How to Clean Corduroy Shoes

The great thing about modern shoe design is that you can now buy footwear made from all kinds of materials and fabrics to stand out from the crowd. Leather shoes have their place but sometimes it is great to wear something a little different. Learning how to clean corduroy shoes, however, is a must if you want to avoid damaging your corduroy shoes. Here’s everything you need to know to help you look after the corduroy fabric so that your shoes stay looking good for as long as possible.

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What is Corduroy?

Corduroy is a type of fabric that is usually made from cotton or a blend of polyester and cotton. The fabric is usually woven into a piled or ridged design which can resemble stripes. The texture of the fabric is usually soft and has a distinctive nap. Corduroy can come in designs where the stripes are large and deep or more closely woven together.

Whilst traditionally corduroy has been used for clothing such as trousers a number of shoe designers have been using this unique fabric in order to create amazing footwear. A perfect example of this would be Nike’s Men’s Air Max Plus Corduroy Running Shoes.

Are Corduroy Shoes Hard to Clean?

Whilst corduroy is a relatively hardy fabric it is just a form of cotton therefore like any fabric it is going to be susceptible to dirt and stains. Also because there is a pile on the fabric it will attract dust and lint which can get into the raised part of the material.

Any form of fabric shoe is always going to be harder to clean than hardy leather shoes but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy corduroy shoes. Remember that plenty of people wear suede shoes or canvas shoes which suffer from similar cleaning problems but that there are plenty of ways in which you can remove excess dirt and stains.

Can Corduroy Get Wet?

The good news is that corduroy can get wet which means that if you want to remove the dirt you don’t have to rely on a soft brush to do the work for you.

We would not however recommend that you go overboard with water when cleaning this type of shoe. Excess water can damage the fabric as well as the foundations of the shoe causing it to eventually fall apart. For that reason never place this kind of shoes in a washing machine and instead use hand washing techniques in cold or slightly warm water to remove excess dirt.

Best Corduroy Cleaning Products For Shoes

If you want to know how to clean corduroy shoes then make sure you get a cleaning kit ready to help you. These are just some of the simple products you can use to help you take care of this type of shoe.

Firstly we love the Pink Miracle Multi-Purpose Shoe Cleaning Brush with strong, medium and soft bristles. This is perfect for cleaning all different types of shoes so it won’t just help clean corduroy but other materials as well. For the purposes of cleaning corduroy shoes, you should only need to use soft brush bristles.

A lint roller is also useful as that can help to remove surface dirt and dust that may be stuck in the nap of the fabric.

Jason Markks Premium Shoe Cleaner is a great product for cleaning all kinds of fabric shoes without causing shrinking or discoloration. This particular product foams making it a perfect cleaning solution for corduroy shoes.

Jason Markks Microfible Cloth is our final recommendation. We always recommend that you buy a couple. One can be used for as a damp cloth for cleaning the shoes and the other was a towel in order to dry the shoes once they have been cleaned.

How Do You Clean Dirty Corduroy Shoes?

If you do have a pair of dirty corduroy shoes then your first step is to remove as much loose dirt as you can from your shoes. The easiest way to remove the loose dirt is by using a soft-bristled brush which can help to get rid of excess debris.

Remember to gently brush the corduroy sections of your shoes and don’t apply too much pressure in case you flatten the fabric. For corduroy shoes, with sturdy soles, you can use a stiff brush to clean the surface area.

Then get a vacuum hose and gently run it over the shoe to remove anything that the brush was unable to reach. To get any lint that is stuck in the nap of the corduroy use a lint brush which should remove any final fluff or embedded bits of dust or debris.

Remove the laces and place them in a bowl of warm water with detergent so they can be cleaned separately.

Next, get a bowl of warm water and mix in some dish soap and start to use an old toothbrush to clean the soles of your shoes. This should help to get rid of any ingrained dirt and leave your soles looking clean again. Wipe off the excess water with a clean cloth.

To clean corduroy shoes uppers get another bowl of clean warm water and mix in a small amount of a mild detergent such as Woolite. Use a soft shoe brush or a damp washcloth to gently brush this cleaning mix into the surface of your shoe. Be careful not to soak the shoe and do not use water that is too hot otherwise it could damage the fabric.

Gently wipe off any soap or detergent residue with cold water and use a microfibre cloth to towel dry the shoe. Leave the shoes to air dry until they are ready to wear.

How to Get Stains Out of Corduroy

To deep clean your corduroy shoes and remove dirt and stubborn stains it makes sense to use a specialist shoe cleaning product. Whilst as mild detergent might clean corduroy shoes that aren’t too dirty sometimes you need a little more than a surface clean.

This is where it makes sense to use a specialist shoe cleaner as it will help remove more ingrained dirt without damaging your shoes. Jason Markk shoe cleaner which we recommended earlier is a great product with thousands of five-star reviews that you can use for the job.

Before beginning clean the soles as before and remove the shoelaces which can be cleaned separately. Then all you need to do is dip a soft-bristled brush into some cold water or warm water and then apply a small amount of the mild detergent to the brush. Then dip the brush into the water again and then start to brush your shoes with the mixture which should start to foam as it does a gentle clean.

When you have finished cleaning all you need to do is get a dry towel and wipe off any excess soap residue. If your shoes or trainers still look dirty then just repeat the process on your shoe until you remove any stains.

At the end of the process allow the shoes to air dry until they are ready to wear.

How to Dry Corduroy Shoes

We believe that the best drying process for corduroy shoes is to allow them to air dry naturally until they are fit to wear. You can speed that up slightly by using a dry towel to remove as much water as you can from the shoes.

Never be tempted to try and use a tumble dryer as a quick fix. The heat from the tumble dryer can ruin your shoes and shrink the fabric.

How to Protect Corduroy Shoes

As with any form of fabric shoes, it makes sense to try and protect them to keep them looking like new. The easiest way to do this is by being choosy about where you wear them.

When you wear fabric shoes in the rain or on paths or roads that are no more than dirt then you are going to get your shoes filthy and have a difficult time cleaning them.

Wear your shoes when the weather is good and when you know you are going to be walking on pathed areas. That way your shoes will last considerably longer.

You could also invest in a shoe protector spray to help your shoes last longer. Once again Jason Markk has a great product that works for all types of shoe materials. His repel spray is odorless and colorless and is designed to keep your shoes looking good.