit
  6. Sof Sole Suede and Nubuck Cleaning Brush Kit for Shoes
  7. Birkenstock Deluxe Shoe Care Kit
  8. Brand: Jason Markk Essential Kit
  9. Gear Aid Revivex Suede and Fabric Boot Care Kit 
  10. Stone & Clark 12PC Shoe Polish & Care Kit

So you have already invested hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes, and you would want it to last a long time, so now is the time to invest a little more in a good quality shoe cleaning product.



Why Use A Shoe Cleaning Kit?

Why Cleaning Kit

Whether you have a $300 pair of shoes or $50, one thing is common: nothing can prevent them from getting dirty unless you put a bag over them. Even though you can’t avoid the dirt, you can definitely clean them to make them look new. There are numerous shoe-cleaning products out there in the market, so I will help you with which one to choose from but let’s first discuss why you need to use a shoe-cleaning kit?

Whenever you buy shoes, you should definitely consider buying a shoe kit to maintain your footwear. Whether you have leather shoes or canvas shoes, every shoe is special and thus needs a certain amount of care. Only the right shoe cleaning kit and accessories will help keep your shoes in their best condition and for a longer period.

In my opinion, a cream polish and shoe brush are the most essential products that should be there in your shoe cleaning kit for basic cleaning and care. Apart from the brush and polish, here are some other essentials to consider while building a shoe-cleaning kit:

  • For creating a leather shoe cleaning kit, you would need two essential items: a liquid polish and a shoehorn. Liquid polish is used to prevent your leather shoes from the appearance with scuffs and scratches, whereas a shoehorn is used to insert in the shoe and let the cream on it, then clean it with a dry cloth.
  • For whitening the sole of your shoe, you would need a shoe cleaner shampoo in your kit. It makes your shoes shine with regular use.
  • Add shoe wax, balsam, or a wax candle to your kit for protecting your shoes from dust and rain. It protects your shoes from the elements because of its high concentration of hard waxes.
  • The last but not least essential of your shoe cleaning kit is a foot spray. A foot spray helps to cleanse and moisturize your shoes and helps in preventing the stinky odor.

Shoes are the best investment you can make in your wardrobe since they completes your outfit and protect your feet. So it’s your responsibility to keep them clean and prevent dirt and stains. A shoe cleaning kit will help you avoid scuffed-up sneakers, beat-up leather, and rained-on suede. And the best part is its price is way less than the shoes themselves.

Whether it’s an upcoming interview or a wedding function, you want your shoes to look clean, tidy, and shiny to boost your confidence and show you are well-kept. No matter how expensive your shoes are, if you do not condition them regularly, they will dry up, crack, and break down quickly. And you wouldn’t want that to happen, right?


Top 10 Shoe Cleaning Kits

People Like These Kits

If you want to buy a shoe cleaning kit, you might get confused because several shoe cleaning kits are available in the market. Each of them serves a different purpose. So I am here to help you! I have come up with a list of the Top 10 shoe-cleaning kits that may help you get one of your choices.

1. Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner Brush And Solution

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First, let’s briefly discuss some of the main attributes of this product.

  • Brand: Jason Markk
  • Color: Clear
  • Dimensions: 9 length, 6 width, 2 height (inches)
  • Handle material: Wood
  • Origin: Made in the US
  • Kit includes: Shoe cleaning brush, solution.

Jason Markk premium shoe cleaner brush and solution has no match when it comes to dirt and stubborn stains. It works pretty well for leather sneakers, but I would recommend using it only on smooth leather and not suede.

It comes with a hog hair soft shoe cleaning brush with an emblazoned Jason Markk logo. The brush has soft bristles, so you can use it for cleaning delicate surfaces. It is a powerful cleaning product, so a 4oz bottle will last you a long time. I would highly recommend this shoe cleaning kit because it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, so it’s good for you and the environment as well. Cleaning your sneakers with this kit will help you keep your sneakers white and prevent them from yellowing.


2. Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaner Kit 8 Oz. Bottle Fabric Cleaner For Leather, Whites, and Nubuck Sneakers

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Some of its major attributes are:

  • Brand: Pink miracle
  • Origin: Made in the US
  • Dimensions: 9.61 x 7.01 x 2.48 inches

It’s another favorite shoe cleaner kit of mine since its formula is non-toxic and best for sneakers and other shoes. You can simply use this kit for cleaning your shoes, and it will give them a professional new look. It comes with soap, conditioners, and gentle oils to clean and protect any material. It also has a free brush for you to make your shoes in tip-top condition.

