Our craftsmen have been cleaning and restoring shoes since 1955. Trusted by generations of Australians and a host of designer brands, we take care of thousands of shoes each year. If you are looking for a shoe cleaning near you or a professional shoe restoration near you, then look no further — we service all of Australia with an online service that makes getting shoes cleaned and restored easier than ever.
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Living between our feet and the ground on which we walk, shoes can be forgiven for gradually becoming dirty and even worn or damaged and discoloured due to everyday wear and the occasional accident. This often leads us to shelve our favourite shoes, or worse yet send them to landfill, believing their best days are behind them. However, shoes can be cleaned and even restored to virtually brand new condition — this often requires specialist equipment and expertise, but it remains possible in most cases and you can rest assured that we have what it takes to get your shoes looking as great as they possibly can.
Read on to learn more about the specific services available when it comes to cleaning and restoring shoes.
Shoes can start looking shabby as a result of the accumulation of impurities around the soles and uppers due to everyday wear. Cleaning the shoes to remove these impurities is often straightforward, but the products and processes relied on vary depending on the shoes and materials involved. If shoes are more than just dirty, then a stain removal, scuff / tear repair and/or colour restoration may be required.
We use special leather cleaning agents to safely remove not only surface dirt but also oils and other impurities on the leather. We then condition the leather to nourish it, making it more supple and both looking and feeling healthier.
We carefully brush the suede to remove loose layers of excess dirt on the surface before treating the suede with a specialist cleaning agent. We then use a suede conditioner to gently nourish the suede and finally brush the suede lightly to restore the nap.
Cleaning exotic leathers is generally a little more complicated than cleaning ordinary leather, particularly as exotic leathers tend to be more prone to damage. However, gentle cleaning using specialist agents tends to do the trick.
Fabrics are generally harder to clean than leathers, particularly when the fabric hasn't been previously treated with a protecting agent and/or the shoes have not been regularly cleaned. However, a gentle specialist shampoo often helps.
A shoe cleaning alone does not suffice when shoes are affected by mould or the material is otherwise stained (e.g. by oil, ink or oxidation). Shoes can of course be treated to remove and protect against stains and mould growth. However, a colour restoration or shoe colour change may be necessary to effectively cover up stains that cannot otherwise be removed.
Suede is notoriously susceptible to staining, as it seems to easily absorb water and other impurities. However, it is often possible to remove stains on suede with specialist products and methods.
Some fabrics are easier to stain than others, especially when they have not been treated with a protection agent. But stains can often be removed with a bit of extra work.
Shoes are usually affected by mould growth due to how they are stored — particularly when the shoes are not in regular use. We specially treat shoes to not only remove mould growth but also address any lingering odours and protect the shoes from mould growth going forward.
Mould growth that is left untreated for extended periods of time can leave the shoes stained and discoloured. In these cases, we can generally perform a colour restoration to get the shoes looking new again.
Shoes can be damaged in a variety of ways due to everyday wear and occasional accidents. Whether your shoes are lightly scuffed or heavily torn, we are often able to restore the leather or fabric, or at least significantly reduce the visibility of any damage, to get the shoes looking and feeling fresh again.
We repair scuffed and scratched leather using a variety of specialist shoe polishes and creams that allow us to buff out the scuffing / smooth out imperfections as much as possible, address light discolouration and give the leather a healthy sheen that the shoes would have had when they left the factory.
While worn fabric generally cannot be restored, it can often be repaired by terminating loose threads, reinforcing torn or thinning fabric with leather patches, or hand-stitching to seal up tears or loose stitching (e.g. on espadrilles shoes).
Leather tends to crease and crack, particularly where it bends around the toes, when the leather becomes dry. We treat the leather and perform specialist leather work to minimise any cracks and help prevent further creasing and cracking.
Leather tearing can vary widely in terms of severity. We repair torn or heavily scratched leather in a number of ways, depending on the location and extent of the damage involved.
We use specialist leather glues and fillers to seal up torn leather and smooth out the surrounding area before polishing / buffing around the repaired leather and if necessary recolouring / refinishing the area to minimise the visibility of any damage.
When torn leather is too damaged to simply repair or more fully restore, we can replace the affected leather with entirely new colour-matched (and often texture-matched) leather.
When a leather tear is in an area where the leather routinely bends (e.g. around the toes of shoes), then in addition to repairing the leather — using a leather filler to seal up the gaps — we install a leather patch on the inside of the shoes to reinforce the area.
When torn leather (or even fabric) cannot be properly repaired through the installation of an interior patch (e.g. because the interior is not smooth or otherwise accessible), then we can repair the tear and reinforce the area by installing an exterior patch.
When shoes are discoloured, whether having naturally faded or lost colour due to stains or other damage, we can recolour / refinish leather and other materials. This often results in a full restoration of the material being worked on, but in all cases helps to at least significantly reduce the visibility of the discolouration.
