How To Clean Toe and Foot Marks From Sandals - 8 Easy Tips

Last Updated on January 14, 2026 by Martina McKeough

If there is one thing that gives me the ick it is seeing the dirty inside of sandals. Nobody wants to see sweat and grime ground into a sandals footbed as it looks disgusting. So I’m going to show you how to clean toe and foot marks from sandals using either professional products or things that you already have in your home.

As with all of my tips please test them on a small inconspicuous area of your sandals first. You don’t want to ruin expensive footwear so try a test and if that works then you can move on to the rest of your sandals.

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Cleaning Your Sandals Footbed

Cleaning toe and foot marks from sandals can help keep them looking fresh and extend their lifespan. Here are ten effective methods for cleaning these marks and making your sandals look fresh and new again.

The Professional Product

I’m going to start by recommending my number one go to product when it comes to tough jobs like this and that is Jason Markk’s Shoe Cleaner.

This remarkable foaming cleaner packs a powerful punch and I’ve used it on everything from sneakers to suede shoes. This is because it is gentle enough to handle most fabrics without ruining them.

This cleaner needs no water which is great because saturating shoes with liquid isn’t usually great for helping them keep their shape or integrity. Instead you spray the cleaner on to the brush provided and work the foam into the footbed in a circular motion. Then wipe off any excess with a microfibre cloth and allow to dry.

Professional shoe cleaning products are usually my preference when it comes to cleaning foot and toe marks off sandals because they are less likely to damage your shoes. However there are plenty of DIY products which you can use which I’ll talk about next.

Mild Laundry Detergent Method

The next method was one that I used with quite good success on a pair of old Birkenstock sandals. As you can see there is a marked difference between the two sandals after one had been cleaned. I used this detergent method for the footbed and a magic eraser for the white leather.

All you need for this is a small amount of mild laundry detergent mixed with warm water.

I used a mid to soft brush to scrub the marks off with the mixture. If you are doing this try and be careful with the amount of water you are using as if you saturate your shoes you could ruin them.

Once I had got off most of the stains I wiped any excess product off with a wet cloth and allowed them to dry.

Laundry detergent works well as it can break down stains and be gentle on fabrics.

Baking Soda and Water Paste

Baking soda is another useful product that I used for all kinds of jobs around the house.

To clean your sandals footbed mix the baking soda with water to form a paste (it should never be runny). Then apply the paste to the marks with a toothbrush and scrub them gently.

Make sure you wipe off as much excess product as you can when you have finished and rub with a wet cloth before allowing them to dry.

Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive, removing stains without damaging the material.

Vinegar and Water Solution

You might think that vinegar would make your shoes and sandals smell but actually the odor evaporates relatively quickly so it is another product to have in your cleaning arsenal.

I mix equal parts of vinegar and cold water and dip my brush into the mixture and start scrubbing the footbed until the marks are gone.

I use a clean wet cloth to remove as much of the vinegar as I can and then allow my sandals to dry.

What is great about vinegar is that it is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. So it doesn’t just remove the dirt but any smells as well/

Clean Your Sandals Footbed with Dish Soap and Water

Good old washing up liquid can be used as well if you are looking for a cheap and quick way to remove those foot and toe marks from your sandals.

Just like the washing detergent you only need to add a few drops to warm water and start scrubbing the marks. As with all the previous methods wipe the excess off with water and a cloth.

Dish soap breaks down oils and dirt, making it easier to clean the sandals.

Using Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is something I have used in the past to remove mold from leather shoes and furniture but it can also be used for cleaning the footbed of your shoes.

Just dab a cotton ball or cloth with rubbing alcohol and start to rub it over the marks to remove stains and grimes.

Rubbing alcohol is something that you can allow to dry naturally as it evaporates quickly.

Try a Magic Eraser

I love my magic erasers as they are so useful to have around the house. I’ve use them from cleaning marks off walls and furniture but you can also use them on certain shoe footbeds.

All you need to do is wet the eraser and then start to scrub at the marks and the dirt should start to come off.

As these erasers are relatively gentle you shouldn’t find that they cause any damage to your shoes but as with all my methods try a small test patch first.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Finally last but not least you can also use Hydrogen Peroxide for cleaning foot and toe marks off sandals.

Just be aware that hydrogen peroxide has bleaching properties so it may change the color of the footbed in some circumstances.

To use the produce just apply it to a cloth or cotton ball and scrub the problem areas. When the marks have gone just wipe the area with a clean cloth and water to remove any left over product and allow it to dry naturally.

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