Shoe Care with Household Items

Your shoes are one of the first things people notice about you.

Whether you’re wearing sneakers or dress shoes, taking care of them not only makes them last longer but also keeps you looking sharp.

While you can certainly take your shoes to a professional for a shine, you can also get the job done at home with professional shoecare products.

But you don’t need to buy expensive shoe care products either. There are plenty of household items that will do the trick.

Here are some tips on how to care for your shoes using household items.

Precautions

Some general precautions for taking care of shoes(of any material):

1. Do not scrub the shoes harshly. Vigorous scrubbing can damage the material of your shoes.
2. Do not dry the shoes in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can discolor the colored shoes and damage the materials like suede, nubuck, and leather.
3. Store your shoes in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture. This will help extend the life of your shoes.
4. Always read the manufacturer’s care label before attempting to clean your shoes.
5. Before using a cleaner, test a small inconspicuous area of the shoe. This step will prevent you from damaging or discoloring the material.

Baking Soda

How is it useful?

Baking soda is a gentle cleaner used to clean all types of shoes. Baking Soda acts as a cleaning agent as it is a mild alkali. Therefore, it can easily remove dirt and grease from shoes.

Baking Soda is an excellent deodorizer. It helps by bringing odor molecules into a neutral, more odor-free state. 

Baking soda can also be used as a paste on the skin or in the bath. It helps in soothing the irritation of insect bites, sunburn, prickly heat, and tired feet. 

How to use it?

For cleaning shoes –

1. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one tablespoon of water in a bowl. Stir well to make a paste.
2. Apply the paste to the shoes and scrub them gently with a cloth or brush. You can also use an old toothbrush. 
3. Let the baking soda paste sit on the shoes for 10 to 15 minutes. Now rinse it off with water.
4. Allow the shoes to air dry.

For deodorizing shoes –

1. Sprinkle some baking soda on the insides of the shoes.
2. Place the shoes in a sealable bag and let them sit overnight.
3. Brush away the baking soda with a clean cloth in the morning.

As a soothing foot treatment – 

1. Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with a bucket of warm water. Stir to make a solution.
2. Soak your tired feet in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes. 
3. After 20 minutes, remove your feet from the solution and scrub them gently.
4. After scrubbing your feet, wash them with clean water and dry them with a towel. Your feet will smell fresher and feel healthy.

Toothpaste

How is it useful?

Toothpaste has gentle abrasives that effectively remove dirt and stains from shoes. Using colored or gel toothpaste might result in staining your shoes. Therefore, non-gel white toothpaste is the best kind to use.

Toothpaste can also remove scuffs from your shoes. It can be used on vinyl, leather, and patent leather shoes. However, toothpaste should never be used on suede and nubuck shoes.

Toothpaste is also helpful in removing lighter stains from canvas and fabric shoes. Ultimately, toothpaste is a cheap and easy way to clean your shoes.

How to use it?

For cleaning and whitening fabric shoes – 

1. Wipe your shoes with a damp cloth. Your shoes should become slightly wet.
2. Take a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush. Scrub your shoes gently with the brush in circular motions.
3. Leave the toothpaste on your shoes for about ten minutes to allow it to work its magic.
4. Rinse the shoes thoroughly with water to remove the toothpaste.
5. Use a dry cloth to wipe the shoes dry. Then, stuff your shoes with paper towels and let them dry in a well-ventilated area.

For removing scuffs from leather shoes –

1. Apply a small amount of white toothpaste to the scuffed area of the leather shoe.
2. Gently rub the toothpaste into the leather using a cloth.
3. After rubbing the scuffed area, wipe the toothpaste with a damp cloth.
4. Use a clean, dry cloth to buff away any toothpaste residue.
5. Lastly, apply the leather conditioner.

For removing light stains from shoes-

1. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the stained part of your shoes.
2. Scrub the stained area with a toothbrush.
3. Once the stain lifts, wipe off the toothpaste with a damp cloth. Make sure no residue is left on the shoes.
4. Finally, let your shoes air dry in a well-ventilated area.

Read our comprehensive guide on how to clean shoes with toothpaste.

Vinegar

How is it useful?

Vinegar is a great cleaning agent. It can clean your shoes by removing dirt, grime, and salt deposits. Vinegar is also effective at getting rid of odors from shoes.

When diluted with water, vinegar can clean all shoes, including leather, canvas, and synthetic materials. Vinegar can also remove stains from suede shoes.

Vinegar is a gentle cleaner that won’t damage your shoes. It’s also very cheap, so it’s a great way to clean your shoes on a budget.

How to use it?

For cleaning fabric shoes –

1. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar, one tablespoon of baking soda, and one tablespoon of water in a bowl. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
2. Dip a toothbrush into the mixture and scrub your shoes with the brush.
3. Cover your shoes with the mixture and let them sit for around one hour.
4. After one hour, rinse the shoes with clean water.
5. Allow the shoes to air-dry.

For deodorizing shoes –

1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a bowl. 
2. Add the solution to a spray bottle. 
3. Spray the solution inside the shoes.
4. Allow the shoes to air-dry. 
5. Use this method after an activity like walking or running. This will keep your shoe odor-free for longer.

