The best leather cleaner for shoes can help keep your sneaker collection spotless, which makes finding and selecting the right cleaning products incredibly important.
In fact, knowing how to clean leather shoes is one thing, but without the right tools for the job, you're unlikely to come away with pristine sneakers as though they've just been unboxed for the first time.
Fortunately, leather is fairly straightforward to clean, so equipping yourself with the right shoe cleaner should make the process quick and easy.
There are a few options to consider though. For instance, you can pick up some sneaker wipes, like this Weiman set, which are great for a quick touch-up of your shoes.
However, for a deeper, more comprehensive clean, you may want to look towards one of the best shoe cleaning kits around, like this set from Leather Honey, to remove every single stain and restore moisture to the material.
With this in mind, we've rounded up a list of top leather cleaners to kick off your search based on their price, reviews, ease of use, plus how effective they seem to be for cleaning your sneakers. Without further delay, let's get into our list...
Best leather cleaner for shoes
- Best all-round leather cleaner for shoes - Angelus Easy Cleaner
- Best foam leather cleaner for shoes - Jason Markk Ready To Use Foam
- Best natural leather cleaner for shoes - Crep Protect Cure
- Best leather cleaner and conditioner for shoes - Leather Honey Complete Leather Care Kit
- Best leather cleaner wipes for shoes - Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Wipes
Best all-round leather cleaner for shoes - Angelus Easy Cleaner
This Angelus Easy Cleaner solution looks to be a well-rounded option to consider for not just leather kicks, but for practically any sneaker material imaginable, hence its inclusion in our list of the best suede cleaners as well.
What we like about this cleaner, in particular, is that the solution is said to be gentle on any fabric thanks to its combination of non-toxic ingredients that shouldn't stain your shoes whilst cleaning.
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Moreover, the formula comes in an 8oz. bottle, so you should find it lasts across multiple cleaning sessions or for cleaning a large sneaker collection.
As an added bonus, the cleaner comes with a handy soft-bristled brush and microfibre towel, giving you all the tools you need to apply the solution and dry them thereafter... what's not to like?
Best foam leather cleaner for shoes - Jason Markk Ready To Use Foam
If you're looking for something quick and easy to use to clean your leather kicks, then we'd recommend checking out this Jason Markk Ready To Use Foam.
As its name suggests, the solution comes pre-diluted, so is ready to be applied to your shoes right out of the box. As it's pre-mixed, you don't need any water here either. Simply scrub your shoes clean, then wipe away any excess residue.
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Not only is it meant to clean your shoes, but the solution is also said to condition leather as well. In turn, this should extend the lifespan of your sneakers as it can stop the material from drying out and cracking.
So, for a quick clean and condition, make sure you consider this Jason Markk's formula.
Best natural leather cleaner for shoes - Crep Protect Cure
Sneaker cleaning solutions can be quite harsh at times, containing chemicals that could potentially dry out and damage your shoes if used regularly. This shouldn't be a worry with Crep Protect Cure though as it's made from 98% natural ingredients.
Some of these ingredients include coconut extracts, water, and jojoba which are typically more commonly found in skincare products. In many ways though, leather should be treated like your skin in that it needs moisture to stay healthy, which is where the likes of coconut extracts and jojoba can really help.
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Also, because the formula is designed to be mixed with water, the 7oz. bottle is said to last over 90 washes according to Crep Protect.
So, if it's a natural solution you're looking for to clean a large collection of sneakers, then this formula from Crep Protect could be for you.
Best leather cleaner and conditioner for shoes - Leather Honey Complete Leather Care Kit
As touched on above, maintaining leather isn't just about cleaning, it's also about conditioning and maintaining moisture in the material to avoid it drying out.
This is where this Leather Honey Leather Care Kit comes in. You get both a cleaner and one of the best leather conditioners here, both of which contain non-toxic, natural ingredients, one of the reasons it's considered one of the best car leather cleaners as well.
Once the cleaner and conditioner have been applied, you should find you get up to six months of protection as the solutions soak into the pores of your shoes, creating a water-repellent layer in the process to maintain spotless results.
Each bottle contains 8oz. of solution. So, when diluted with water, you should find it lasts over the course of multiple cleaning sessons, thus making this set great value for money in our eyes.
Best leather cleaner wipes for shoes - Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Wipes
We're rounding things off with a slightly different cleaning option in these Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Wipes.
Unlike liquid solutions, wipes are designed to be quick and easy to use, perfect if you're looking to touch up or remove any glaring stains without having to go through an entire cleaning process.
On top of cleaning and conditioning, Weiman boasts its wipes add UVX-15 sunscreen to your sneakers to protect them from fading, drying, cracking, and general sun damage over time.
Overall, we'd say opting for wipes, like these from Weiman, is well worth considering, perhaps alongside a liquid leather cleaner to give you both a quick option and a more comprehensive cleaning alternative.
Frequently asked questions about leather cleaners for shoes
There are usually a ton of questions that emerge when trying to figure out what the best leather cleaners are. Don't worry though, because we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions right here.
How do you use a leather cleaner to clean your shoes?
Using a leather cleaner on your shoes should be a straightforward process with leather being a relatively durable, robust material and most cleaning solutions being easy to apply.
Some formulas even come pre-diluted, which should make the cleaning process even simpler. All you'd need to do is add a small amount of the cleaning solution to a soft-bristled brush or cloth and begin to scrub away any dirt or stains from your shoes in circular motions.
If you do need to dilute the formula, simply mix the recommended amount with water, then apply it to your brush or cloth ready to clean with.
Once clean, you may want to wipe away any excess residue with a towel before leaving your shoes to dry. Make sure you dry your sneakers naturally rather than using any direct heat or the sun.
How much should you spend on a leather cleaner for shoes?
Shoe cleaners can range in price, so how much you spend will depend on your budget and how much you are willing to invest to keep your sneakers clean.
That said, shoe cleaners aren't overly expensive in the first place, meaning you shouldn't have to break the bank to pick up a top cleaning product.
Leather cleaners also come in a variety of different forms, such as wipes and pre-diluted solutions, both of which tend to be relatively inexpensive to pick up.
Therefore, whatever leather cleaner you're after, you should find there's a cleaning solution out there to suit your budget.
What should you avoid using when cleaning leather shoes?
In order to avoid irreversible damage to leather sneakers, it's important to know what you shouldn't do when cleaning them.
Firstly, avoid using rough sponges or wired brushes. Both can create small scratches in the material, thus resulting in permanent damage.
Moreover, avoid using any soap or detergent containing harsh chemicals.
Not only can they contain degreasers that could end up removing the oil from the leather and drying it out, but some cleaning products contain bleach which can stain your shoes and cause long-term damage.
Finally, we do not recommend putting your sneakers in the washing machine or dryer. The entire process can cause your shoes to warp, crack the leather, and sometimes fade the colours.