Knowing how to care for a dance shoe is an important part of getting your money’s worth out of them. In this post, we’ll talk about how you can refresh your old dance shoes so that you can get the most out of them that you can.

Cleaning Shoes

Leather Shoes

With any cleanser, spot test on an inconspicuous location before treating the whole shoe. For leather shoes, use a leather cleaner and a rag to condition and clean the leather. Using a black shoe polish on something like a jazz shoe or tap shoe is one of the safest ways to get your shoes looking better in no time. Magic Erasers can also be great at removing small scuffs and stains from leather, but have also been known to bleach certain leathers, so tread carefully.

Canvas Shoes

Canvas shoes are typically more delicate than leather shoes. For these, hand wash in warm water with a gentle soap to ensure that they stay looking fresh and new as long as possible.

Refreshing Shoes

Smelly Shoes

Spray shoes with a spray like Freshify’s Foot Spritz to keep them pleasant and clean. Some people also put their shoes into a plastic bag and put them into the freezer overnight to reduce the smell of the shoes. Baking soda is also a popular tool for reducing smell.

Tune Up

The taps on tap shoes loosen over time, so tightening them can go a long way toward making them feel brand new. If the laces of your shoes are worn, replacing them can help as well.

Stretching Shoes

Canvas Shoes

Typically, canvas doesn’t stretch, so there isn’t much to do about a tight canvas shoe except to get a different size.

Leather Shoes

Leather shoes can be stretched a number of ways, but one of the most popular methods is with a hair dryer. Heat the shoe evenly for a few minutes, and then, wearing thick socks, put them on for about an hour. This will stretch your shoes out and give you a bit more space inside. If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can also get them stretched by a cobbler or shoe maker.

We hope this post answered any questions you may have had about caring for dance shoes. If you have any further dancewear-related questions, feel free to reach out and let us know.