I love the formula of the pink miracle shoe cleaning kit simply because it works on all washable. You can use it on any kind of shoes such as vinyl, suede, leather, Nubuck, cloth, or canvas. It will remove all the stains, nourishes, and protects your shoes from grime and dirt.

You can clean your kids’ shoes with this kit, and they will love to see once-dirty shoes transformed into brand-new shoes. This magic shoe cleaner is perfect for professional shoe cleaning, and a little will go a long way. If you love your shoes and want them to be nice and clean, go grab one for yourself.


3. Crep Protect Cure Shoe Cleaning Travel Kit

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Some of the main attributes of this shoe-cleaning kit are:

  • Brand: Crep
  • Size: One size
  • Color: Black
  • The shoe cleaning kit contains: A cleaning brush, Shoe cleaning solution, Microfiber cloth, and zip-up case.

Crep Protect Cure Shoe Cleaning Kit is an improved solution with 98 percent natural ingredients, including coconut extracts, aqua, and jojoba. It comes with a hog hair bristles brush, which gives you better cleaning results.

Its bristles are so soft so you can use them for delicate materials as well. The kit also contains a zip-up case for keeping your kit safe, a cleaning solution, and a microfiber cloth. I think it’s a perfect combination for a handy traveling kit to keep your shoes looking fresh anytime, anywhere.

You can use this kit for cleaning all kinds of shoes, including leather, Nubuck, suede, and canvas. You can clean your shoes without getting worried about your shoes’ look, shape, and feel. I wouldn’t suggest you cleaning your shoes every day with this kit, but definitely use it when you see they need some sprucing up.

Start off cleaning your shoes with the brush. Then, use the brush and the solution to get in deep cleaning. Don’t worry about the material; it will be fine. After using the brush and solution, let your shoes dry for some time. Finally, give it a buffing with the microfiber cloth, and voila, you are done with a brand-new pair. Top of Form


4. KIWI Shoe Shine Kit, Black

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Some main attributes of this kit are:

  • Brand: KIWI
  • Color: Black
  • Dimensions: 2.88 length, 8.13 width, 3.5 height (inches)
  • Origin: Made in the US
  • Kiwi shoe shine kit includes: 2 Tins of shoe polish, 1 small brush, 1 larger shine brush, 1 shine cloth, 1 dauber.

Kiwi is one of the most famous brands for cleaning shoes, and its shoe shine kit is the one you need. It provides you all the necessary tools to give your shoe protection and long-lasting shine.

You should get your hands on this one to give your shoe shine, nourishment, and protection as it contains Carnauba wax. All you need to do is put a layer of polish with a small brush and buff it with a larger brush, and you will end up having two coats of shine on your shoes.

I would highly recommend getting one for yourself since it has everything you need for your footwear also it comes in a plastic container to hold all the items. You don’t need to polish your shoes multiple times if you regularly do it.

This will help you shine your boots all the time, and the shine holds up well. Just do a quick buff daily and a full shine once a week.


5. UGG Accessories UGG Shoe Care Kit

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Some of the main attributes of this kit are:

  • Brand: UGG
  • Color: Natural
  • Origin: Made in the US
  • Kit Includes: 4oz cleaner and conditioner, 4 oz protector, synthetic sole, suede scuff eraser, bamboo handle brush.

Though you can use other shoe cleaning kits and products for cleaning your sheepskin, delicate suede shoes, and UGGs, but this one is definitely the safest option. As compared to other harder cleaning brushes that can damage suede, this one is way better since its soft bristles protect the materials from scratch.

The UGG shoe care kit includes a rain and stain protector, shoe renew spray, cleaner and conditioner, a brush, and a suede scuff eraser.


6. Sof Sole Suede and Nubuck Cleaning Brush Kit for Shoes

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  • Color: White Brush and gray eraser.
  • Origin: Made in China.
  • Kit Includes: Dual-sided cleaning eraser bar and cleaning brush.

Sof Sole Suede and Nubuck cleaner will help you clean all the greasy stain spots from your suede and nubuck shoes. It comes with an easy-to-use brush applicator, making it easy to use the applicator on anything from shoes to boots, purses to jackets, and more. But I would suggest doing a patch test before the overall application.

If your shoes have some black stains, minor scuffs, or residues, it cleans them all and gives a new look to your shoes. You can also use it to give back your shoes its original color.

This little brush is a beast. I used it with the eraser, and it took care of almost all my leather shoes. It works pretty well for both suede and Nubuck and cleans the dirt, stains, hair, lint, and water spots. The brushes alone can clean and restore the original shine of your footwear without using the liquid.

