A muddy walk from the 18th to the car park can leave your golf shoes looking worse than your scorecard. Knowing how to clean golf shoes properly takes only a few minutes, but it can keep them comfortable, presentable and ready for many more rounds.
The key is not to soak them, rush the drying process or use the same cleaner on every material. Leather, synthetic uppers, mesh panels and spiked soles all need slightly different treatment. A simple routine after wet or muddy rounds will do more for the life of your shoes than an occasional aggressive deep clean.
What you need before you start
You do not need expensive specialist kit to get good results. Gather a soft brush or old toothbrush, a microfibre cloth, lukewarm water, mild washing-up liquid or shoe cleaner, an old towel and some newspaper or plain kitchen roll.
For leather golf shoes, a leather cleaner and conditioner can be worthwhile if you play regularly. They help stop the upper becoming dry, stiff or cracked. Avoid bleach, harsh household sprays, washing powder and abrasive scouring pads. They can discolour the shoe, weaken glue and damage waterproof coatings.
Take the laces out first if your shoes have them. It gives you better access to the tongue and eyelets, where dried mud often builds up. Remove the insoles too if they are designed to come out. This makes drying easier and helps deal with odour at the source.
How to clean golf shoes step by step
Start while the mud is still fairly fresh. If it has already dried hard, tap the soles together outside and use a dry brush to lift off as much dirt as possible before adding water. This stops you turning loose soil into a gritty paste that can scratch the upper.
Clean the soles and spikes first
The sole usually needs the most attention, especially in winter. Use the brush to clear grass, mud and small stones from the tread, cleats and gaps around the spikes. A toothbrush is useful for getting into narrow channels.
For spiked shoes, inspect each spike while you clean. Packed mud can affect grip and make it difficult to remove worn spikes later. If a spike is damaged, rounded off or loose, replace it rather than waiting until you start slipping on wet slopes.
Do not leave the sole under a running tap for long. A lightly damp brush is normally enough. If stubborn mud remains, wipe it with a cloth dampened in lukewarm soapy water, then wipe again with a clean cloth.
Wipe down the upper
Mix a small amount of mild soap with lukewarm water. Dampen, rather than soak, a microfibre cloth and wipe the upper in gentle sections. Work from the cleaner areas towards the dirtiest parts so you are not spreading mud across the shoe.
Pay attention to the join between the upper and the sole. This edge collects dirt and can make otherwise tidy shoes look neglected. Use the toothbrush gently here, keeping water away from seams as much as possible.
Once the marks have lifted, wipe away any soap residue with a second clean, damp cloth. Finish by blotting the shoes with a dry towel. The aim is clean and lightly damp, not dripping wet.
Wash the laces and freshen the insoles
Laces can usually be washed by hand in warm, soapy water. Rub them between your fingers, rinse them well and leave them flat on a towel to dry. Replacing heavily stained laces is an inexpensive way to make older golf shoes look sharper.
Wipe removable insoles with a damp cloth and mild soap, then leave them to air dry fully. If they smell after a run of warm-weather rounds, sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda over them overnight and brush it off the next day. Do not put damp insoles straight back into the shoes.
Cleaning leather golf shoes
Leather golf shoes need a gentler approach because too much water can dry out the material. After removing surface dirt, use a cloth with a small amount of leather cleaner or diluted mild soap. Wipe carefully and avoid saturating the leather.
When the shoes are dry to the touch, apply a small amount of leather conditioner according to the product instructions. This helps keep the leather supple and can reduce the chance of creasing and cracking around the toe box. If your shoes are waterproof leather, use a suitable waterproofing treatment only after cleaning and drying them.
Polish can improve the appearance of traditional leather golf shoes, particularly if you wear them at a club with a smarter dress code. It is mostly cosmetic, though, so it is not a substitute for cleaning dirt from the seams and sole.
Cleaning synthetic, mesh and fabric golf shoes
Most modern golf shoes use synthetic leather, mesh or lightweight textile sections. These are often easy to wipe clean, but they can be damaged by heavy brushing or high heat.
For synthetic uppers, a damp cloth and mild soap will usually remove grass marks and mud. For mesh or fabric panels, use a soft brush with very little water and work gently in small circles. Pressing too hard can push dirt deeper into the material or roughen the fabric.
White golf shoes show every scuff, so deal with marks promptly. A small amount of shoe cleaner on a cloth is safer than reaching for strong whitening products. If a mark remains, accept that some wear is part of playing regularly rather than risking damage for a perfect finish.
How to dry golf shoes properly
Drying is where plenty of good shoe-cleaning efforts go wrong. Never put golf shoes on a radiator, in a tumble dryer or directly in front of a heater. High heat can shrink materials, crack leather, loosen adhesives and spoil waterproof membranes.
Instead, remove the insoles and stuff the shoes loosely with newspaper or kitchen roll. This draws out moisture and helps them hold their shape. Change the paper if it becomes wet, then leave the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated room at normal temperature.
If you are playing again the next morning, start drying them as soon as you get home and give them plenty of airflow. A shoe dryer that uses gentle moving air can help, but heat is still the enemy. Keeping a second pair in rotation is the most practical solution for regular winter golf, as each pair gets time to dry completely between rounds.
Protect your shoes between rounds
A quick wipe after every round prevents the need for a bigger clean later. Brush the sole, wipe off visible mud and leave the shoes out of the golf bag until they are dry. Storing damp shoes in a zipped bag is a reliable way to create odour and encourage mould.
Use a waterproof spray suited to the shoe material when water stops beading on the upper. Clean and dry the shoes first, otherwise you may seal dirt into the surface. Waterproofing will not make neglected shoes invincible, but it can make wet fairway rounds more comfortable.
It is also worth checking the spikes, laces and insoles every few weeks. Replacing these small parts can restore grip, comfort and appearance for far less than buying a new pair. For everyday golfers, looking after the gear you already own is one of the simplest ways to get better value from it.
Common mistakes to avoid
Putting golf shoes in the washing machine is tempting, particularly after a soaked winter round, but it is rarely a good idea. The agitation can misshape the shoe, damage the sole and affect glues or waterproof linings. Check the manufacturer’s care label if you are unsure, but hand cleaning is the safer default.
Avoid using very hot water, even on synthetic shoes. It does not make cleaning more effective, and it increases the risk of damaging materials. Likewise, do not scrape mud off with a metal tool, as it can cut the upper or scar the sole.
Finally, do not wait until the shoes look beyond saving. Five minutes of care after a muddy round is easier than tackling weeks of dried turf, stains and trapped moisture. Keep a cloth and soft brush near your golf bag, and your shoes will be one less thing to sort before the next tee time.