The 20 Best Shoe Cleaners

The best sneaker-cleaning solutions are suitable for numerous materials, including mesh, textile, leather, and suede. These versatile kits and concoctions are ideal for freshening up the uppers and soles of athletic shoes.

The Shoe MGK Premium Shoe Care Kit comes with a liquid solution that doubles as a cleaner and conditioner for various materials, like mesh, suede, leather, and textile. All you do is apply the liquid to the included brush and gently buff away stains and scuffs. The Pink Miracle Original Shoe Cleaner works on all washable footwear materials — just make sure to dilute the concentration first!

The solution in the Jason Markk Essential Kit is formulated to clean nylon, nubuck, knits, cloth, and other upper materials, while the brush tackles dried mud and muck. We'd bring Grandma's Secret Sneaker Cleaner on trips, as the 3-ounce bottle is packable and the formula works in a pinch.

Leather is inherently durable, but it's not indestructible. Whether you go with a foam, cream, polish, or pre-moistened wipe, just make sure you're using a shoe cleaner that won't compromise the dye or finish.

Leather Honey has been making leather-care products since the '60s, and you can bet the formulas work. The brand's highly rated, best-selling Leather Cleaner quickly and gently lifts scuffs and stains from genuine leather of any color (even white), as well as faux leather. For more comprehensive cleaning, we like the three-step Ecco Shoe Care Kit, which includes a foam cleaner that works on various materials (leather included), a leather-conditioning cream, and a waterproofing spray, plus a brush and cloth.

The Magnanni Essential Shoe Care Kit is a higher-end option with products carefully formulated to maintain top-grain leather footwear. It even comes with a steel shoe spoon and a travel shoe bag. We'd pack WipeMate Leather Shining Wipes for trips, as the individually wrapped, pre-moistened, disposable cloths are great for on-the-go use.

Suede is easily stained and not so easily cleaned. But many products exist for restoring the finicky material, including “suede erasers,” gentle foams, and clear concentrates that mix with water. A brush is also crucial for cleaning suede.

We're confident Angelus Suede & Nubuck Kit's eraser block won't ruin or discolor our suede shoes. Not unlike a pencil eraser, the soft rubber pills up as it buffs off scuffs and marks. We also like Leather Honey Suede & Nubuck Cleaner, a foam specially formulated to spot-clean suede while maintaining its delicate texture.

Saphir Omnidaim Cleaner comes in a travel-friendly bottle under the TSA's 3.4-ounce limit. After applying the solution with the included mini brush, you let it sit for several hours while it restores the color and texture of your suede shoes. UGG is a brand we're comfortable trusting with our suede. The UGG Care Kit includes a suede scuff eraser, a cleaning solution, a brush for fluffing suede fibers, a waterproofing and stain-repellent treatment, and a refresher spray that tackles foot odors.

Canvas shoes can sometimes be laundered, but if not, you can wash them by hand or spot-clean them with a stain-lifting solution. Sprays can work well since they won't oversaturate the material and cause shrinking. Liquids and foams can be good, too, with the right brush or cloth.

We like the Sneaker Lab Basic Kit because the gentle, biodegradable formula works on various textiles, including cotton canvas, while the brush lifts away stubborn marks. Vans is among the most popular canvas shoe brands, so you can bet it knows what it's doing when it comes to cleaning the material. The Vans Shoe Care Travel Kit comes with a foam cleanser, a waterproofing and stain-repellent treatment, and a deodorizer, each in a travel-ready 2-ounce bottle.

The Crep Protect Cure Ultimate Sneaker Cleaning Kit is another great choice for trips, as the canvas-friendly formula comes in a TSA-approved bottle. You'll also get a brush, cloth, and zippered travel pouch. For white canvas shoes, go with the Clennaner Foam Shoe Cleaner Stain Remover. The brightening formula does wonders for restoring sneakers to their original hue.

Rubber soles are highly durable. But as the part of your shoes that meets the ground, they can quickly get dirty or discolored. The best cleaning solutions help scrub, bleach, or simply wipe down the soles to remove dirt and restore the original color. This is often enough to make the entire shoe look cleaner.

SneakErasers Instant Sneaker Cleaner is kind of like a Magic Eraser but for shoe soles. The spongy side breaks down as it lifts stains (like an eraser), and the scrubber side gets into crevices and works out stubborn marks. The individual pucks are ideal for travel, too. We also appreciate the convenience of Swipz Sneaker Cleaning Wipes, as the individually wrapped cloths can be tossed in a bag or suitcase.

Angelus Sole Bright is formulated to brighten previously white rubber soles that have turned yellow through oxidation. Tarrago Midsole Cleaner is made to clean the midsole of a sneaker — the part visible from the sides — and remove dirt, grime, paint, and other substances.