Colour can be restored to regular leather shoes with pigmented polishes, which usually consist of a paste or wax that is pre-coloured to match common shoe colours. In other cases, including when working on a suede shoe restoration, severely discoloured leather or non-leather materials, a superior / longer-lasting restoration is achieved by recolouring with a range of specialist dyes or paints.
The recolouring process starts with us selecting colours and occasionally custom-mixing them to match, or at least closely approximate, the original colour of the shoes. The next step involves cleaning the shoes (and conditioning them if leather is involved) to help ensure that the leather/fabric is prepped and ready to properly absorb the new colour. We then apply the new colour by hand or airbrush (depending on which method will offer the best result in a given case) before using specialist finishers to produce the desired texture — e.g. glossy, matte or satin. We complete the colour restoration by treating the shoes with a waterproofing / stain protection agent to seal in the new colour.
While we treat shoes with waterproofing / stain protection agents as part of some of standard services described above (e.g. when performing a colour restoration), customers interested in ensuring ongoing protection of their shoes against water damage / stains can add this service as an optional extra.
A shoe’s original colour might not be quite as desirable as it was when the shoes were first purchased. In these cases, we can (instead of restoring the old colour) change the colour to an entirely new one, leaving us with what feels like an entirely new and improved pair of shoes.
If you do not see what you are looking for or you are not quite sure what your shoes need, learn more about our shoe repair services or select the ‘Clean / restore’ option while completing our order form — you will then be able to describe and upload photos of your shoes, which we will then review and recommend work for.
Here is some of the feedback we have received from customers whose shoes we have cleaned and restored.
SoleHeeled were able to rejuvenate my much loved shoes (which are over 15 years old) to look almost like new again. The whole process was efficient and simple. I was a little sceptical as to how they would go but am overjoyed with the result.
I couldn't have asked for a better job on my half-destroyed boots. I sent them off from Perth with the packaging and shipping organised by SoleHeeled at Australia Post, and I just received them looking like brand new boots. I couldn't be happier.
SoleHeeled offered competitive rates to restore my shoes. They arranged for them to be sent to their factory via Australia Post and for the return via the same method, all arranged via an easy to use online service. The results are fantastic.
The online booking form was easy to use and the turnaround time was super quick. They managed to fix the scuff and scratch on my sneakers and they are close to brand new. Thank you so much!
Very impressed with the quality of the work on my 8 year old boots. Couldn’t believe how nice they came back. They look fantastic and yet still feel familiar and comfortable. Will definitely be recommending SoleHeeled.
My shoes had seen much better days. The shoes I received back looked brand new. Beyond happy, thank you so much! Will certainly use this fantastic service again.
Had oil spilled on my brand new suede shoes. Two other repair shops said that nothing could be done. With little expectation I sent them over to SoleHeeled. Two weeks later the stains are barely visible. Great job!
I sent off a pair of boots with damaged leather. I am incredibly pleased with the results and workmanship.
I thought my boots were past their use by date, but they were returned to me looking close to brand new. I am stunned by the quality of craftwork and am so grateful to have my beloved boots back.
I have had at least 4 pairs of shoes repaired, altered or cleaned. The worst was a butter stain on a pair of light suede shoes. I thought they were ruined, but SoleHeeled totally fixed them. Great service, so easy to use. Highly recommend.
And all regional areas ...
Here are a few examples of shoe cleaning and restoration services performed by our team of experienced cobblers, along with before and after photos.
The rose gold leather around these Jimmy Choo Lancer heels was extensively scuffed and discoloured, and the leather soles were visibly worn. We recoloured / refinished the leather around the shoes and also installed a pair of thin rubber sole protectors.
These Loeffler Randall Camellia Bow shoes were dirty, and the leather soles were unprotected, leaving them prone to accelerated wear and tear. We cleaned the shoes and installed premium sole protectors.
These RM Williams Dynamic Flex Craftsman boots were beaten up and in desperate need of repair. We performed a full re-sole and re-heel, re-lined the heel counters and restored the leather uppers to effectively restore the boots.
The soles on these Veja V-10 shoes were heavily worn, and the leather uppers were looking dirty and discoloured. We resoled the shoes and cleaned, conditioned and recoloured the leather.
These Manolo Blahnik Lurum shoes were a little worse for wear after a wedding, with the leather soles visibly worn, the satin uppers stained, and one of the crystals was missing. We clean and re-dyed the satin to black, we replaced the missing crystal, and we repaired and protected the soles.
The glittery uppers on these Jimmy Choo Misty 120 shoes were discoloured, and the leather soles were worn and unprotected. We restored the glitter, and repaired and protected the soles.
