Shoe cleaning is considered something of a Dickensian pastime.
The simple act of polishing, cleaning and buffing carries an antiquated sentiment. Images of small Victorian children polishing the brogues of prim men in top hats spring to mind, painting a scene similar to one plucked from the pages of Oliver Twist.
A single, effective shoe cleaner will last a lifetime. For most, one solid all-rounder kit is all you will ever need. But for those whose shoe collection spans a myriad of materials, such as suede, chocolate brown leather, patent black leather and canvas, you might require something a touch more tailored to your fabulous footwear collection.
Many categories slot under the umbrella of shoe cleaning. Polishing, buffing, waxing, scuff removing, spraying and brushing form the foundations of the age-old process. It may seem like an archaic activity, but there’s an undeniable sense of satisfaction that comes from making your creps sparkle. After all, AI can’t polish shoes.
As with most things in fashion, shoe cleaning started out in France. The first reference to shoe polish dates back to the 18th century, when shoemakers used mixtures of animal fat to revive and protect their customer’s shoes. Shoe cleaning made its way across the channel to England in 1770, when the founder of Carr and Day Martin developed a product to polish and shine shoes.
These were targeted towards classic leather soles, but today there are countless products to tackle all fabrics, textures and colours, including sneakers.
According to Statista, the total global sneakers market revenue was valued at approximately 72.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and is forecast to reach a value of over 100 billion dollars by 2026. With so much hype surrounding street-style trainer silhouette, it was imperative that the shoe-cleaning world could keep up.
Luckily for any sneakerheads, it did. There are endless cleaning kits to browse on Amazon and John Lewis. Sports whiteners, specially made wipes, shoe refreshers and brand-new white laces ensure sneaker archives remain squeaky clean. Most are portable, meaning you can carry yours wherever you go in case of muddy puddles.
Kit yourself out with a new shoe-cleaning routine and enjoy the cathartic practice of priming your beloved brogues, boots or trainers.
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Best shoe cleaning kits at a glance
- Best for an old-fashioned shoe shine: Gentlemen's Hardware Shoe Shine Box - £45, John Lewis
- Best for cleaning leather: Gentlemen's Hardware Men's Classic - £17.95, Amazon
- Best for cleaning fabric: Jason Markk Unisex Premium Shoe Cleaning Kit Repellent Brush for Sneakers - £21, Amazon
- Best for cleaning suede: The Leather Clinic Suede & Nubuck Foam Cleaner - £12.95, Amazon
- Best for sneakers: Clarks Sneaker Kit - £16, Clarks
- Best for gifting: Bally Shoe Care Travel Kit - £50, Bally
- Best for portability: Crep Protect Cure Ultimate Footwear Cleaning Kit - £14.40, Amazon
- Best for a luxury clean: Axel Arigato Shoe Cleaning Kit - £19, Axel Arigato
John Lewis Gentlemen's Hardware Shoe Shine Box
Best for: an old-fashioned shoe shine
John Lewis’ Gentlemen's Hardware Shoe Shine Box is both a tool and a keepsake. The decked-out kit is ideal for old-school scrubbing, designed for pro-level leather shining. It comes in a classic wooden cigar box, making it a great gift for tricky family members. Buff your shoes with the luxe black polish and add a glossy sheen with the neutral cream. Lift dullness and dirt with the brushes provided and add a gleaming finish using the polishing cloth to top it all off.
Buy now £45.00, John Lewis
Gentlemen's Hardware Men's Classic
Best for: cleaning leather
The Gentlemen's Hardware Men's Classic will ensure even the most battered of boots shine. Inside you’ll find two brushes, a neutral polish for gleam, a black polish for perfecting and soft cleaning clothing for shining - all encased in a durable zip closure case. Zip yours up and take it with you wherever you go, from meetings in the office to smart evening dos in the city.
Buy now £17.95, Amazon
Jason Markk Unisex Premium Shoe Cleaning Kit Repellent Brush for Sneakers
Best for: cleaning fabric
Ensure your sneaker collection always looks spick and span. Jason Markk’s Unisex Premium Shoe Cleaning Kit Repellent Brush for Sneakers is ideal for all genders with shoes in need of some sprucing. Designed for sneaker use only, the kit comes complete with a premium sneaker cleaning solution and a water-based coconut and jojoba oil brush made of walnut wood with soft hog bristles. A must-have for serious sneaker lovers.
Buy now £21.00, Amazon
The Leather Clinic Suede & Nubuck Foam Cleaner
Best for: cleaning suede
Nobody will dare to step on your blue suede shoes once they’re simply sparkling. Suede Is a notoriously difficult material to care for, but it’s a lot easier with The Leather Clinic’s Suede & Nubuck Foam Cleaner in tow. A gentle foam cleaner lifts marks and grime, resulting in fresh creps to show off. A convenient spray bottle that lets you target problem areas is also included, alongside a professional wire brush and lint-free cloth so you can restore any suede item in a jiffy.
Buy now £12.95, Amazon
Clarks Sneaker Kit
Best for: sneakers
Keep your best-loved trainers alive for longer with an affordable, easy-to-use cleaning kit designed especially for sneakers. Clarks’ cleaning kit features a bunch of handy tools to explore. Portable wipes brush away muck, while a sports whitener restores the shoe to its box-fresh self. Revive your sneakers with the brand new white laces included and finish it off with a generous spritz courtesy of the shoe refreshing spray.
Buy now £16.00, Clarks
Bally Shoe Care Travel Kit
Best for: gifting
Upon first thought, a shoe cleaning kit may not seem like the most exciting gift. Well, to be frank, it’s not really. However, it’s abundantly useful, and a high-quality kit will go a long way. Bally’s luxurious kit will zhush any dull shoe, thanks to the brush, towel, wipes, aqua stop treatment, white cream treatment and velour sponge included. Plus, it comes in a smart travel pouch with zip closure and an internal accessory pocket.
Buy now £50.00, Bally
Crep Protect Cure Ultimate Footwear Cleaning Kit
Best for: portability
Life in London means constantly dodging puddles, braving the grubby tube and somehow ending up in sticky-floored Infernos after agreeing to go for one drink. Save yourself the hassle of buying new work shoes and keep Crep Protect’s kit handy. The Amazon best seller will cure your shoes of any muck, be it from either the club or the commute. Take advantage of the 98 per cent natural solution which is effective at lifting dirt, marks and grime, in addition to the premium cleaning brush and microfibre cloth.
Buy now £14.40, Amazon
Axel Arigato Shoe Cleaning Kit
Best for: a luxury clean
The pleasing design of Axel Arigato’s lemon yellow kit isn't its only redeeming feature. Inside the Shoe Cleaning Kit are three essentials everyone needs in their shoe restoration arsenal. Water-based Shoe Cleaning Gel, which is fragranced with agarwood and effortlessly removes dirt from materials like leather, suede, canvas and mesh. Also included is a microfibre cloth and a double-sided beechwood brush fitted with soft bristles for uppers and stiff bristles for midsoles and seams.
Buy now £19.00, Axel Arigato
