Knowing how to clean shoes the right way depends on what they are made of. Canvas can take a scrub and a wash, leather needs a gentle wipe and conditioning, and mesh trainers fall somewhere in between. This guide takes you through each material, gives white shoes their own section, and covers the two problems Singapore’s climate makes worse: slow drying and lingering smells.

Shoes take a beating here. Afternoon downpours, wet void deck floors, humid MRT rides and long days on our feet all leave marks. Shoes stored damp in a closed shoe cabinet can also grow mould surprisingly quickly.

The methods below use simple materials you probably already have. Always check the care label or the brand’s own instructions first, because some shoes are built with glues and materials that do not tolerate water or heat.

Before you start: check, test and prepare

A few minutes of preparation prevents the most common shoe-cleaning disasters, such as soles coming unglued or leather drying stiff and cracked.

Read the label or insole. Look for any washing or water warnings, and identify the upper material.
Remove laces and insoles. They clean better on their own and the shoe dries faster without them.
Knock off loose dirt. Bang the soles together outdoors and brush off dried mud before adding any water.
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot, such as the inside of the tongue or the back of the heel.
Use mild products only. A little dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent in water is enough for most shoes.
Never mix cleaning products, and in particular never combine bleach with vinegar, other acids or ammonia, as toxic gases can form. Work in a well-ventilated space.

How to clean shoes by material

Canvas shoes

Canvas is the most forgiving material. Mix a little mild detergent into warm water, dip a soft brush and scrub the uppers in small circles, then wipe off the suds with a clean damp cloth. Scrub rubber toe caps and sidewalls with the same brush.

Many canvas shoes can go in a washing machine if the label allows it. Put them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase, add a couple of towels to cushion them, and use a gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of detergent. Skip the spin if the shoes have leather trims or glued soles you are unsure about. Wash laces separately in a small bag.

Leather shoes

Smooth leather should never be soaked or machine washed. Wipe off dust with a soft dry cloth, then clean with a cloth barely dampened in water with a drop of mild soap, working in small sections. Wipe again with a clean damp cloth and let the shoes air dry at room temperature.

Once dry, apply a leather conditioner or cream sparingly to replace the oils that cleaning removes, then buff. Polish is optional for dress shoes. Patent leather only needs a damp cloth and a dry buff.

Suede and nubuck

Suede and nubuck mark easily with water. Brush them dry with a suede brush, always in one direction, to lift the nap and remove dirt. Use a suede eraser or a clean pencil eraser on scuffs. For a water mark, very lightly dampen the whole panel evenly with a cloth so it dries without a ring, then brush once dry. If the shoes are expensive or heavily stained, a professional cobbler is the safer choice.

Mesh trainers and knit shoes

Mesh and knit uppers trap dirt in their weave. Use a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, with mild detergent and water, scrubbing gently so you do not pull threads. Rinse by dabbing with a clean wet cloth rather than holding the shoe under a running tap, which soaks the foam and padding underneath.

Heat and tumbling can weaken the glues in trainers and distort their shape, so unless the label says machine washing is fine, hand cleaning is the safer default.

Laces and insoles

Soak laces in warm soapy water, rub them between your hands and rinse. Wipe removable insoles with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, scrub lightly with a brush and stand them up to dry fully before putting them back.

How to wash white shoes and keep them bright

White shoes show every scuff, so they need a slightly more careful approach. If you are wondering how to wash white shoes without turning them yellow, the key points are gentle cleaners, a thorough rinse and slow drying out of direct sun.

Remove laces and insoles, and brush off loose dirt.
Clean the uppers by material, using the methods above.
Treat the rubber soles. Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda with a little water or mild detergent. Scrub sidewalls and toe caps with a toothbrush, then wipe clean. A melamine foam sponge, used damp and gently, also lifts scuffs on rubber.
Rinse thoroughly. Detergent or paste left in the fabric can dry as yellowish marks, so wipe several times with clean water.
Stuff and dry in shade. Pack the shoes with plain white paper towels and replace them as they get damp. Dry them in a breezy, shaded spot.

Be cautious with chlorine bleach on white shoes. It can weaken fabric, yellow some synthetic materials and damage glues. If you want extra whitening on white cotton canvas, an oxygen-based laundry booster diluted according to the label is gentler. Test it first and never mix it with other cleaners.

Drying shoes properly in Singapore’s humidity

Drying is where most shoe cleaning goes wrong here. In humid air, shoes can stay damp inside for a long time, which leads to smells and mould.

