How to Clean Doc Martens: What Dr. Martens and Specialists Say
Quick answer: bang off mud, wipe with a damp cloth, dry, then apply Wonder Balsam to smooth leather. Use Suede Cleaner on suede and Patent Cleaner on patent. Do not soak, machine wash or heat dry.
We compare four Dr. Martens guides and six outside sources and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Doc Martens: Sources Compared
Dr. Martens publishes a short guide for each product (Wonder Balsam, Dubbin, Suede Cleaner, Patent Cleaner) rather than one full care page. Retailers and specialists fill the gaps. We read four Dr. Martens guides and six outside sources: schuh, BootWorld, Tower London, Captain Creps, Durability Matters and Greene’s Shoes. They agree on hand cleaning with minimal water. They differ on conditioners, scuff removers and sun drying.
| Source | Cleaning method | Conditioning and products | Drying and avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Martens (Wonder Balsam guide) | Bang boots together to remove mud, wipe with a damp cloth, remove laces, dry with a second cloth. | Scoop Wonder Balsam with a sponge, apply generously, especially creases, tongue and seams. Leave 10 minutes. Monthly use. “Most smooth and waxed leathers.” | Re-lace once dry. Optional Ultra Protector spray. |
| Dr. Martens (Dubbin guide) | Same quick clean first, laces separately. | Apply Dubbin generously with a cloth, work into seams, let it dry, then Ultra Protector spray. | Dubbin takes a while to dry. Shines when fresh and “will matte down as the wax dries.” |
| Dr. Martens (suede guide) | Wipe with a damp cloth, spray Suede Cleaner, scrub gently with a damp sponge, wipe with clean water. | Suede Cleaner monthly. Ultra Protector after. | “Be careful not to get the suede too wet.” Air dry, then brush in one direction. |
| Dr. Martens (patent guide, UK) | Damp cloth, dry with a second cloth, spray Patent Cleaner, wipe, brush to a gloss. | Patent Cleaner. Optional Shoe Freshener. | “Patent leather might mark fairly easily, but it cleans even easier.” |
| schuh | Smooth leather: brush, tiny drop of mild soap on a damp cloth, wipe again with clean damp cloth. Suede and nubuck: keep the upper dry. | Wonder Balsam on smooth leather only, not on patent, footbeds, buckles or fabric trims. | Do not machine wash or soak. Avoid radiators, hairdryers, sun, tumble dryers. |
| BootWorld | Hand clean with Bick 1 leather cleaner, toothbrush for seams, tweezers for sole grooves. | Bick 4 conditioner after cleaning because washing strips natural oils. | Air dry in a sunny place. No dryer, heat can melt glue. Laces can go in the machine. |
| Tower London | Leather: lightly damp cloth in small sections. Suede: suede cleaner without soaking. | Wonder Balsam, Dubbin, polish and protector sprays described by use. | Air dry away from radiators, hair dryers and heaters. Do not rub marks, blot. |
| Captain Creps | Damp cloth, toothbrush on yellow stitching, scrub soles with warm soapy water. | Mink oil or lemon essential oil as conditioner, then neutral wax polish. | Nail polish remover for scuffs. Clean about every three months. |
| Durability Matters | Knock dirt off, dry brush first, then light cleaner or soapy solution. | Polish matched to the leather shade, then protector or wax. | Smooth leather is porous, so use as little moisture as possible. |
These pages describe each brand’s and retailer’s own products, so steps vary by product. We have not tested any of these methods.
Can You Machine Wash Doc Martens?
No source in our set machine washes Docs:
- schuh: do not machine wash. Washing machines are too harsh and can damage leather, suede, nubuck, canvas, stitching, glue and shape. Do not soak any pair.
- BootWorld: only the laces can go in the washing machine, or be soaked in warm soapy water. The boots are cleaned by hand, and a dryer can melt the glue.
- Dr. Martens: its guides describe damp cloths, sponges and brushes. They give no machine instruction.
General advice: the brand’s guides all use a damp cloth, so treat that as the ceiling for water. See our washing machine guide for why.
Step by Step: Cleaning Smooth Leather Docs
The shared method for smooth leather, with who says what:
- Knock boots together and remove laces. Dr. Martens (Balsam and Dubbin guides) says to bang them together for mud, then take the laces out to clean separately. Durability Matters soaks laces in soapy water, rubs them, rinses and hangs them to dry.
