Small shoes pick up a lot in a short time. Milk, mashed banana, grass stains and the sandpit all end up on the same pair, often within a single week. How you clean them depends almost entirely on what they are made of, because leather, canvas and soft knitted fabric each react differently to water, soap and heat.
Check the material before you reach for water
The single thing that decides your method is what the shoe is made from. Leather and suede need a careful, mostly dry approach. Canvas and cotton handle water well. Soft knitted or fleece slippers behave more like clothing. Rubber soles and rubber boots can take the most abuse of all.
Look inside the shoe for a care label or check the product page if you still have it. When the material is uncertain, treat the shoe as the most delicate option it could be, which usually means hand cleaning with as little water as possible. For indoor pairs like our globe footies, the soft upper calls for gentle handling rather than a soak.
Hand washing keeps delicate shoes safe
For most baby shoes, cleaning by hand is the gentlest and most reliable route. You need lukewarm water, a mild detergent or a little soap, and a soft cloth or an old toothbrush for the stubborn bits.
- Knock off dried mud and brush away loose dirt before anything gets wet.
- Take out any removable insoles and laces so you can clean them separately.
- Dip the cloth in soapy water, wring it well, and wipe the shoe rather than drenching it.
- Work gently on stains with the toothbrush, following the weave of the fabric.
- Wipe again with a cloth dipped in clean water to lift the soap, then leave to air dry.
Keeping the water to a minimum protects glued seams and stops the shoe from stiffening as it dries.
How to clean leather and suede baby shoes
Leather does not like being soaked. Too much water can stiffen it, leave marks and loosen the glue. Wipe leather shoes with a barely damp cloth and a tiny amount of mild soap, then buff them dry straight away with a clean, dry cloth. Once they are fully dry, a little leather conditioner keeps the surface supple and stops it cracking.
Suede is the most delicate of all. Never use soap and water on it. Let mud dry completely, then brush it off with a soft suede brush or a dry toothbrush, moving in one direction. A pencil eraser can lift small marks. Our veja x ks baby shoe mixes materials, so spot clean the panels rather than treating the whole shoe the same way.
Canvas and cotton shoes handle water best
Canvas is the most forgiving material. You can scrub it with soapy water and a brush without worrying about the fabric itself. Work up a light lather, clean the whole upper, then rinse the soap out with a damp cloth. White canvas that looks gray afterwards usually just needs a second pass once it has dried, since fabric looks darker when wet.
For laces that have gone dingy, pull them out and wash them separately in the same soapy water. Let everything dry fully before you thread them back in.
When the washing machine is safe, and when it is not
Some canvas and fabric baby shoes can go in the machine, but many cannot, and leather or suede never should. A machine cycle can break down glued soles, warp the shape and fade printed details. Only machine wash if the care label allows it.
If you do machine wash, protect the shoes and the drum.
- Place the shoes inside a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase.
- Add a couple of towels to cushion the tumbling and reduce banging.
- Choose a cold or lukewarm gentle cycle with a slow spin.
- Remove laces and insoles and wash them loose in the same bag.
- Skip the dryer entirely and air dry instead.
Heat is what damages shoes most during drying. Keep them away from radiators, direct sun and the dryer, because high heat shrinks fabric, cracks leather and can unstick soles.
Drying baby shoes without wrecking their shape
Air drying at room temperature is the only method that works for every material. Stuff the shoes loosely with paper towel or newspaper to soak up inner moisture and hold their shape while they dry. Change the paper once if it gets very wet. Stand them somewhere with good airflow, away from heat sources.
Expect a full day or longer for thicker shoes to dry all the way through. Putting them on while still damp is uncomfortable and can encourage odor, so give them the time they need.
Keeping grips and rubber soles in good shape
Many first shoes and slippers have rubber grips on the sole that stop small feet sliding on smooth floors. Wipe these with a damp cloth to clear dirt from between the dots, and let them dry naturally so the rubber stays flexible. Rubber boots are the easiest of all, since you can rinse them under the tap and wipe them dry. Our roi rain boots clean up quickly this way after a muddy walk.
A little routine care goes a long way. Wiping shoes down after a messy day, drying them properly and storing them away from heat keeps each pair wearable for as long as your child fits into them. For more pairs to rotate through, browse the full range of kids shoes.