The 8 Best Shoe Cleaners of 2023

Best Overall

Jason Markk Shoe Cleaning Essentials Kit

4.7

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Jason Markk’s Shoe Cleaner Essentials is our top pick for a shoe cleaner. Not only is this formula very effective, the essentials kit comes with everything you need to apply the cleaner and touch up your shoes. It is safe to use on any fabric and any color, so you never need to worry about keeping multiple products around and remembering which ones you can use on which shoes. The essentials kit comes with a small bottle of cleaner and a stiff bristle brush. The brush is a bit small, so you may want to upgrade to the more expensive starter kit once you know that this is the right answer for you.

Don’t be fooled by the small bottle of cleaner that comes with the essentials kit, however. While it is only 4 ounces, a little bit goes a long way. For most cleaning needs, this tiny bottle lasts for over 100 uses. Using too much can actually make it harder to get your shoes clean, since you will need to wipe off the excess cleaner and use the brush to get it into the fabric.

The brush is a bit stiff for delicate fabrics, such as suede. But, you can purchase a separate premium brush with softer bristles or a specific suede kit. Travel kits, foam cleaner, water repellent, and other cleaning towels are also available. Because these cleaners are a bit expensive, we recommend starting with this versatile, effective, and expansive essentials kit to decide if purchasing the specialty products meets your needs.

Price at time of publish: $18

What’s Included: Cleaner, bristle brush | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: All fabrics and colors

Best Budget

Grandma’s Secret Sneaker Cleaner

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This little 3-ounce bottle of Grandma’s Secret Sneaker Cleaner really packs a punch. For a fraction of the cost of similar products, it delivers mighty cleaning power that works on plastic, leather, canvas, rubber, and a variety of other fabrics. It is small enough to be portable, but also comes in a larger size for at-home use or refills.

You will need to get an application cloth or brush separately, but the cleaner comes in a spray that is easy to direct onto your shoe. After spraying it on your shoe, use a brush to work it into stubborn stains or dirty areas. Then, wipe away any excess, and rinse your shoe with regular water from the sink. You can use it on everything from boots to outdoor shoes and children’s sneakers. 

Just keep in mind that you will need to rinse the surface of the shoe, so you should be careful using it on suede or other dyed leathers. Always test a small area first to make sure the colors in your shoes won’t run, as well.

Price at time of publish: $7

What’s Included: Spray cleaner | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Plastic, leather, canvas, and rubber

Best Cleaning Kit

Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaner

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There’s a reason that this shoe cleaner has been called a miracle since it hit the market in the mid-1980s. For over 30 years, sneaker aficionados have sworn by the Pink Miracle formula, which is safe for leather, canvas, suede, vinyl, cloth, and other fabrics. As long as your shoes can get wet, Pink Miracle cleaner will work on them. When using, remember that this is a concentrated cleaner and you only need a small amount—about the size of a dime for most shoes. 

The kit comes with a bristle brush, the ideal tool to work the formula into your shoes. It is a full-size brush and large enough to work on sneakers and boots, too. You can add a microfiber cloth, sold separately, to your kit which is made of saddle soap, gentle oils, and conditioners so your shoes can actually improve with routine application. This is especially important to keep fabrics like leather supple and conditioned. 

Notably, the team behind the product also has a lot of experience and is very responsive to questions. All in all, there isn’t much to be desired after adding this pick to your cart.

Price at time of publish: $25

What’s Included: Cleaner, bristle brush | Ingredients: Saddle soap, oils, conditioners | For Use On: Leather, canvas, suede, vinyl, cloth, and other fabrics

Best Wipes

Mygezi Shoe Cleaner Wipes 2-Pack

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One of the best ways to keep your shoes in tip-top shape is to wipe away dirt and debris before they can form stains. While they don’t take the place of deep cleaning, having Quick Wipes on hand is super convenient. These wipes come in a 2-pack with 30 wipes in each pack. You can keep one in the car and one in your bag, so you are always ready to wipe away mud or grass.

The wipes work on sneakers and outdoor shoes, but are not safe for leather or suede. They do not require any water or application materials. Just be sure to close the lid to keep them moist, since they will not work if they dry out. They are a bit pricey considering the quantity, and will not last for as many uses as traditional cleaners. Still, they are a great option for convenience and upkeep.

Price at time of publish: $15

What’s Included: 60 wipes | Ingredients: Water, spunlace fabric, cleaning agent, wetting penetrating agent | For Use On: Canvas, rubber, plastic, and mesh

Best for White Shoes

Alloda Shoe Cleaner + White Shoe Polish

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When cleaning white shoes, you have to be extra careful to choose products that will not leave stains or residue. The Alloda Shoe Cleaner and Whitener Kit is specifically formulated for white shoes. The cleaner is applied directly from the bottle’s sponge top to get rid of dirt and stains, which can be hard to learn at first but will become second nature after a few uses. You can also use the included brush to work the cleaner into your shoe. It is safe to use for leather, nubuck, suede, canvas, vinyl, mesh, and nylon.

The whitener can be used on the edges of shoes, as well as any leather sections. It should only be used on the white parts because it does brighten them. Using it on dyed leather or rubber edges may impact the color. The kit comes with tape, so you can tape off the sections you don’t want to use the whitener on. Notably, you can keep everything stored in the carrying case and even take the cleaning kit with you on-the-go, too.

Price at time of publish: $15

What’s Included: Cleaner, whitener, brush, microfiber cloth, tape | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Leather, canvas, vinyl, mesh, and nylon

Best Brush

Alloda Shoe Cleaning Brush

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Our top choice for shoe whitening kit also makes a dual-sided cleaning brush that works great on all shoes. One side is 100 percent boar hair, which is soft and great to use on delicate fabrics, such as suede, leather, and mesh. The other side is nylon, providing a stiffer bristle option to deep clean tougher fabrics and parts of the shoe, such as the rubber soles. Each side is color coded so you can remember which one is which. They are also different textures.

Because this brush has two sides, it can be hard to use without getting cleaning solution on your hands. If this might bother you, get two separate brushes from Alloda. They also make one with a longer handle that can be more comfortable for some to use. This option comes with a storage case so you never have to worry about the excess cleaner or polish getting on other items in your cleaning kit or your hands.

Price at time of publish: $7

What’s Included: One brush, storage case | Ingredients: Boar hair, nylon, wood | For Use On: Leather, mesh, canvas, suede, rubber, and other fabrics

Best for Canvas

Angelus Easy Cleaner Sneaker Cleaner

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This powerful cleaner can work on a variety of fabrics, including canvas and rubber that is common in sneakers. You don’t need to worry about taping off or separating different sections. Instead, you can apply the cleaner using a brush or cloth and never worry about it staining your fabric. You will need to purchase a brush separately for the best results. Angelus has a cleaning kit that comes with a brush and microfiber cloth.

This formula is also safe to use on leather goods and carpet—in addition to your canvas sneakers—such as your car interior and furniture. It is also very affordable, making it a popular, all-purpose choice. It does have a linen scent, which can be enjoyable. If you are ever unsure of the uses for this cleaner, they have the compatible fabrics printed right on the front of the bottle to make application foolproof.

Price at time of publish: $8

What’s Included: Cleaning solution | Ingredients: Not listed | For Use On: Suede, nubuck, vinyl, straw, canvas, carpet, goretex, and other fabrics