- Dry brush. schuh brushes off dry dirt including sole grooves and welt stitching. Durability Matters brushes dry first and warns that scrubbing dusty leather can scratch it or rub stains in.
- Wipe with a damp cloth. Dr. Martens wipes with a damp cloth and dries with another. schuh adds a tiny drop of mild soap, then wipes again with a clean damp cloth to remove the soap.
- Clean the stitching and soles. Captain Creps uses an old toothbrush on yellow stitching and scrubs soles with warm soapy water. BootWorld uses tweezers for debris in the sole grooves.
- Dry, then condition. See the conditioning section.
BootWorld says to clean about once a month for regular wear, and more often in mud. Captain Creps says about every three months. Dr. Martens suggests monthly use of its balsam and suede cleaner.
Wonder Balsam, Dubbin and Polish
Wonder Balsam. Dr. Martens says it suits most smooth and waxed leathers: scoop it with the sponge, apply generously over the boot, especially creases, tongue and seams, leave it about 10 minutes, and add more only for stubborn scuffs. Greene’s Shoes says it is “not suitable for vegan Docs or Genix Nappa leather.” schuh says not to use it on footbeds, buckles, fabric trims or non-leather finishes, and not on patent.
Dubbin. Dr. Martens says to work it into the seams and that it takes a while to dry. Tower London describes it as heavy-duty weatherproofing that slightly dulls smooth leather. Dr. Martens itself says the shine “will matte down as the wax dries.”
Polish. Tower London says shoe polish restores colour and builds shine but does not condition. Captain Creps uses a neutral or matching wax polish after letting conditioner dry for about 20 minutes. Durability Matters says to match the polish to the shade. See our polishing guide and conditioning guide.
Other conditioners. BootWorld uses Bick 4 and says to choose a conditioner to suit the leather profile. Captain Creps suggests mink oil or lemon essential oil. Dr. Martens does not mention either. General advice: start with the maker’s own balsam, as it is the only one with a stated fit for the boot.
By Material: Suede, Nubuck, Patent, Canvas
Suede. Dr. Martens: wipe with a damp cloth, spray Suede Cleaner over the boot, scrub gently with a damp sponge, wipe with clean water without getting the suede too wet, air dry, then brush with the rubber side in one direction and add Ultra Protector. schuh says to let mud dry first, keep the upper dry when cleaning soles, and test the cleaner on a hidden area. Tower London says to protect suede every few wears in wet weather. See our nubuck and suede guide.
Nubuck. schuh says to brush lightly, avoid wet cloths because they can darken or mark nubuck, and brush again when dry.
Patent. Dr. Martens says to wipe with a damp cloth, dry with another, spray Patent Cleaner, wipe off the excess, and buff to a glossy shine. schuh says to dry immediately to avoid water marks, not to use Wonder Balsam, and to store patent pairs away from direct sunlight and dark materials to prevent colour transfer.
Canvas and vegan. Durability Matters lists canvas, textile and vegan as other materials but covers only smooth leather. Greene’s Shoes says Wonder Balsam is not suitable for vegan Docs. We found no brand guide for canvas, so check the label.
Scuffs. Captain Creps uses nail polish remover for scuffs and warns not to rub too hard. Tower London says avoid rubbing spot marks because it can spread the mark, and to blot gently.
How to Dry Doc Martens
The sources agree on air drying but split on the sun:
- schuh: air dry at room temperature for all materials, avoiding radiators, hairdryers, direct sunlight and tumble dryers.
- Tower London: away from radiators, hair dryers and heaters. Newspaper stuffing or shoe trees help the shape.
- BootWorld: air dry in a sunny place, but not in a dryer, because heat can melt the glue.
- Dr. Martens: dry with a clean cloth after wiping, and let suede air dry naturally.
General advice: a bright spot out of direct sun and away from heaters sits between the two positions.
Where the Sources Disagree
Sunlight. BootWorld says air dry in a sunny place. schuh says avoid direct sunlight. General advice: bright shade.
Conditioner. Dr. Martens uses Wonder Balsam. BootWorld uses Bick 4, Captain Creps mink oil or lemon essential oil. Only Dr. Martens states its balsam suits Docs.
Scuffs. Captain Creps uses nail polish remover. Dr. Martens uses extra balsam on stubborn scuffs. Tower London says to blot, not rub.
Frequency. Monthly (Dr. Martens, BootWorld, Greene’s) versus about every three months (Captain Creps).
