How to Clean High Heels

Co-authored by Trent Potter and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: September 24, 2021

High heels add a feminine touch to any outfit. If you wear heels a lot, you probably know the struggles of keeping your shoes clean and shiny looking after a night out. You can freshen up your heels by using products you have around the house to get rid of stains or scuffs and make your heels look new again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Suede

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Use an unscented baby wipe to get rid of dirt and grime from the toes and heel part of your shoes. Use pressure and wipe in a circular motion to get rid of everything.^{[1]
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Wet a clean washcloth with warm water and apply 1 drop of mild cleanser, like dish soap or detergent. Wipe down the outside of your heels with the cloth, paying special attention to any dirty or muddy areas. Remove any dirt from the underside of your heels last.^{[2]
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Tip: You can also buy a cleanser made specifically for suede shoes from a shoe store.

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3
Use a rubber cleaning stone to get rid of any remaining dirt. Hold a rubber cleaning stone in 1 hand and swipe it down your heel in 1 direction. Pay special attention to the area around your toes and the back of your heels.^{[3]
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- You can purchase a rubber cleaning stone at most leather shops or shoe stores.
4
Brush your heels with a suede brush. Brush your heels all over to restore their texture and remove any remaining dirt. Suede brushes are soft and made specifically for this material, so they won’t hurt your shoes.^{[4]
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- You can find suede brushes at most leather stores.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Leather

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1
Brush the outside of the heels with a soft brush. Remove large dirt and debris with a soft-bristled brush. Gently swipe the brush across the outside of your heels in a circular motion.^{[5]
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- Soft brushes won’t damage the soft leather material of your heels.
- Leather heels usually look slightly textured and feel soft to the touch.
Dip a cloth into warm water and add 1 drop of mild dish soap. Rub the cloth across the outside of your heels, and pay special attention to the toes and any dirty areas.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Trent Potter
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 22 April 2021.} Run the cloth over the bottoms of your heels last to remove mud and dirt.^{[7]
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Tip: Save the bottoms of your heels for last since they are probably the dirtiest part of your shoes.
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Rub the shoes again with a clean, damp cloth. Get a different cloth slightly wet with warm water. Wipe down your heels with the cloth to remove any soap residue that is left over.^{[8]
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- Leaving soap on your shoes could cause them to dry with streaks.
- If you notice scuffs or damage near the toes of your high heels, apply some tinted shoe cream to cover it up.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Trent Potter
  Shoe Care & Repair Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2021.}
Grab an unscented baby wipe and clean out the inside of your heels. Pay special attention to the toes and heel area, as those are usually the dirtiest.^{[10]
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Let your heels air dry. Set your leather heels in a cool, dry spot and let them dry for about 1 hour. Keep them out of the sun to avoid any fading or damage. Make sure the insides of your heels are completely dry before you wear them again.^{[11]
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- Never use heat to speed up the drying process. Heat damages leather and could make your heels shrink or warp.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Patent Leather

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1
Wipe out the inside with baby wipes. Grab an unscented baby wipe and use it to wipe out the inside of your heels. Pay special attention to the heel and toe areas where your feet touch the shoes the most to get rid of any dirt or grime that has built up on the inside of your shoes.^{[12]
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- Let the insides of your heels dry before you put them on again.
- Patent leather is a slick, shiny material that is often all black or all white.
2
Rub your shoes with a cotton cloth. Grab a clean cotton cloth and rub the outside of your heels in a circular motion to get rid of dirt and debris. Pay special attention to any areas that are really dirty, like the toes or backs of your heels.^{[13]
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- You can also use a microfiber towel to clean off your heels.
3
Buff patent leather cleaner into your heels. Apply 1 to 2 drops of patent leather cleaner to a clean cloth. Rub the cloth into the outside of your heels in a circular motion.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Trent Potter
Shoe Care & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 22 April 2021.} Cover the entire outside of your shoes to make them look shiny and new.^{[15]
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- You can find patent leather cleaner at most shoe stores.
Warning: Patent leather cleaner won’t fix any deep scratches or scuffs in your heels.
Set your shoes in a clean, dry place, and set a time for 5 minutes. Take a clean cloth and run it over your shoes in a circular motion to buff off the cleaner and remove it.^{[16]
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Buff out scuffs using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol. Rub it on any scuffs or water spots on the outside of your shoes in a small circular motion for about 1 minute until the scuff disappears.^{[17]
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- Scuffs and water spots on patent leather usually look white or dull.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Satin