Note: To utilize the effect of vinegar, clean your shoes thoroughly before applying the solution.

For removing stubborn stains from suede shoes –

1. Mix a solution of two parts of water and one part of white vinegar in a bowl. 
2. Dab a cotton ball or a clean cloth into the solution.
3. Gently rub the stained area of the suede shoes.
4. Use a clean and dry cloth to wipe the shoes dry.
5. Allow the shoes to air dry.

Mild Soap

How is it useful?

Mild soap is effective at removing dirt, grime, and salt deposits. It’s also gentle enough to use on most shoe materials without damaging them.

Mild detergent is a great all-purpose cleaner since it is a mild soap. Detergents help to loosen dirt. The surfactants in the detergents bond the dirt and grime with water, making them easier to remove.

Mild soaps also act as deodorizers, leaving your shoes smelling clean and fresh.

How to use it?

For cleaning shoes –

1. Mix a few drops of mild detergent in a bowl of lukewarm water. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
2. Dip a soft cloth into the soapy water. Use a soft-bristled brush if the shoes are too dirty.
3. Scrub the shoes in a circular motion.
4. After scrubbing the shoes, rinse them with clean water.
5. Let the shoes air-dry in a well-ventilated area.

Repeat the process to get better results if your shoes are still dirty.

For deodorizing shoes –

1. Take two bars of mild soap.
2. Drop them into the insides of the shoe.
3. Let it stay overnight.
4. Soap absorbs the odor and leaves a soapy scent.

Ensure soap bars aren’t wet before adding them to the shoes. The addition of moisture will encourage bacteria.

Lemon Juice

How is it useful?

Lemon juice is a mildly acidic liquid that can clean shoes and remove tough stains. When diluted with water, lemon juice works on most shoe materials without damaging them. The acidic nature of lemon juice helps to break down dirt, grime, and salt deposits.

Lemon juice can also be used as shoe polish along with olive oil. This combination will clean and shine your leather shoes.

Lemon juice is also an effective natural deodorizer. When used to clean shoes, it will leave them smelling fresh and clean.

How to use it?

For cleaning shoes –

1. Mix one part lemon juice with two parts water in a bowl.
2. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and wring out the excess.
3. Gently rub the shoes’ surface with the cloth.
4. Pay attention to areas that are particularly dirty or scuffed.
5. Rinse the shoes with clean water.
6. Use a clean and dry cloth to wipe the shoes dry.
7. Allow the shoes to air-dry completely.

Lemon works excellent against stains and can clean your shoes without damaging them.

For deodorizing shoes –

1. Place the lemon peel inside your shoes and leave them overnight.
2. In the morning, remove the lemon peel from your shoes, and your shoes are ready to be worn.
3. Repeat this process every night, and your shoes will be odor-free for a long time.

For polishing shoes –

1. Mix one part of lemon juice with two parts of olive oil. Mix it thoroughly to form a polish.
2. Dip a clean cloth into the polish.
3. Rub the cloth onto the shoes covering the entire surface.
4. Buff the shoes with a clean, dry cloth.
5. Repeat this process as needed.

This mixture works on leather shoes. Do not try them on suede shoes as the mixture might stain the shoes.

Rubbing Alcohol

How is it useful?

Rubbing alcohol is a powerful cleaner that can be used on shoes. It’s also effective at removing tough stains and salt deposits.

However, it’s important to test the alcohol by applying it to a small inconspicuous area of the shoe before cleaning them. This will make sure the alcohol won’t damage or discolor the shoe.

Rubbing alcohol is also an excellent natural deodorizer. When used to clean shoes, it will leave them smelling fresh and clean.

Rubbing alcohol can also be used as a disinfectant to clean shoes. Rubbing alcohol is an easy and effective hack to disinfect shoes from athlete’s foot.

How to use it?

For cleaning fabric shoes and removing tough stains-

1. Dip a clean cloth into rubbing alcohol.
2. Wipe the shoes down with the cloth
3. Pay special attention to particularly dirty or stained areas.
4. Rinse the shoes with clean water.
5. Wipe the shoes with a clean and dry cloth.
6. Allow the shoes to air-dry completely.

For deodorizing shoes –

1. Mix equal parts of water and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.
2. Soak a clean cloth in the solution and wring out the excess.
3. Wipe down your shoes with the cloth. 
4. Allow them to air dry in a well-ventilated area. 
5. The rubbing alcohol will kill the bacteria that are causing the foul odor.

To further aid the alcohol’s killing power, set your shoes out in the sun to dry.

For disinfecting shoes –

1. Add three parts rubbing alcohol and one part of water to a bowl. Mix the solution well.
2. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and wring out the excess.
3. Wipe the shoes’ surface with the cloth.
4. Leave the solution on the shoes for about 15 minutes.
5. Rinse the shoes with clean water.
6. Allow the shoes to air-dry completely.

This method is suitable for leather, suede, and nubuck shoes.

Conclusion

That’s it. Now you know about household items and how they can be used in taking care of your shoes. Remember to take precautions while cleaning your shoes with household items to prevent damage.

If any household item you love to use is missing from our list, you can comment below. We would love to hear from you.