Water. Dr. Martens uses a damp cloth and a damp sponge on suede. Durability Matters says as little moisture as possible on smooth leather. schuh says no wet cloths on nubuck.
Questions Doc Martens Owners Ask, Answered
“Can you put Doc Martens in the washing machine?”
No source says to. schuh says no, and BootWorld says only the laces can go in.
“How do you clean Doc Martens?”
Bang off mud, wipe with a damp cloth, dry, then apply Wonder Balsam and leave it for 10 minutes (Dr. Martens).
“How do you clean suede Docs?”
Spray Suede Cleaner, scrub gently with a damp sponge, wipe with clean water, air dry, brush in one direction, then protect (Dr. Martens).
“How do you clean patent Docs?”
Damp cloth, dry cloth, Patent Cleaner, wipe, buff. Do not use Wonder Balsam (schuh).
“How often should you use Wonder Balsam?”
Monthly, according to Dr. Martens.
“Can you use Wonder Balsam on vegan Docs?”
No. Greene’s Shoes says it is not suitable for vegan Docs or Genix Nappa leather.
“How do you get scuffs out?”
Extra balsam on stubborn scuffs (Dr. Martens), or nail polish remover (Captain Creps). Do not rub too hard.
“How do you dry Doc Martens?”
At room temperature, away from radiators and hairdryers (schuh, Tower London).
Mistakes to Avoid
- The washing machine and dryer. schuh and BootWorld warn about glue and shape.
- Soaking. schuh says excess water can damage leather, mark suede and affect glue.
- Wonder Balsam on patent, vegan, footbeds and buckles. schuh and Greene’s Shoes warn.
- Wet cloths on nubuck. schuh says they can darken or mark it.
- Rubbing marks. Tower London and Captain Creps warn.
- Heat and radiators. schuh, Tower London and BootWorld warn.
- Skipping conditioner. BootWorld says washing strips natural oils and can cause cracking.
- Carpet while using Dubbin. Dr. Martens warns.
How we checked this
- Steps come from four Dr. Martens guides, schuh, BootWorld, Tower London, Captain Creps, Durability Matters and Greene’s Shoes. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on sun drying, conditioners and scuff removal, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell care products. None gives test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Doc Martens Care Helpers
A leather conditioner kit, a boot conditioner and a suede kit cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon and are general leather and suede products, not Dr. Martens products.
Jason Markk Suede Essentials Bundle
A four-piece set with a cleaning solution, brush and eraser for suede and nubuck.
Check it on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
How do you clean Doc Martens?
Bang off mud, wipe with a damp cloth, dry with another, then apply Wonder Balsam to smooth leather and leave it 10 minutes (Dr. Martens).
Can you wash Doc Martens in the washing machine?
No source says to. schuh says no, and BootWorld says only the laces can go in.
How do you clean suede Doc Martens?
Spray Suede Cleaner, scrub gently with a damp sponge, wipe with clean water, air dry and brush in one direction (Dr. Martens).
How do you clean patent Doc Martens?
Damp cloth, dry cloth, Patent Cleaner, wipe and buff. Do not use Wonder Balsam on patent (schuh).
How often should you use Wonder Balsam?
Monthly, according to Dr. Martens.
Can you use Wonder Balsam on vegan Docs?
No. Greene’s Shoes says it is not suitable for vegan Docs or Genix Nappa leather.
How do you remove scuffs?
Extra balsam on stubborn scuffs (Dr. Martens), or nail polish remover (Captain Creps). Do not rub hard.
How do you dry Doc Martens?
Air dry at room temperature, away from radiators and hairdryers. Sources differ on direct sun.
The Short Version
Damp cloth, not soaking. Wonder Balsam for smooth leather, the right cleaner for suede and patent, and air drying away from heat.
Keep Reading
Sources
- Dr. Martens: How to clean Docs with Wonder Balsam
- Dr. Martens: How to clean Docs with Dubbin
- Dr. Martens: How to clean suede
- Dr. Martens: How to clean patent leather Docs
- schuh: The ultimate guide on how to clean Dr. Martens
- BootWorld: How to clean Doc Martens
- Tower London: The Dr. Martens care guide
- Captain Creps: How to clean Doc Martens
- Durability Matters: How to clean Dr. Martens
- Greene’s Shoes: How to clean your Dr. Martens boots at home
