How to Clean Cork Shoes

 

Shoes have come such a long way since people began wearing them. While they initially took on a very rough shape with the sole purpose of protecting our feet from the elements of nature, they now serve to display our individuality and sense of style while still keeping our feet off the ground. 

Because the fashion industry has skyrocketed the popularity and use of footwear, these clothing items have gone from minimal material to a wide range of materials used. Shoes today incorporate the use of leather, plastic, rubber, suede, metal, wood, and more.

One of the more popular materials used to create various shapes and styles of shoes is cork. Shoe manufacturers often use cork to develop shoes with added inches of height, such as the ever-popular wedge shoe.

If you genuinely want your shoes to give you a good, long run, then you need to maintain them properly and if you have bought them from a thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL, then you must take care of them because thrift stores offer second hand items.

The Process

The best way to clean cork shoes is a straightforward process that takes little time and a small amount of effort.

Gather Your Materials

Start by gathering all of your materials. You’re going to need a bucket, water, detergent, and vinegar. You also need to get yourself something to scrub with. If you have a scrub brush, great! If not, you can also use an old toothbrush.

If your shoes aren’t too dirty and you don’t think they will require much scrubbing, you can also stick with a rag or washcloth to get the job done.

Mix the Cleaner

Once you have all of your materials, mix about a half a gallon of warm water with about five drops of detergent. Make sure that your cleanser is a mild one – there’s no need for harsh chemicals like bleach in this process. In fact, a strong detergent may serve to damage your shoes rather than clean them.

If you don’t have a mild detergent on hands, you can also use mild dish soap. Anything that says “non-toxic” is typically a good choice.

Slowly mix the two products together so as not to create bubbles or suds. Then, add half a cup of white vinegar and stir the mixture slowly again.

Cleaning Your Shoes

Take your washcloth and dip it into the liquid soap and vinegar mixture. Ring it out, so it’s not dripping, and use the cloth to gently remove any dirt or loose debris from the cork shoe. After you have removed as much as possible, you can move onto the scrub brush if necessary to remove any tougher marks, stains, or grime.

Dip the brush in the mixture, keeping it shallow as to not saturate it thoroughly. Shake off the excess liquid and use the brush to scrub off dirty areas. Use small, gentle, circular motions across the entirety of the shoe. Rinse your brush in the solution several times during the process to get rid of any dirt you pick up.

You can repeat this process once if needed, but try to avoid scrubbing anymore than that. Too much scrubbing and liquid at once can break the cork and damage your shoe.

After you have completed this process, take a dry, clean cloth and wipe away suds, water, and soap residue. Never rinse your shoes off in the soap mixture, as it can damage your shoes.

Set your shoes aside to dry for at least a full day. If you have found that your shoes have significant damage to them, you can gently sand them down after they have fully dried.