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Use an unscented baby wipe to remove any dirt and grime from the inside of your heel. Pay special attention to the toes and back of the heel where dirt might accumulate.^{[18]
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2
Brush off dirt and dust with a soft-bristled brush. Use caution so you don’t push the dirt back into the shoe. Brush in a downwards motion to get rid of the large debris.^{[19]
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- Satin heels feel slick and shiny and may not be super soft to the touch.
Tip: If you don’t have a soft-bristled brush, you can also use a clean microfiber cloth.
3
Dab the dirty areas with cold water. Wet a clean washcloth with cold water from your sink and gently blot the area with your washcloth. Try not to rub or swipe at the dirt, or you could push the grime back into the satin.^{[20]
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- Cold water is more gentle on satin and won’t harm the fibers of your heels.
4
Add hand soap to your cloth if you need a deeper clean. If the cold water wasn’t enough to remove the dirt from your satin heels, dip your wet cloth into a small amount of hand soap. Blot the dirty area with your soapy cloth.^{[21]
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- Use mild hand soap that doesn’t have any added scents or dyes for the best results.
- You can use hand soap and water to wash off the soles of your heels if they are dirty.
Wet a different area of your cloth with cold water. Gently dab the soapy area to pick up the majority of the hand soap and remove it from your shoes.^{[22]
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Dab the shoes with a dry cloth and allow them to air dry. Grab a clean, dry cloth and gently blot the wet areas of your shoes. Try to pick up the majority of the water without rubbing or swiping your cloth. Let your shoes sit in a cool, dry place to dry all the way before wearing them again.^{[23]
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- If you live in a humid climate, set up a dehumidifier to remove some of the moisture from your air to make your shoes dry quickly.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Canvas and Cotton

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Take an unscented baby wipe and quickly wipe out the inside of your heels. Pay special attention to the toes, as this is usually the dirtiest area of your shoes.^{[24]
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Wet a toothbrush with warm water. Fill a bowl with water that is just warmer than lukewarm. Dip a new, clean toothbrush into the water to get the bristles wet.^{[25]
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- Try keeping a few new toothbrushes around that are dedicated to cleaning your heels.
- Canvas and cotton shoes feel like a typical T-shirt and may be brightly colored or patterned.
Pour 1 tbsp (14 g) of baking soda into a small dish. Dip the wet toothbrush bristles into the baking soda to pick up a little bit on the end of the toothbrush.^{[26]
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Warning: Never use bleach to clean white cotton or canvas heels. Depending on the material, bleach could turn your white shoes yellow.
Use the toothbrush to gently scrub dirt and grime off of your heels. Dip the toothbrush back into the water if you need to remove large chunks of dirt or mud.^{[27]
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Dip a cloth into dish soap and water. Take a clean rag and wet it with lukewarm water. Then, dip 1 corner into a small bowl of mild dish soap.^{[28]
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- Try to use dish soap that doesn’t have any added dyes or fragrances.
6
Wipe any excess mud or dirt downwards off the shoe. Apply gentle pressure with your rag to get rid of all the dirt and grime. Swipe your rag in a downwards motion so you don’t press any dirt back into the material of your heel, and use your rag to wipe off any dirt from the bottom of your heels as well.^{[29]
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- If there is still mud or dirt left on your shoe, use the toothbrush and baking soda again.