How to Clean Clog Shoes | Care That Keeps Them Going

Clogs take a beating, whether you’re in the garden, at the barn, or on your feet all shift. The good news is that most clogs—especially the classic leather and suede styles from brands like Clarks—clean up well if you follow the right order. The bad news? Use the wrong cleaner or dry them by a heater, and you can permanently ruin the upper. Here’s how to clean clog shoes the right way, step by step.

What You Need Before You Start

You don’t need a drawer full of specialty products. For most clogs, this basic kit covers it:

• A soft-bristle brush or dry cloth to remove loose dirt and dust.
• A cleaner suited to the shoe’s material—leather cleaner for leather, a specialized suede brush and cleaner for suede.
• A protector spray or waterproofing spray to finish the job.

Clarks’ own shoe-care system for clogs follows three stages: Clean, Restore, and Protect. Their official guidance, available on their U.S. shoe-care pages, mentions their Leather Shoe Cleaning Gel and a Shoe Care Kit, but the principles apply to any comparable cleaner you already own.

Cleaning Leather Clogs

Leather is the most common clog material, and it’s forgiving if you avoid the big mistakes—mainly over-saturating the leather or using heat to dry it.

Start by knocking off loose dirt. Clarks recommends wiping the shoes with a clean, dry cloth to remove surface dirt and moisture before applying any cleaner. If you don’t do this first, you’ll just grind grit into the leather.

Next, apply your leather cleaner. If your cleaner is a gel or cream, Clarks’ guidance says to apply it directly to a cloth, sponge, or nylon bristle brush—not straight onto the shoe—and work it into the leather. Before applying any cleaner to the full shoe, Clarks instructs checking color fastness on an inconspicuous spot first—this applies to their Leather Shoe Cleaning Gel and it’s smart practice for any product. Work in gentle circles, then wipe away any residue with a clean, damp cloth.

Cleaning Suede and Nubuck Clogs

Suede and nubuck are more delicate than smooth leather, but the “Clean, Restore, Protect” order still holds. Suede clogs need a specialized brush—a regular cloth or shoe brush can mat the nap and leave shiny spots.

The official Clarks suede care guidance is to clean suede with a specialized brush and protect it with a waterproofing spray. One important note from Clarks’ care guides: suede can temporarily darken when it gets damp. Don’t panic—let the shoe air-dry completely away from direct heat, and the original color should return as it dries. For stains, work the brush gently in one direction to lift the nap.

Drying and Protecting Your Clogs

The drying step is where most clogs get ruined. Clarks Australia’s care guidance is blunt: do not use any artificial heat source to dry the shoe, because it can ruin the leather or upper. That means no radiator, no hairdryer, no placing them in direct sun. Instead, stuff the clogs with newspaper or a shoe tree and let them air-dry at room temperature. Replace the newspaper if it becomes damp.

Once the clogs are clean and completely dry, the final step is protection. A protector spray, applied evenly across the upper, helps repel water and dirt so your next cleanup is easier. Clarks’ care guide for suede specifically recommends a waterproofing spray, and it’s just as useful on smooth leather for everyday wear.

If you’re in the market for a fresh pair after reviving your old ones, our roundup of the best clog shoes for gardening and work covers the top options by material and grip.

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