Stuff them. Fill the shoes with plain paper towels or uncoated paper and change it every few hours while it is absorbing water. Avoid printed newspaper on light-coloured shoes, as ink can transfer.
Use moving air. Place shoes near an open window or in front of a fan. Airflow speeds drying far more than heat does.
Keep leather and suede out of direct sun, which can dry them stiff, fade colours and crack the surface.
Avoid direct heat. Do not put shoes in a tumble dryer, on a heater or under a hair dryer on hot. Heat can melt glues and shrink materials.
Let them dry completely before storing, ideally until the inside of the toe feels dry to the touch.
Air the shoe cabinet. Leave its doors open regularly and do not pack it with wet shoes.

If your shoes have developed white fuzzy or green spots in storage, that is mould. Take them outside, brush the spores off away from the house, wear gloves and a mask if you are sensitive, then clean as above. Our guide to cleaning mouldy clothes explains how to deal with the cabinet and any affected fabric nearby.

How to get rid of shoe smells

Smells come from sweat and bacteria in the lining and insole, and they thrive when shoes never fully dry. HealthHub’s guidance on preventing athlete’s foot advises avoiding damp shoes, keeping an extra pair as a back-up, wearing breathable cotton socks and changing them at least once daily. The same habits keep footwear fresher:

Rotate your shoes so each pair gets a day or more to air out.
Wash insoles regularly, or replace them if they have flattened and hold odour.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda inside dry shoes overnight, then tip it out the next morning.
Air shoes after wearing, rather than shutting them straight into the cabinet.
Wash socks properly. If your washing machine itself smells musty, our guide to cleaning a washing machine will help.

If foot odour comes with itching, peeling or cracked skin between the toes, it may be a fungal infection. Speak to a pharmacist or see a doctor rather than relying on shoe cleaning alone.

Building shoe care into your home routine

A little regular care saves a lot of scrubbing. Wipe obvious marks the day they happen, brush off dried mud before it sets, and give the family’s school and sports shoes a proper clean every few weeks. Keep a small kit by the door: a soft brush, a cloth, bicarbonate of soda and some paper towels.

In homes with a live-in helper, shoe care is a sensible weekly task to agree on, along with which pairs are hand clean only. A part-time helper can also handle it during a regular cleaning visit. For yellowing on white clothes, rather than shoes, see our guide to removing yellow stains from white clothes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put my shoes in the washing machine?

Only if the care label allows it. Canvas shoes are often fine on a gentle, cold cycle inside a mesh bag with a few towels for cushioning. Leather, suede and many running shoes should not be machine washed, because water, heat and tumbling can damage the material and weaken the glue that holds the soles on.

Why did my white shoes turn yellow after washing?

The most common causes are detergent or cleaning paste left in the fabric, and drying in strong direct sun while still soapy. Rinse more thoroughly, dry in the shade with plain white paper towels inside and avoid chlorine bleach, which can yellow some materials. Rinsing and re-drying slowly often lightens the marks.

How long do shoes take to dry in Singapore?

It varies with the material, how wet they got and the weather. Canvas in a breezy spot may dry within a day, while padded trainers can take longer. Stuff them with paper, change it as it gets damp, and use a fan. Do not wear or store them until the inside is fully dry.

How do I clean smelly shoes quickly?

Remove and wash the insoles, wipe the inside lining with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, and let the shoes dry fully with good airflow. Once dry, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda inside overnight and tip it out. Rotating pairs and changing socks daily stops the smell coming back.

Can I use bleach on white canvas shoes?

It is best avoided. Chlorine bleach can weaken canvas, yellow synthetic parts and damage the glue on the soles. A gentle detergent scrub and a bicarbonate of soda paste on rubber usually work well. If you do use any whitening product, dilute it as the label directs, test it on a hidden spot and never mix it with other cleaners.

Conclusion

Clean shoes come down to matching the method to the material: soapy water and a brush for canvas, a damp wipe and conditioner for leather, a dry brush for suede, and gentle hand cleaning for mesh trainers. White shoes need an extra thorough rinse and shaded drying.

In Singapore, drying matters as much as cleaning. Stuff shoes with paper, use a fan, rotate pairs and keep the shoe cabinet aired, and you will avoid both smells and mould.

Shoe care is one of many small jobs that keep a home feeling fresh. When you need an extra pair of hands, see our part-time home cleaning or deep cleaning options, or talk to the Femme5 team for a quote.

The Femme5 Team
Home cleaning team, Femme5 Agency
Femme5 provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning for HDB flats, condominiums and landed homes across Singapore.

Femme5 Cleaning Team

Written by the home cleaning team at Femme5 Agency Pte Ltd, which provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning across Singapore.

How to Clean Shoes: Canvas, Leather, Mesh and White Trainers