I personally love using this kit because of its compatibility with different types of shoes. The brushes work excellently for soft leather. The eraser does its job of cleaning and the fact that it’s easy to apply and ensures no damage.


7. Birkenstock Deluxe Shoe Care Kit

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Some main attributes of the Birkenstock shoe care kit are:

  • Brand: Birkenstock
  • Color: No color
  • Origin: Made in the US
  • The shoe care kit includes: Ethylene-vinyl acetate sole, cleaner and refresher, water and stain repellent, cork sealer, suede, and Nubuck leather brush.

Birkenstock deluxe shoe care kit is a complete package that you need. It comes with a cork sealer for keeping cork from getting brittle and drying out.

Water and stain repellent protects your suede and nubuck leather shoes. The brush gently cleans the hard-to-reach surfaces, and the refresher eliminates the bad odors.

This wonder kit will help you make your shoes clean, fresh, and looking brand new. Start off with the eraser and then use the brush/scrub. Then use the cleaning spray and wipe it.

Let your shoes completely dry, and then use the water and stain repellant on the leather straps and footbeds. That’s it you will get your clean brand new shoes.


8. Jason Markk Essential Kit

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A few main attributes of Jason Markk Essential kit are:

  • Brand: Jason Markk
  • Dimensions : 20.32 x 5.08 x 3.81 cm
  • Essential kit contains: 4 oz sneaker solution and standard brush.

This kit’s solution is all safe for your shoes as it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. It is 98.3 percent natural and completely biodegradable. You can get your hands on this without a doubt since it works for all colors and materials.

You can effectively cleanse and condition your shoes with this kit. But be careful and gentle while cleaning premium leather, cotton mesh, suede, and other delicate materials. I would suggest using a shoe-cleaning brush with a soft hog bristle for such soft and delicate materials.

It comes with an excellent brush and an easy-to-use fluid. Give this kit a try, and you’ll love it. It will give you amazing results for all your dirty, unclean shoes.


9. Gear Aid Revivex Suede and Fabric Boot Care Kit

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Some main attributes include:

  • Origin: Made in the US
  • The kit contains: suede cleaner, water repellent spray, boot brush, and eraser.

This kit helps you protect your shoes from all the dirt, stains, and water. It keeps them looking new with just one go. The suede cleaner that comes in the kit can safely remove the grime and dirt from your suede, Nubuck, and canvas shoes.

It works amazingly for maximizing the breathability of waterproof breathable shoes so that your feet feel dry and cool.

I would recommend getting your hands on this revives suede and fabric boot care kit, and you will thank me! It’s a complete package that includes a suede brush to remove all dirt from your shoes, a suede cleaner for creating minimal suds, an eraser block for removing scuffs, and a water-repellant that keeps your shoes protected from getting discolored and soaked.


10. Stone & Clark 12PC Shoe Polish & Care Kit

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Some main attributes of this kit are:

  • Color: Dark brown
  • Brand: Stone and Clark
  • Handle material: Metal
  • Shoe polish and care kit includes: brown wax, shoe brushes, shine cloth, shoe horn, shoe cleaning kit with hairbrushes.

Another complete and all-in-one maintenance package is the Stone and Clark 12pc shoes polish and care kit. It’s a premium quality shoe shine kit that retains and protects your footwear. This will help you keep your shoes always clean and shiny.

It’s an incredible shoe care kit for your leather shoes to polish scuffs. In my opinion, it’s a powerful care kit that conditions deeps cracks and scratches and also effective for giving your shoes a glossy finish.

I would highly recommend this to you if you want your shoes to look great for a long time. You can use this during travel and outdoors as well. What else do you want?


Tips for Cleaning Your Shoes

Today, we have so many different types of footwear, from patent leather shoes to flip-flops. It’s baffling to think that they all need special care and cleaning. Here I am sharing some tips that may help you in cleaning your shoes.

1. Remove Laces

_Remove Laces

The first and most important tip that anyone would give you is to remove the laces before washing your shoes. Try removing most of the dirt from laces, put them in a little bag, and wash them in the washing machine. Another thing I would suggest is not putting them in a dryer as it will shrink your shoes; instead, let them air dry.


2, Know the Material

Leather or Faux Leather

Before starting to clean your shoes, know about the material, the shoes are made of. So now I will give you different tips regarding different types of shoes and their materials.


3. Leather Shoes

Leather Shoes stains

For cleaning your leather shoes, mix an equal part of water and white vinegar, and clean off any debris by wiping it with this solution. This works amazingly well for cleaning the stains over your leather shoes.