These Gucci Rhyton logo leather sneakers had become dirty and scuffed through everyday wear. We cleaned, conditioned and recoloured / refinished the leather to get the sneakers looking and feeling fresher.
These 1991 Jordan 1s were in good shape for their age, but the soles were worn, and the leather uppers were dirty and discoloured. We performed a resole and colour restoration to get the sneakers looking fresh.
These boots were heavily stained around the toes. We cleaned and treated the nubuck leather to get the boots looking fresh.
These Jimmy Choo Saeda 100 shoes were in good shape, but the satin uppers were dirty an mud-stained. We cleaned the satin uppers and treated the stains.
These Chanel Ballet flats were looking heavily worn and discoloured after several years of wear. We cleaned and conditioned the shoes before recolouring / refinishing the leather and fabric trim to restore its colour.
These Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor shoes were holding up well after years of wear, but the soles were worn down and the synthetic leather uppers had lost much of their colour. We resoled the shoes and then restored the uppers.
Here is a list of recent shoe cleaning and restoration orders we have received from customers across Australia.
September 2024
Sydney
Jimmy Choo
Heels
Clean / restore
The fabric of the stiletto heel needs repair and restoring as it was covered in mud at a wedding.
September 2024
Brisbane
Chanel
Loafers
Clean / restore
Leather colour has faded and espadrilles stitching around the heels needs repair.
September 2024
Sydney
Aquila
Dress
Clean / restore, Polish / shine
Restoration of an old pair of brown shoes. Scuffed and slightly cracked leather.
September 2024
Perth
Chanel
Flats
Clean / restore
Leather is discoloured because of a water stain.
September 2024
Melbourne
Barker
Dress
Clean / restore
The shoes being a light tan colour and not looked after as well as I should have been there is some water damage.
September 2024
Sydney
Miu Miu
Heels
Clean / restore
Clean the inside of the shoes.
September 2024
Gold Coast
Givenchy
Heels
Clean / restore, Polish / shine
Front toe area is scuffed. General clean and polish, including dirty marks on soles.
September 2024
Cairns
Timberland
Boots
Clean / restore
I got an oil stain on my suede boots. I attempted to clean with a little dishwashing soap a toothbrush and a hair dryer... Didn't help.
September 2024
Bendigo
Clarks
Flats
Clean / restore
Recolour the shoes back to black.
September 2024
Sydney
Loake
Dress
Clean / restore
I seem to have white paint on the right shoe, and a strange-looking water mark.
September 2024
Melbourne
Ferragamo
Flats
Clean / restore
The shoes are dirty and muddy. Dirt has gotten into the stitching and fabric ribbon on the shoe. Some loss of the pink colour on the leather.
September 2024
Geelong
Jordan
Sneakers
Clean / restore
The black paint is coming off on the heels. I want a fresh coat of paint.
September 2024
Central Coast
Ariat
Boots
Clean / restore
Ariat top boots for horse riding. Need both boots cleaned.
It's all very quick and easy — promise!
The cost to clean shoes varies depending on the specific work being performed and the materials being worked on. The cost of a basic leather shoe cleaning service starts at $69, with the price increasing when other related services (e.g. polishing, stain removal / mould treatment and colour restoration) are required. Generally speaking, the cost of cleaning non-leather shoes and certain types of leather shoes (e.g. those made from suede, nubuck and exotic leathers) is higher than that of cleaning ordinary leather shoes.
Similarly, the cost to restore shoes varies significantly based on the materials involved and other factors affecting the amount of time required to perform the work. For example, a colour restoration involving a complete recolouring / refinishing of each shoe in a pair would cost more than one involving only a specific part of one shoe. Likewise, an additional cost is involved when custom mixing is required for colour matching purposes or when certain materials are involved (e.g. suede or fabric).
Simply complete our order form to get a free diagnosis/quote based on your particular requirements.
The time it takes to complete cleaning and restoration services varies depending on the particular work required and the workload in the workshop when the shoes are received.
We are generally able to complete basic shoe cleaning and restoration services within 1-2 weeks of receiving shoes at the workshop. This extends to 2-3 weeks for most specialist services and longer for more complex restorations.
If you will be using our free shipping service (rather than dropping off and picking up your shoes at the workshop), then you should also factor in shipping time via Australia Post. This varies depending on your location, but generally takes no more than a few business days if you're in a metropolitan area and otherwise up to 5 business days (if you're in a regional or remote area).
Once you submit your online order form, you'll be given a token that allows you to track everything online, throughout the process of getting your shoes cleaned / restored.
And whenever your shoes are in transit (whether on their way to our workshop via Australia Post or on the way back to you via courier), you'll have a parcel tracking number and receive real-time shipping notifications by email.
Yes, you can drop off and pick up your shoes at our workshop in Martin Place, Sydney provided that:
