Do Dry Cleaners Clean Shoes? Yes — Here’s How It Works

It is one of the most common questions we get asked at our Kensington Church Street and Marylebone Lane branches — do you clean shoes as well as clothes? The honest answer surprises many people. Yes we do, and it is one of the most popular services we offer, especially in autumn and winter when London’s pavements take their toll on even the most carefully kept footwear.

In this guide we cover everything you need to know about professional shoe cleaning from the perspective of a dry cleaning team that has been doing it in London for over 20 years. We also tell you what we cannot clean, what common mistakes people make trying to clean shoes at home, and exactly how much it costs.

What Types of Shoes Can a Dry Cleaner Clean?

The answer depends on the material and construction of the shoe. At Burlingtons we assess every pair individually before beginning any cleaning. Here is a breakdown of the most common shoe types we handle at our Kensington and Marylebone branches.

Leather shoes and boots are the most common shoe we clean. Formal leather Oxfords, brogues, Derby shoes and Chelsea boots. We use specialist leather cleaning solutions, hand-clean the upper and then condition the leather to prevent drying and cracking. Brands we regularly handle include Church’s, Loake, Grenson, Tricker’s and Crockett and Jones.

Suede and nubuck shoes are one of the most mishandled materials — many customers bring in suede boots that have been damaged at home with water or the wrong product. We use dry suede brushes and specialist dry cleaning solvents to safely lift stains and restore the nap without any water contact. Salt tide marks on suede boots are one of the most common London problems we fix every winter.

Designer and luxury shoes are regularly cleaned at our Marylebone branch — brands including Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Gucci and Prada. With high-value shoes we take extra steps — a full condition assessment before we touch them, extra-gentle products and a final inspection before return.

Fabric and canvas trainers such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance and Converse can be cleaned professionally. White trainers that have yellowed over time can often be significantly restored. We do not put trainers in a machine — everything is hand-cleaned.

Satin and occasion shoes including satin heels, silk sandals and fabric evening shoes require extremely careful handling. We assess each pair individually and if we have any doubt about the outcome we will tell you honestly before proceeding.

Leather bags and accessories are also cleaned alongside shoes. The same leather cleaning and conditioning process applies. A leather bag that looks tired and dried out can often be significantly restored.

What Shoes Should NOT Be Professionally Cleaned?

Part of being a trustworthy service is knowing when not to clean something. In our 20 years we have turned down shoes where cleaning would cause more harm than good. We will advise against cleaning if the shoe has significant structural damage such as soles coming away from the upper, if the leather is so severely dried out that cleaning could crack it further, if the shoe has been treated at home with silicone sprays or the wrong polish that seals the leather, or if the construction is heavily glued and solvent exposure could dissolve the adhesive.

We would rather give you an honest assessment than take your money and return a damaged shoe.

The Most Common Mistakes People Make Cleaning Shoes at Home

After 20 years in Kensington and Marylebone we have seen the same mistakes again and again.

Using water on suede is the single most common mistake. Water causes suede to stiffen, lose its nap and stain in a way that is very difficult to reverse. If your suede shoes get caught in the rain, blot them gently with a dry cloth and let them dry naturally away from heat.

Using washing up liquid or household cleaners on leather strips the natural oils from the leather, leaving it dry, dull and cracked. Always use products specifically designed for leather.

Drying shoes near a radiator or direct heat causes leather to crack and shrink. Stuff them with newspaper and let them dry at room temperature.

Putting leather shoes in the washing machine destroys them. The combination of water, heat and agitation causes leather to stiffen, warp and crack beyond repair.

Scrubbing at stains aggressively spreads them and damages the material’s surface. The correct approach is to blot, not rub.

Using bleach on white shoes or trainers yellows them further and weakens the material. We use specialist non-bleach whitening solutions that are safe for the shoe and the environment.

How We Clean Shoes at Burlingtons — Our Step-by-Step Process

Every pair is assessed individually before we touch them. We identify the material, check the construction, note any problem areas and assess whether cleaning is appropriate.

Specific stains such as mud, salt, oil and wine are pre-treated with targeted spot-cleaning solutions before the main clean begins.

Leather shoes are hand-cleaned with specialist leather cleaners applied with soft cloths. Suede is treated with dry suede brushes and dry solvents — never water. Fabric trainers are hand-cleaned with foam cleaner and soft brushes. Every material gets the method specifically designed for it.

All shoes are dried naturally at room temperature. We never use heat as this causes leather to crack. Shoes are stuffed with tissue during drying to maintain their shape.

Once clean and dry, leather shoes are conditioned with leather conditioning cream to restore moisture and flexibility, then polished to restore the shine. Suede shoes are brushed to restore the nap.

Each pair is inspected under good lighting before packaging. If we spot any issue we flag it to the customer honestly rather than returning a pair we are not fully satisfied with.

Common Shoe Problems We Fix — Especially in London

Salt tide marks on leather boots are the most common problem we see between November and March. Road gritting salt leaves white tide marks on leather that worsen if left untreated. The sooner you bring salt-damaged boots to us the better — dried-in salt can eventually crack the leather.

Rain-damaged suede is one of our most frequent jobs in autumn. London rain and suede do not get along. We use dry suede brushes and specialist dry solvents to lift water marks and restore the nap.

Stored shoes that have dried out are very common. Many customers bring us shoes stored for a season or more that have dried out, lost their shine or developed mould spots. A professional clean and condition can bring most stored leather shoes back to excellent condition.

Tube and commute grime — the black dust from the London Underground finds its way into every crease of leather shoes. Regular cleaning every 3 to 4 months removes this build-up before it permanently stains the leather.

Yellowed white trainers are a very common request. We use specialist non-bleach brightening solutions safe for both the material and colour.

Shoe Cleaning vs Cobbling vs Restoration — What Is the Difference?

Shoe cleaning means removing surface dirt, stains and grime, restoring shine and conditioning the material. This is for shoes that are structurally sound but dirty or stained.

Cobbler repairs means sole replacement, heel replacement, stitching repairs and zip repairs. This is for shoes that are structurally worn or damaged. Our in-house cobbler at both the Kensington and Marylebone branches handles all these repairs.

Restoration means colour restoration, leather re-dyeing and nap restoration on suede. This is for shoes that are beyond basic cleaning but have been given up on prematurely. Many shoes that customers think are finished can be significantly restored.

When you bring shoes in to either branch we will give you an honest assessment of which service they need. We never upsell unnecessarily.

How Much Does Shoe Cleaning Cost in London?

Leather shoe cleaning and polish — from £9.50 per pair, includes conditioning Suede shoe cleaning — from £11.00 per pair Trainer cleaning — from £9.50, hand-cleaned Designer and luxury shoe cleaning — from £18.00, assessment required before proceeding Heel replacement — from £12.00 per pair Sole repair — from £18.00 Leather bag cleaning — from £14.00

For the full price list visit burlingtonsdrycleaning.co.uk/price. For designer or luxury shoes we always provide a quote before proceeding — there are no surprise charges.

How Often Should You Get Your Shoes Professionally Cleaned?

Leather shoes worn daily for commuting should have a professional clean and condition every 3 to 4 months. Leather shoes worn occasionally should be cleaned once a year before the autumn and winter season. Suede shoes in autumn and winter should be checked for salt marks every 6 to 8 weeks. Designer shoes should be cleaned after every few wears if worn regularly. Trainers should be cleaned when visibly dirty or every 2 to 3 months.

London tip — at the start of autumn before the salt gritting season begins is the best time to bring your leather boots in for a protective conditioning treatment. Well-conditioned leather is significantly more resistant to salt damage than an untreated one.

Can You Add Shoes to a Dry Cleaning Collection Order?

Yes — when you book a dry cleaning collection at Burlingtons you can include your shoes in the order. Simply place your shoes in a separate bag alongside your garments and note the shoe cleaning request when booking online or tell our driver when they collect. We clean the shoes alongside your dry cleaning and return them together the next day.

There is no separate minimum order for adding shoes to an existing collection. Our free collection and delivery covers all W8, W11, W1U, W1, NW1, SW7, SW3 and surrounding postcodes. You can also walk in to either branch without an appointment.

Book Your Shoe Cleaning Today

Walk in to our Kensington or Marylebone branch or add your shoes to your next dry cleaning collection order. Free collection across all W8, W11, W1U, W1 and NW1 postcodes.

Kensington: 020 7938 2988 — 32A Kensington Church Street, London W8 4HA Marylebone: 020 7935 6306 — 37 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NW Email: service@burlingtons.london