The Most Common Shoe Cleaning Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Mistakes spare no one, no matter how much we try, we can’t ever be too careful. Often, we don’t even realize we’re making them until it’s too late. This holds especially true for shoes—no one really teaches us how to care for them properly.
Our shoes endure the brunt of our daily lives. They take on the rough roads, muddy paths, and every adventure we dive into. Shoes aren’t meant to sit pristine on shelves – they are meant to be worn, flaunted and lived in. Yet, despite the hefty price tags we pay for them, they rarely last long enough to justify the investment.
And those tiny cleaning instructions on the tags? They are easy to ignore and let’s be honest, barely helpful when we do bother to read them.

This article is a rescue article for your beloved sneakers and shoes. We will go through the 5 most common mistakes that we make while taking care of our shoes and how to avoid them, so stay tuned!

1) Using The Wrong Cleaning Products
Do you use your dishwasher and utensils liquid to wash your clothes? No right? Then why use those materials on your shoes? When it comes to cleaning shoes, we often go on a detergent hunt from our home, do a mix – match and try to scrub off the accumulated dirt from our shoes. There is nothing worse that we can do to our shoes, because most of these all purpose home cleaners and bleaches cause discoloration or permanent damage. The only way to avoid this is to invest in specific materials that suit your shoes and use them as directed.

2)Using Excessive Amount of Water
We get it! Water is the go to solution for everything messy or dirty! But shoes don’t follow the same logic- not all shoes and not every time. Excessive water use, particularly on leather or suede, can warp the shoe’s shape, damage glue, and leave unsightly stains—issues that most people don’t anticipate. Avoid this by using damp cloths, or water sponges. Do not immerse your shoes in water for long.

3)Ignoring the Laces and Soles
Admit it, when cleaning shoes, we focus on removing stains from the exterior while completely ignoring the laces and soles. They seem unimportant, so we let the laces stay grimy and the soles become torn, smelly or scuffed. But here’s the truth: Dirty laces or damaged soles can make even spotless shoes look unkempt, and keeping soles uncared for can lead to permanent damage in the long term.
Avoid this by removing laces and washing them separately and giving regular maintenance to your soles.
We understand that cleaning soles is not everyone’s cup of tea, which is why professional dry cleaners at EliteWash exist, to help you with taking utmost care of your shoes with professional materials.

4)Not Drying Shoes Properly
While drying seems like the easiest step in the whole shoe cleaning process, it is funny how we can mess that up too, by using hair dryers or radiators to dry out shoes. This is dangerous because direct heat can damage shoes by weakening its adhesives. The only way to avoid this is to not be in a hurry, and leave your shoes to dry out naturally in a well ventilated area away from direct heat or sunlight and stuffing the shoes with newspaper or shoe trees to help maintain their shape during drying.

5)Using Random Sprays or Deodorizers
Using too much deodorizer to mask odors might seem like the quickest fix when you are in a rush, but it’s far from ideal. Deodorizers don’t tackle the root case of the door and can leave a residue that damages shoe linings or irritates skin. The way to avoid this is to understand the actual cause of the odor – whether it’s trapped swea, moisture, or bacteria. Let your shoes air out regularly and, if needed, clean the insoles or use odor absorbing solutions like baking soda or activated charcoal.

While these are the 5 most common mistakes we tend to make when it comes to shoe care, the bigger issue lies in our lack of regular maintenance. This is where EliteWash comes to the rescue, addressing all these problems with ease through seamless pick-up and delivery services.

From surface cleaning and material-specific care to deep cleaning soles and laces, EliteWash uses professional techniques to restore your shoes’ natural beauty and rejuvenate their scent. With meticulous attention to detail, they ensure your precious footwear stays in top condition and lasts longer. By preventing shoe damage and offering exceptional care, EliteWash stands out as one of the best shoe cleaning services available