Walking up to the first tee with a pair of pristine white leather golf shoes just feels right, projecting confidence before you even swing the club. But after a wet morning round or a walk through freshly cut grass, they can look anything but pristine. This guide gives you a simple, step-by-step process for cleaning your white leather golf shoes, getting rid of tough stains and caked-on mud, and conditioning them so they last for seasons to come.
As a coach, I stress that preparation happens long before you step on the course, and that includes taking care of your gear. Clean shoes aren’t just about appearance, they’re about performance and respect for the game. When mud and dirt clog the soft spikes or traction patterns on your soles, you lose stability and power in your swing. When leather gets caked in dirt and is left to dry, it becomes brittle, cracks, and loses its waterproof qualities. Taking 20 minutes to clean your shoes properly is a small investment that protects a much larger one. It instills a sense of discipline and A pair of sharp-looking, well-maintained shoes sends a message, both to yourself and your playing partners, that you take the game seriously. You’ll stand over the ball feeling more put-together and ready to play your best.
You don’t need an expensive, specialized kit to get professional results. Most of the items you need are likely already in your home. Before you get started, gather these simple supplies:
Once you have your supplies ready, find a spot where you can make a little mess, like a utility sink, garage, or even outdoors on a covered porch. Just follow these steps, and your shoes will look brand new.
First things first, remove the laces from your shoes. Trying to clean around them is inefficient and you'll never get the tongue of the shoe completely clean. Set the laces aside to be washed separately.
Next, if your shoes have caked-on mud or dried clumps of grass, it's time to get that off. Before introducing any water, take your dry, soft-bristled brush and gently go over the entire shoe. Focus on knocking away any loose dirt, paying special attention to the seams and grooves where grime loves to hide. Bang the soles of the shoes together to dislodge dirt stuck in the spikes. This dry-brushing step is important because it prevents you from just turning the dry dirt into a muddy mess when you start the wet cleaning a little later.
Now, let's address the main part of the shoe. In your bowl of warm water, add a few drops of mild dish soap and swish it around to create a low-sudsing cleaning solution. Dip your second soft-bristled brush (not the one you just used for dry dirt) into the soapy water, tap off the excess, and begin to gently scrub the leather uppers in a small, circular motion.
The goal is to use as little water as possible. Never submerge or soak the leather. Work in sections - the toe cap, the sides, the heel. Once you’ve scrubbed a section, use a clean, damp microfiber towel to wipe away the soap and grime. Rinse the towel frequently to avoid spreading dirt around. For more stubborn grass or dirt stains, you may need a second pass with the brush. Be patient and gentle, aggressive scrubbing can damage the leather finish.
The rubber soles and midsoles of your shoes can handle a bit more aggressive cleaning. This is where your stiffer brush comes into play. You can use the same soapy water solution, but you can scrub a bit more vigorously here to clean out the traction patterns and spike receptacles.
For those frustrating black scuff marks that just won’t seem to budge, you have two great options. The first is to create a paste with baking soda and water. Apply the paste directly to the scuff, let it sit for a minute, and then scrub with your brush. The mild abrasive quality of the baking soda works wonders. Your other choice is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Wet the eraser and gently rub it along the scuffed areas of the midsole. You'll be surprised at how fast those marks disappear. After cleaning the soles, wipe them down thoroughly with another clean towel to remove all the residue.
Don’t forget the laces! Clean shoes with dirty laces just don’t look right. You can clean them by simply hand-washing them in your bowl of soapy water. Let them soak for about 15-20 minutes, then agitate them with your hands to work the dirt free. If they are particularly stained, you can scrub them together or use your brush. Once they’re clean, rinse them thoroughly under cool water, squeeze out the excess moisture, and lay them flat on a towel to air dry.
How you dry your shoes is just as important as how you clean them. Rushing this step can leave you with stiff, damaged, and misshapen shoes. The absolute worst thing you can do is place them near a direct heat source like a radiator, heating vent, or in direct sunlight. This type of intense heat will dry out the leather too quickly, causing it to crack and become brittle.
The correct method is to allow them to air dry at room temperature. To help them keep their shape and to speed up the process, stuff them with crumpled-up newspaper. The newspaper is incredibly absorbent and will help wick away the interior moisture. If you own a pair of cedar shoe trees, they are an even better option. Plan on letting them dry for at least 8-10 hours, or overnight.
Once your shoes are completely dry to the touch, it’s time for the final and most restorative step: conditioning. Cleaning leather, even gently, removes some of its natural oils. A good quality leather conditioner replenishes these oils, keeping the leather supple, soft, and resistant to cracking. It also adds a layer of protection against water and future stains.
Apply a small, dime-sized amount of conditioner onto a clean, soft section of your microfiber towel. Work it into the leather in small, circular motions, covering the entire upper of both shoes. Let the conditioner soak in for about 15-20 minutes, then take a clean part of the towel and gently buff off any excess. The leather will have a healthy, subtle sheen. Once conditioned, you can re-lace your fresh, clean laces, and your shoes are ready for their next round.
You don't need to do a full deep clean every time you play. To make your life easier and extend the time between deep cleans, get into these simple post-round habits:
By following a consistent routine of prep, clean, dry, and condition, you can easily keep your white leather shoes looking sharp and performing their best through many rounds. It’s a rewarding process that shows respect for your equipment and prepares you to play with an added ounce of confidence.
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