Cleaning suede, nubuck or canvas shoes: stains, dirt and odours

Suede turned grey by dust, nubuck marked by a drop of grease, the white canvas of a pair of trainers turning beige: these materials get dirty quickly and clean badly with smooth leather products.

Their velvety or woven surface holds dirt deep within the fibres. Rubbed too hard or made too wet, it mats, fades or keeps a ring as it dries.

Done properly, though, the job remains simple: a dry brushing, a foam cleaner, a light wipe and patient drying. Add an odour treatment inside, and your shoes regain their freshness without going near the washing machine.

Our products for cleaning your suede, nubuck and canvas shoes

Which product for which kind of dirt?

Two products are enough to cover most needs, both outside and inside the shoe.

• Dust, mud, grey marks, everyday stains: the SOFOLK stain-removing cleaner. Versatile, it cleans and removes stains from suede, nubuck, fabric and velvet, as well as the smooth leather, faux leather or plastic parts of the same pair. Its spray can be used as a foam to clean, or as a jet to target a stain.
• Bad perspiration odours: the SOFOLK odour neutraliser. It does not mask the smell under a fragrance: it neutralises the molecules responsible at the source. The effect is immediate and the product stays active for 24 to 48 hours, without staining or leaving any residue.

The two complement each other: the cleaner removes the dirt that makes the shoe smell, and the odour neutraliser deals with whatever still smells.

Cleaning suede or nubuck shoes in 4 steps

Step 1: brush dry

On a perfectly dry shoe, run a soft brush in all directions to dislodge the dust and soil clinging to the fibres. Fresh mud should be left to dry before being brushed off: rubbed while damp, it spreads and sinks in further.

Step 2: test on a hidden area

The stain-removing cleaner is deliberately powerful. Test it first on a discreet area, the back of the heel or the inside of the upper, to check that the shade does not change. This test is essential on suede and nubuck in bright or very pale colours.

Step 3: clean with foam

Spray the product in foam position: it wets the material very little and deposits just the right amount. Work over the whole surface of one panel, from seam to seam, rather than on an isolated stain: spot cleaning often leaves a ring as it dries. Do not leave the product to act for too long.

Step 4: wipe, dry and lift the fibres

Wipe with a clean microfibre cloth, without rubbing hard. Leave to dry at room temperature, out of the sun and away from a radiator, ideally with paper inside the shoe so that it keeps its shape. Once dry, a pass with a soft brush restores the velvety look of the suede and nubuck.

Cleaning trainers and canvas shoes

Canvas trainers, plimsolls and espadrilles can withstand slightly firmer cleaning than suede, but not the washing machine, which distorts the shoe and weakens the glued parts.

Remove the laces and insoles, brush dry, then spray the stain-removing cleaner as a foam onto the canvas. Rub with a soft brush in circular movements to bring the dirt up out of the weave, then wipe with a microfibre cloth. On a stubborn stain, spray in jet position, brush, and repeat if needed. The same product also cleans the plastic parts.

On white canvas, work over the whole surface evenly: the upper will keep a uniform shade, with no dividing line between the cleaned areas and the others.

Getting rid of bad odours inside

Worn barefoot, for sport or all summer long, canvas and suede shoes end up holding the smell of perspiration in their lining. Spray the odour neutraliser directly inside the shoe, onto the sole and the lining, then leave to air dry before wearing.

The most effective approach is to combine the two treatments: clean first, then deodorise. Once the pair is clean and dry, remember to protect it against water and stains: our page on caring for and waterproofing suede, nubuck and canvas shoes sets out the steps to follow.

Mistakes to avoid

• Soaking the material: too much water marks suede and nubuck and leaves rings. Foam is enough.
• Rubbing an isolated stain: clean the whole panel for even drying.
• Drying near a heat source: a radiator, tumble dryer or direct sun stiffens velvet leather and distorts canvas.
• Using a polish or a cream for smooth leather: they stick the fibres together and darken the shade irreversibly.

Are your shoes smooth leather? The routine is different: see our page on cleaning leather shoes. To find all the care for suede, nubuck and canvas, go back to the suede, nubuck and canvas shoes section.

Frequently asked questions

How do I clean suede shoes without damaging them?

Brush them dry, test the cleaner on a hidden area, then clean with foam over the whole panel, without soaking. Wipe with a microfibre cloth, leave to dry away from heat and finish with gentle brushing to lift the fibres.

How do I remove a stain from nubuck?

First brush dry to remove anything that has not sunk in. Then spray the stain-removing cleaner as a jet onto the stain, brush with a soft brush and wipe. Extend the cleaning to the whole area around it to avoid a dividing line, and repeat the process on an old stain.

How do I clean white canvas trainers?

Remove the laces, brush dry, then clean the whole canvas with the stain-removing cleaner as a foam, using a soft brush in circular movements. Wipe, then leave to air dry, out of the sun.

How do I get rid of the smell inside shoes?

Spray the odour neutraliser inside, onto the sole and the lining: it neutralises the molecules responsible instead of masking them. For a lasting result, clean the shoe first, then deodorise it, and leave it to dry before wearing.

Can suede shoes go in the washing machine?

No: water and spinning would harden the suede, leave rings and unstick the sole. Washing by hand, with foam and a soft brush, is the only safe method.