How To Clean Sperry Shoes Suede

How to Clean Sperry Shoes? A Step-By-Step Guide

Last Updated on September 11, 2021 by Fahad Zahid

The fashionable style and comfortable fit of Sperry shoes have made them a fashion statement for the summer. But, wearing Sperry shoes all day long also means you'll need to clean them regularly.

If you are also looking for tips on how to clean Sperry shoes, we have got you covered with our step-by-step guide.

So, you don't have to wear dirty Sperry shoes every day just because you find them difficult to clean.

Our guide is super-easy to follow and will give you almost-new Sperry shoes after the cleaning process.

Contents

1 How to clean Sperry canvas shoes?
- 1.1 Can you wash Sperry's canvas?
- 1.2 How to clean white Sperry Canvas shoes?
- 1.3 How to clean Sperry leather shoes?
- 1.4 How to clean suede Sperry shoes?
2 Conclusion

How to clean Sperry canvas shoes?

Sperry canvas shoes are super easy to clean. If you're looking for ways on how to clean Sperry tennis shoes, these steps will help you get through it too! So, grab the tools and your shoes and get started!

Can you wash Sperry's canvas?

Yes, you can even machine-wash Sperry canvas shoes. However, washing the shoes with water and detergent is the first step. If they are extremely dirty, you can wash them in a machine. But, make sure to air-dry them later.

Now, let's discuss the cleaning process.

Things you need:

A bucket filled with warm water
Liquid detergent (you can use your regular detergent as well)
Toothbrush
A dry and clean cloth

Method 1:

Prepare the solution

For the first method, fill a bucket with warm water and place your Sperry canvas shoes nearby.
Pour some liquid detergent into the water. Although liquid detergent will help remove the stains faster, you can also use powder detergent if available.
Make sure to swirl the solution with your hands until you see foam and bubbles on the surface of the water. Your solution is now ready!

Clean the shoes

It's time to bring the Sperry canvas shoes into the show! Place them near the bucket.
Now, put the toothbrush into the detergent solution and scrub the shoes with it.
If a toothbrush feels small, you can also use a shoe brush with robust bristles to make the cleaning process fast and efficient.
Keep dipping the toothbrush in the solution and then use it to clean the Sperry shoes.
If your Sperry shoes are very dirty, you can partially dip the upper in the water and keep scrubbing it.

Remove the detergent

When all the stains are gone, it's time to clean the Sperry shoes and remove the detergent.
You can use a soft and clean cloth for this purpose. Dip the cloth in warm water and clean the surface of the shoes. Wipe the shoes until no residue remains.

Method 2:

This method includes washing the Sperry canvas shoes in the washing machine.
You can fill cold water in the machine, put the shoes in it, and then run a gentle cycle.
This step is also followed after the one mentioned above. A washing machine cleans the hard stains quickly and without much effort.
Also, always remember that you cannot dry the Sperry canvas shoes in the machine's dryer. Instead, air-drying is the best option to maintain the durability of the shoes.

Both the methods are highly efficient. If the first method doesn't remove all the stains, it can be followed by the other to attain the perfect finish.

How to clean white Sperry Canvas shoes?

Are you looking for ways on how to clean white Sperry shoes? Or do you want to know how to clean white Sperry canvas sneakers? In both cases, the steps mentioned below will help you get through the situation.

Things you need

Warm water
Baking soda
Vinegar
A bowl
A clean cloth
A brush

Method 1

Take a bowl and mix two tablespoons of vinegar, a cup of warm water, and one tablespoon of baking soda.
Now, dip a clean cloth in the solution and apply it to the exterior of the shoes.
Then, use a shoe brush to rub the stains and remove them from the canvas.
Once all the stains are gone, you can let the shoes dry in the air.

Method 2

If you want to know an alternative for how to clean white Sperry tennis shoes or how to clean white Sperry cloth shoes, you can use the one mentioned below.

Take a bucket of water and add a few teaspoons of baking soda and detergent.
Mix it up properly to form a foam on the surface.
Now, dip the Sperry cloth shoes into the solution for at least one hour.
Then, take the shoes out of the solution and rub a brush on the stains to remove them.
Once removed, you can wash the shoes with clean water and let them air-dry.

How to clean Sperry leather shoes?

Are you looking for tips on how to clean Sperry topsider boat shoes? Look no further! Let's read the method below on how to clean Sperry topsider shoes.

Things you need

A shoe brush or toothbrush
Liquid dishwashing soap
Soft and clean cloth
Cold water in a bucket
Leather conditioner

Method

Rub the surface of the shoes

The first step is to rub away the dirt and debris. As the surface of Sperry leather shoes is rough and dry, you can easily waive off the dirt. For this purpose, use a shoe brush or toothbrush and rub the surface of the shoes with gentle strokes.
Make sure not to be too harsh as you may ruin the texture. Also, a better idea is to rub the toothbrush in the same direction all over the shoes. If you become harsh or use different directions, you are likely to leave scars on the surface.

