Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Brushing
• Method 5 of 5: Washing machine
• Necessities

Sperries should be cleaned carefully to avoid damaging the leather. Sperry's of suede and nubuck should only be cleaned by brushing them with a special leather brush. Full grain leather can be cleaned with a mild dish soap or leather cleaner. Below you can read the best methods for cleaning Sperry's.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Brushing

1. Brush the shoes with a soft brush. Use a soft toothbrush or a leather brush to gently brush dust, dirt, and grime off your shoes.
   • This method is mainly used for suede and nubuck Sperry's. These leathers are less resistant to moisture than full grain leather and are more prone to damage. That is why they are mainly cleaned by treating them with a dry brush.
   • Brush the shoes with short strokes and brush in one direction only. If you brush the leather in multiple directions, scratches will occur.
   • If possible, use a brush with rubber bristles instead of a brush with nylon bristles. Rubber is less likely to scratch leather than nylon.
   • Concentrate on the areas that are particularly dirty.
2. Treat the shoes with steam. Warm water in a kettle or a steamer. Keep the shoes about 12 inches away from the steam to further loosen the dirt.
   • Only do this with Sperry's made of suede and not with shoes made of nubuck.
   • Do not keep the shoes closer to the steam than stated above. Suede is moisture sensitive and if the leather is exposed to too much steam too quickly it can be damaged.
3. Remove the insoles and laces from the shoes. The insoles can be washed separately, but the laces will fray when washed.
   • If your laces are particularly dirty, you may want to replace them with new ones.
   • You can easily remove the insoles. Grab the end of the sole, lift it up and slide it back to remove it from your shoe.
4. Soak the shoes. Quickly submerge the shoes in a bucket of cold water to wet them completely.
   • Instead of submerging the shoes, you can also use a spray bottle or a cup of cold water to wet the outside.
   • Do not use hot water, as this increases the chance that the leather will shrink.
5. Scrub the insoles. Dip the soft brush in a mixture of water and washing-up liquid. Scrub the insoles thoroughly with the brush to clean them. Clean both sides of the insoles.
   • If your insoles smell particularly strong, sprinkle baking soda or foot powder over your dry insoles before brushing them with a dry soft toothbrush. Avoid getting baking soda or foot powder on the leather.
6. Dry the shoes. Place the shoes flat in a partly sunny spot and let them air dry for 24 hours.
   • Avoid places where the shoes are in direct, direct sun. Too much sun can cause the leather to crack during drying.
   • Let the insoles dry in the same way.
7. Soak the shoes. Quickly submerge the shoes in cold water to get them wet.
   • You can also spray or pour cold water on your Sperry's instead of submerging them completely. If you choose to moisten the shoes by spraying water on them, consider only wetting the areas with obvious spots or streaks.
   • You only apply this method to certain parts of the shoe, namely the areas with spots or stripes. Never clean your entire shoe with this method.
8. Apply the nail polish remover to visible stains. Blot stubborn stains with the cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover. Keep dabbing the area with the cotton ball until the stain disappears from the leather.
   • Do not scrub the shoes. This is probably too aggressive a treatment for the leather.
   • Nail polish remover works particularly well for removing stains from light-colored leather.
9. Dry the shoes. Place the Sperries flat in a partly sunny spot and let them dry there for 24 hours.
   • Do not place the shoes in bright, direct sunlight. With strong sunlight, the leather can dry out too quickly.
10. Remove the insoles and laces from the shoes. Set the laces aside and clean the insoles separately.
11. Clean the insoles with soapy water. Dip a soft toothbrush in a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap. Scrub the insoles with the toothbrush and thoroughly clean both sides.
    • If your insoles smell particularly strong, use a dry toothbrush to scrub the dry insoles with baking soda or foot powder. Avoid getting baking soda or foot powder on the leather.
12. Apply the leather cleaner with a soft cloth. Use a special leather cleaner or a leather cleaner intended for Sperry's. Apply a small amount of the product to a soft cloth and massage it gently into the leather.
    • A microfiber cloth works best, but any soft cloth should effectively clean the shoes. However, do not use abrasive materials and paper towels.
13. Let the shoes dry. Leave them flat for 24 hours. Place them in a spot with indirect sunlight where the sun doesn't shine all the time.
    • Do not let the shoes dry in direct sun. With strong sunlight, the leather can dry out too quickly.

Method 5 of 5: Washing machine

1. Remove the insoles from the shoes and put them in a laundry bag. Tie the open end of the mesh laundry bag to prevent the insoles from falling out.
   • You can wash both the shoes and the insoles in the washing machine, but the insoles should be placed in a laundry bag while washing to prevent them from being lost in the washing machine or damaged.
   • You can also use a pillowcase instead of a laundry bag.
   • Remove the laces from the shoes as well. Set them aside until you've washed the shoes.
2. Let the shoes dry in the sun. Place the shoes in a partly sunny spot with indirect sunlight and let them dry there for 24 hours.
   • Do not put the shoes in direct sunlight, as this can cause the leather to shrink or crack.
3. Maintain the leather. Apply a thick coat of mink oil or leather care product to the shoes to restore the moisture balance of the leather.
   • Follow the instructions on the care product packaging to apply it correctly.

Necessities

• Leather brush or soft toothbrush
• Suede eraser
• Dishwashing liquid
• Water
• Soft cloth
• Nail polish remover
• Cotton ball
• Leather cleaner
• Laundry detergent
• Mesh laundry bag or pillowcase
• Leather care product, mink oil or a protective spray