Taking care of your fabric shoes can vastly extend their lifespan while maintaining the thrill of a new pair of shoes. They have to be cleaned properly, and more so when they are lined with leather. Here is how to clean your fabric shoes properly so that you protect their integrity.

Materials Needed

To start, gather the following items:

• Your fabric shoes (best for flat styles; avoid velvet or brocade)
• Lukewarm water
• A soft toothbrush
• Delicate liquid laundry detergent (fragrance-free options like Earthwise are suitable)
• Paper towels
• A bowl

Cleaning Process

1. Prepare the Cleaning Solution
   Pour lukewarm water into your bowl. Put a small amount of laundry detergent onto your toothbrush. Swish the toothbrush in the water until the detergent is fully dissolved.

2. Dampen the Toothbrush
   Remove most of the water off of the toothbrush. The idea is to avoid getting your shoes as dirty as possible from the day it rains. Scrub the smeared areas of your shoes with the slightly damp toothbrush using gentle back-and-forth strokes against the grain of the fabric. It creates suds, and the dirt gets lifted.

3. Focus on Heavily Soiled Areas
   Scrub over the entire surface of the shoe, focusing more on harder-to-reach areas. Soaking the shoes is not good, but occasionally, dampening the toothbrush in your cleaning solution is okay.

4. Rinse the Shoes
   Rinse the bowl and toothbrush thoroughly and fill the bowl with clean, non-soapy water. It will take two or three days, but to get rid of any remaining detergent, gently brush the shoes again with a barely damp toothbrush. Make short, brisk strokes starting from the back of the shoe to the front.

5. Ensure Cleanliness
   Keep rinsing your toothbrush each time you clean so that all the detergent is washed away. This helps prevent residue from attaching to your shoes.

6. Drying Your Shoes
   After brushing it, pat and wipe the shoes with paper towels to absorb extra moisture. When you are done, wad up some paper towels and try stuffing the things inside of the shoes to help keep the shape and also absorb some of that extra moisture.

7. Final Drying
   Always store your shoes in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or heat. When dry, allow them to be worn again.

Result

After the cleaning process, your shoe will look much better. This means that it will not only make them look cleaner but also improve their presentation.

Cleanings can make a difference and keep your fabric shoes in good condition. This method is considered to be an integral component of your shoe care routine.