Prepare the solution

Now, take a bucket filled with cold water.
Have one with you? Perfect! Now, add a few drops of the dishwashing liquid and mix it in the water. Your cleaning solution is ready!

Clean the shoes

Now, dip a clean cloth in the solution and rub it on the shoes. A microfiber cloth will work perfectly on the leather surface.
Make sure to follow circular motions while rubbing the cloth on the leather shoes. This step will help clean the stuck dirt easily.
If the stains are tough, you can also gently soak the upper of the Sperry topsider shoes in the solution to make the process easy. But don't soak the shoes completely.
Keep cleaning the shoes following a circular motion. You can also apply some pressure during the process.

Wipe away the soap

When all the dirt has gone, it's time to wipe away the soap solution using another piece of dry cloth.
Dip the cloth in clean water and use it to wipe away the soap on the shoes. This step also requires circular motion to remove all the residue.
You can also use a dry cloth to dry the surface of the leather shoes.
Then, leave them out in the air to dry out completely.

Give them a nice finish

When the Sperry leather shoes are dry, it's time to give them a nice finish using a leather conditioner.
Pour a few drops of the conditioner on a dry cloth and apply a thin layer on the leather surface.
Once applied, leave the shoes for almost 15 minutes.
Then, remove the conditioner using a dry portion of the same cloth.
This step will give a smooth finish to the shoes. Now, you can apply shoe polish to them.

How to clean suede Sperry shoes?

With our step-by-step guide in front of you, cleaning suede Sperry shoes is not difficult! So, grab your tools, and let's get started!

Things you need

Toothbrush or suede brush
Sandpaper
Suede bar or pencil eraser
A clean cloth
A wet sponge
Old newspaper
Cornstarch (for oil stains)
Vinegar (for tough stains)
Suede protection spray

Method

Brush the surface of the shoes

The soft grains of suede shoes require the use of a suede brush. You can also use an old toothbrush. However, we recommend using a suede brush to protect the surface from any marks.
Remove the dirt and dust off the surface with the help of a suede brush. Make sure to brush in short strokes and follow the same direction throughout. It will help prevent scuffing the shoes.

Use sandpaper

You might see scuffs on the shoes that are matted down. The best way of lifting them is by using fine-grit sandpaper.

Use an eraser for stubborn scuffs.

Some scuffs may not be removed even after using sandpaper. So, you can use a suede bar or an eraser for this purpose. An eraser might be a convenient option because it's readily available and is a general part of stationery. However, you can also use a suede brush for better results.
Rub the rubber or suede bar on the scuffs to remove it.
You will need to apply pressure if the scuffs are stubborn.

Remove water stains

You can remove water stains with the help of a sponge.
Soak the sponge in water and squeeze out the excess water.
Then, use a sponge to dampen the surface of the suede Sperry shoes.
Gently dab the sponge on the shoes to remove any water stains from the surface.
If the water stains don't go away with a wet sponge, you can dip the sponge in a small amount of vinegar and rub it directly on the stain.

Lift the stains

You can also lift the stubborn stains from the surface to remove them. For this purpose, you'll need a garment steamer.
The steam will soften the dirt and stains, and you can later use a suede brush to remove them.
However, make sure to limit the time of exposure to the heat. Giving too much heat can damage the shoe's material.

Remove oil stains

Stains that won't remove by any of the steps mentioned above will probably be oil stains.
You can gently sprinkle some cornstarch directly over the stain.
Then, leave it for at least 15 – 20 minutes.
You'll see the stains are lifted, which will make them easier to remove.
Now, you can use a suede brush to brush them off.

Apply the protector spray

As brushing the surface and scuffing the stains can damage the overall shine of the Sperry shoes, you can use a suede protection spray to restore the shine.
Gently spray the suede protection spray on the surface and leave it to dry.
You can also stuff some old newspaper balls in the shoes to retain their shape.
For best results, you should air-dry the shoes for at least 24 hours.

Conclusion

Cleaning Sperry shoes is not difficult with our guide. We have mentioned the techniques of cleaning all types of Sperry shoes, either suede, canvas, or leather.

So, you can clean your shoes in no time and make them look new!

EXPLORE MORE SHOES CLEANING GUIDES:

How to Clean Canvas Shoes? – Quick Tips
Tips on How to Clean Shoes with Suede or Nubuck
How to Wash Tennis Shoes? – A Simple Guide
How to Care for Leather Boots? – A Complete Guide

About The Author

Fahad Zahid

Fahad is BestFashionnova's very own writer who loves to write about trendy and fashionable dresses and shoes. In his free time, Fahad goes for a walk and gym to keep himself fit. Aside from writing on BestFashionNova, Fahad works in a well-reputed firm as a fashion designer where he is supposed to visualize ideas and produce different designs for that firm.