Tips to Maintain Fabric Shoes

There are several reasons people shy away from buying shoes they like. For some, it’s the style, colour, size or even the material.

In this post, I’ll be talking about how to style shoes that have fabric materials so when you see them and you love them, you’ll buy them immediately.

  1. Wipe down the fabric with a dry paper towel to remove any loose surface soil. 
  2. In a small bowl, mix one teaspoon of dish-washing liquid in two cups of warm water.
  3. Working on a small section at a time, dip the toothbrush in the soapy solution and lightly scrub the fabric.
  4. Do not over-wet the shoe, work with the grain of the fabric, moving all around the shoe to keep the color consistent and prevent spotting.
  5. To remove any soapy residue, wipe the entire shoe with a paper towel moistened with clear water. You may need several towels to “rinse” the entire shoe.
  6. Blot with a dry paper towel and allow the shoes to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight.
  7. To help some shoes hold their shape, stuff dry paper towels into the toes or heels until the shoe is completely dry.

Please note, do not use the wet cleaning method on velvet shoes. Instead, brush with a soft-bristled brush to lift the pile and spot clean stains with a dry cleaning solvent.