7 ways to clean your favorite golf shoes

Golf isn’t always a good walk, soiled. But eventually your shoes get dirty. Cleaning them will improve their appearance and long-term performance. Here are seven ways to do the job.

1. Baby wipes

The best way to keep your shoes clean is to not let them get too dirty in the first place. Baby wipes can help. Keep a pack of them in your golf bag, and after every round, give your shoes a quick going-over.

2. Warm water, mild soap

You know how to tie your shoes, right? Good. Now untie them and remove the laces. Insert shoe trees or crumpled newspaper to help them keep their shape. If the shoes are caked with dirt, use a soft brush to clear off any crusty layers. Then, with a clean towel or cloth dampened with warm water and mild dish soap, gently clean any remaining grime.

3. A toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day. You can do the same to your golf shoes anytime you like. It’s a good way to target resilient stains. Don’t use toothpaste, though. Go with gentle laundry detergent instead.

4. Sole work

When stubborn dirt builds up on the bottom of your shoes, let them sit in a shallow pan of warm, soapy water, just high enough to cover the soles. This will help loosen compacted dirt, which can then be wiped or brushed away.

5. Magic Eraser

Two words: Melamine sponge. And now a few more words. That’s the generic term for Magic Eraser, a blocky foam-like material (you can find it at most supermarkets) with tiny pores and a gentle nitrogen-rich cleaning agent inside. It works on shoes almost like fine sandpaper, clearing off layers of dirt and grime.

6. Washing machine

Not with delicate leather or suede shoes. And not on a regular basis with any shoe. But some mesh and synthetic shoes can withstand a spin in a washing machine on a delicate cycle. Remove the laces and insoles first, and put them in a pillow case or mesh bag so they don’t knock around. Leave them in the sun to dry.

7. Outsource the task

Go to a fancy club and hand your shoes (and a $20 bill) to the locker room attendant.

Josh Sens

Golf.com Editor

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.