How To Clean Shoes From The Thrift Store 

Fashion Lifestyle
How To Clean Shoes From The Thrift Store 


Do you know that you can turn fantastic thrift store finds into shoes that not only look new but feel hygienically fresh too? Yes, you heard that right! By disinfecting thrift store shoes, it allows you to revel in the thrill of finding unique and affordable footwear. Let’s dive deeper into this, from inspection to drying, to ensuring your shoes are as clean as they can be.


Knowing how to disinfect shoes from the thrift store is crucial in looking for a unique and affordable footwear. It’s not just about aesthetics, but about keeping up with proper hygiene; from carefully examining the condition of shoes at stores to making use of the right sanitizing solutions for different materials, we’ll look deeper into the art of restoring your thrifted shoes back to its original state.

Dance Shoes” by Listen Missy! is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Inspecting Thrift Store Shoes

The first important step before cleaning is inspection. Thrift store shoes, like those found at Red Racks, come with their own history. Therefore, it’s important to carefully inspect them for signs of wear and tear. This intensive check helps you decide whether the shoes are worth the disinfection effort.

Start Cleaning

Removing laces and insoles is the first step to having thoroughly cleaned shoes. This is crucial in maintaining proper hygiene. For different materials, like leather and suede, ensure to use the right sanitizing solutions to avoid damage to your shoes. This sets the foundation for a successful disinfection process.

Disinfecting Thrift Store Shoes

The next thing to do is disinfection. Whether it entails using shoe sanitizer sprays or homemade solutions like a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, disinfecting the interior surfaces, including insoles, is extremely important. This process helps in killing bacteria and avoiding any unwanted foot fungi. By doing this, you ensure that your thrifted shoes are safe to be worn and visually appealing.

Drying Your Shoes

Proper drying ensures disinfecting your shoes, which becomes becomes beneficial to you. Whether it’s air drying in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or using specialized shoe dryers, having your shoes completely dry before wearing them is important, which helps prevent bacteria.

Cleaning Shoe Exteriors

In shoe cleaning, exteriors are crucial. Using the right technique in cleaning can make a lot of difference in your shoe’s appearance. For leather or suede, ensure to use specialized brushes and avoid harsh chemicals. In situations where there a tough stains, use the right tools, like toothbrushes or suede blocks to ensure your shoes look as good as new.

How to Disinfect Shoes from the Thrift Store

Disinfecting shoe interiors can be challenging, but is achievable using the right solutions for cleaning. From hand-washing techniques for delicate materials to using UV light sanitizers, each method ensures that your shoes are properly disinfected.

Sanitizing Options for Used Shoes

There are several options available to take care of the sanitization of your thrifted treasures, such as bleach sprays to baking soda and vinegar mixtures. The aim of the method is to kill bacteria and tackle stubborn odors. More so, it is important to choose the right sanitizing solution based on the shoe material and the type of cleaning required.

Drying Process for Disinfected Shoes

After all the cleaning and disinfecting, ensure to dry your shoes properly. Appropriately drying your shoes not only preserves the shape and material but also ensures that your shoes stay completely dry to prevent bacteria. Whether it is air drying or using a low heat setting in the dryer for suitable shoes, the disinfection process aims to keep your shoes completely dry and ready to wear.

Disinfecting thrift store shoes is a process every thrift shop lover must ensure to do. It isn’t just about cleaning, but about giving these shoes a new look. With the right techniques and patience, you can turn your thrifted shoes into pristine, hygienic footwear.

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