4. Patent Leather Shoes

Patent Leather petroleum jelly

If your patent leather shoes (whether heels or flats) have any unpleasant marks, don’t worry; all you need is some petroleum jelly. Use a cotton swab and rub some petroleum jelly into the scuff. Another tip for patent leather shoes is that sprit some glass cleaner on your shoes to get more shine and like-new sheen.


5. Canvas Shoes

Canvas Shoes baking soda

In my opinion, using a clean toothbrush is a good option for cleaning your canvas shoes or slip-on. Mix baking soda and water and scrub this paste into the shoe’s sole. Then, Run them in the gentle cycle of the washing machine with cold water.


6. White Sneakers

cleaning White Shoes

What to do with these shoes that constantly get dirty? Apply vinegar or nail polish remover to a cotton ball and use it to remove all the stains from your white sneakers. If you want to use bleach, dilute it first so that you don’t ruin your sneakers’ color. The solution should be 1 part bleach and 5 parts of water.


7. Suede Shoes

Clean Suede Shoes

For gentle stains on your suede shoes, you can go for a nail brush or a scrub brush. Both of them work pretty well for such stains. However, I would suggest using the brush with pressure and back and forth motion for deep stains.

You can use a white washcloth to rub vinegar or rubbing alcohol over these stains for extremely stubborn stains.


8. Sheepskin Boots

cleaning Sheepskin Boots

A nail brush or scrub brush is perfect for cleaning your sheepskin boots. Softly wipe off debris from the outer parts of these boots. A white eraser works magically for the stubborn stains on sheepskin boots.

Do not use a wet cloth for wiping off the shoes as it can ruin the material, instead use a damp cloth. For spot cleaning, mix equal parts of cold water and distilled vinegar. I would highly recommend stuffing your shoes with newspapers while drying, so they remain in their original shape.


9. Flip Flops

cleaning Flip Flops

If your flip-flops smell, run them through warm water. If they are dirty, you can clean them with a toothbrush but firstly sprinkle some baking soda over them. You can also wash them in the washing machine, run them in the cold setting, and make sure to put a small amount of detergent.


10. Cork Wedges

cleaning Cork Shoes

For cleaning cork wedges, a solution of warm water, vinegar, and a few drops of dish detergent are all you need. The solution should have 1 gallon of water and half a cup of vinegar to get awesome results.


11. Running Shoes

Cleaning Running Shoes

A solution of laundry detergent and water is fine for cleaning your running shoes. Do not use this solution on foam or leather; only use it over rubber areas and fabric mesh.


Tips for Shoe Care

Shoes can give you a lot more information about your personality than you can ever think of. If your shoes aren’t new but still look well maintained, signals that the owner is responsible. People are usually judged by their shoes, so make sure to keep them clean, tidy, and well-taken care of. Here I am giving you a few tips on how to take care of your shoes.

1. Washing Sneakers

Washing Sneakers

Though many washing machines do have a mode for washing sneakers however I won’t recommend using it. The reason is that it might damage your sneakers. The water might get inside the soles of your shoes, and upon drying, they will shrink and lose their original shape.

I would suggest washing your sneakers manually. Take off the laces and remove the insoles. Wash them carefully. You can use a toothbrush for the stubborn stains and alcohol for disinfecting them from the inside.


2. Whitening Sole

Whiten Your Shoe Soles

To whiten the sole of your shoes, you can simply use toothpaste. Yes, you heard that right! Toothpaste is not only good for your teeth but also the sole. Take an old brush, put some toothpaste over it, and start cleaning the shoes’ soles for a few minutes. You will instantly notice the dramatic results.


3. Scratches and Scuffs on Leather Shoes

Scratches and Scuffs

Scratches and scuffs often appear on leather shoes with time, and they end up looking wrinkled and old. The leather on shoes is quite similar to the skin on our body; as we care for our skin, we need to take care of leather as well.

To take care of your leather shoes, put a good amount of conditioning cream on leather shoes, leave them for a few hours, and polish them. You can also use Vaseline or baby cream, for that matter.


4. Get Rid Of Unpleasant Smell

Bad shoe odors

Everyone has car air fresheners. They are great for getting rid of unpleasant smells inside cars and even inside shoes. Put this air freshener inside your shoes and leave them overnight. This may help your shoe smell better.

If it doesn’t, that means it’s time to thoroughly dry out your shoes. Moisture is one main reason odors remain in your shoe. Remove the insole and let the shoe dry thoroughly.

If your insoles still smell, it’s time to change them. Insoles can be made of low-quality material, which causes them to retain smells easier. I would suggest buying insoles made of natural materials. I personally like to use those having a layer of charcoal because they absorb the moisture quite well and don’t let the shoes smell.

If the inside of your shoes still smells, check that they are completely dry and try baking soda or soak your shoe in a solution of water and vinegar (2 cups per gallon of water). This should get rid of any bacteria left in the shoe.

Alternatively, you can try spraying rubbing alcohol in your shoe to kill the bacteria and get rid of odors.


5. Correctly Drying Shoes

Dry Shoes Gently

I would never recommend using a radiator for drying shoes. In fact, keep your shoes away from high temperatures to prevent them from deformation. Try drying wet or moist shoes for 24 to 48 hours to completely dry shoes. 

Therefore I would suggest you having a few pairs for each season so that if one pair is drying, you have something else to wear. Still, if you do not have enough time, you can always go for a hairdryer, hang them on the clothesline, or use a shoe dryer(AD) to dry them.


6. Soaked Shoes

Dry Wet Shoes

If you have stepped into a puddle or soaked in the rain, never put your shoes on the radiator. A better option is to put your shoes into a cotton bag and put rice inside this bag with your shoes.

Rice will absorb all the moisture, and adding a few drops of essential oil may help you get rid of the bad smell. You can also use cat litter to absorb the moisture, but it will be feasible if you own a cat.


7. Putting Shoes On Properly

Avoid Shoe Creases

If you are someone who uses a shoehorn every day, then what’s better than this. It’s a good and useful habit that stops most of the problems. If you do not shoehorn, your shoes will quickly lose their shape and won’t be able to provide support to your ankle that may lead to calluses.

If you don’t have a shoehorn, don’t worry; you can use a plastic card that will allow your foot to slide in effortlessly.


8. Avoid Shoe Stains

Avoid New Shoe Stains

Sometimes new shoes tend to leave stains on your feet, socks, or stockings. I would recommend using talcum powder to prevent this from happening. All you need to do is rub a good amount of talcum powder on the inner surface of your shoes. Take a clean cloth and gather the remains of the powder. You can also go for starch or baby powder. They all do the same job.


9. Stains on Suede and Nubuck Shoes

stains on suede or nubuck

For the shoes that are made of suede or Nubuck, you can use a regular eraser to take care of them. Rub the eraser on your shoes; the eraser will break and gets in the fibers. These pieces of eraser stick to dirt and then leave the Nubuck of suede. You also use a nail file for this purpose but be careful while using it so that you do not end up damaging your shoes.


10. Salt Stains

Salt Stains (1)

In cold seasons streets are often covered in chemicals that may leave ugly stains on your shoes and damage them. To get rid of these stains, you simply need vinegar. Mix 1:3 proportion of vinegar with water, and wash your shoes with this solution. Do this process each time you come back home.


11. Dirt on Bright Fabric Shoes

Dirt on shoe Fabric

This works on fabrics, so it’s not for all types of shoes.

Sometimes it becomes hard to clean slip-on and flats as they can easily lose their shape and color with washing. If you want your shoes to be cleaned without damaging them, you can use lemon juice.

Add about a 1/4 cup of lemon juice and water to a bucket. Soak your shoe in it for 10 minutes and rinse off with water. 

It removes all the dirt from your shoes without ruining the color. In fact, it can improve the color. If the stains are very hard and difficult to remove with one go, rub the problematic area, leave it for 30 minutes, and then rinse it off.


12. To Keep the Shine

Shiny patent Leather

It’s a common problem with patent shoes that they lose shine with time and scratches appear on them. To avoid this problem, you just need to put vaseline on your shoes. You can also use expensive chemicals, but it’s a cheap alternative and effective.


13. Shoe Protection

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You might have heard about wax! Yes! It’s universal and extremely effective for almost any kind of shoe. You can either use special wax or a wax candle, the choice is all yours. Just apply a thin layer of wax on your shoes and protect them from dirt and water for a long time. It also keeps them shining for a longer period.

References

  1. https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-sneaker-cleaning-products.html
  2. https://www.zappos.com/p/birkenstock-deluxe-shoe-care-kit/product/8425883
  3. https://themarany.com/best-shoe-brushes/
  4. https://reshoevn8r.com/pages/leather
  5. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-clean-your-shoes-4164257
  6. (Update: Article not available)
  7. https://www.rd.com/list/how-to-clean-shoes/
  8. https://brightside.me/inspiration-tips-and-tricks/13-shoe-care-pieces-of-advice-that-can-make-life-much-easier-523760/ (Link not working)
  9. https://blog.coach.me/how-to-clean-stinky-shoes/

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