How to Clean Golf Shoes: What Makers and Golf Specialists Say
Quick answer: wipe after the round, clean the upper by material, scrub the sole and spikes, and air dry stuffed with newspaper away from heat. Machine washing is allowed only for mesh pairs by some sources.
We compare the makers and golf specialists and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Golf Shoes: Sources Compared
Golf shoes meet wet grass, sand and mud, and many are leather. We read FootJoy, Golf Monthly, National Club Golfer, MyGolfSpy, GolfBalls.com, RealSport101, MoreGolf and Tom’s Guide. They agree on cleaning after the round, air drying and keeping heat away. They split on brushes and on whether mesh pairs can go in a washing machine.
| Source | Machine washing | Cleaning method | Drying and avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| FootJoy | Mesh shoes only: mesh bag, gentle or delicate, warm not hot water. Otherwise hand wash. | Shoe cleaner or mild soap and water. Remove laces and loose insoles. Wipe non-leather outsoles after every round. | Air dry in shade or indoors. “Never use a blow-dryer” or external heat. Stuff mesh with newspaper 30 to 40 minutes, then shoe trees. |
| Golf Monthly | Only mesh or trainer-style shoes, gentle low-heat cycle, insoles out. | Brush or sponge off mud first, then leather softener, shoe cream (leave 10 to 20 minutes) and whitener sparingly. Suede: eraser and soft brush. | Airing cupboard or outdoors if dry. Newspaper helps. Do the full routine about once a month. |
| National Club Golfer | Not recommended. Machines submerge the shoes completely. | Knock off mud, wash in a bowl with the water barely covering the sole, soft brush, old toothbrush between spikes, rinse off soap. | Newspaper or shoe tree, air dry at room temperature, polish only once fully dry. No wire brush. Do not fully submerge. |
| MyGolfSpy | Not covered. | Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth after each round. “Don’t use any kind of brush” on the shoe. Condition after cleaning, once dry. | Newspaper 8 to 10 hours if soaked, cedar shoe trees, no direct sun. Not in a hot car trunk. |
| GolfBalls.com | Not covered. | Soap, water and a soft cloth on the outer material. Golf shoe brush between the spikes. | Dry with a towel, then air dry in an open area. Do not soak, because it wears material and can loosen cleats. No damp shoes in a trunk or gym bag. |
| RealSport101 | Advises against unless the label allows. Golf shoes may not hold up long term. | Soak laces, dry brush, lukewarm water with shoe cleaner on a soft cloth, remove spikes and brush outsoles and holes. | Newspaper, away from sun. No bleach. No wire brushes on uppers. |
| MoreGolf | Not covered. | By material: leather small circles with a damp cloth, mesh with a soft toothbrush, stiff brush on outsoles. Spikes: soak metal ones 5 minutes in soapy water. | 12 to 24 hours to dry. Replace paper after two hours if saturated. No hot water, bleach, hairdryers or tumble dryers. |
| Tom’s Guide | Mesh shoes can go in on cold with a little soap. | Wipe with a damp soft cloth after every use. Wipe outsoles after every round. Soft toothbrush and laundry detergent on tough stains. | Air dry indoors away from sun. Wet shoes: newspaper 8 to 10 hours. No dryers or hot trunk. Do not overtighten cleats. |
Several of these sources sell golf gear or care products, so their steps may use their own range. We have not tested any of these methods.
Can You Machine Wash Golf Shoes?
The sources split by material:
- Mesh or trainer-style: FootJoy says a mesh bag on gentle or delicate with warm water. Tom’s Guide says cold with a little soap. Golf Monthly says gentle and low heat with insoles out.
- Leather: National Club Golfer prefers hand washing because machines fully submerge shoes, and RealSport101 says golf shoes may not hold up unless the label allows it.
General advice: check the label first, and keep leather out of the machine. Our washing machine guide covers the settings brands give.
Step by Step: Cleaning Golf Shoes
The shared method, with who says what:
- Wipe after the round. Tom’s Guide and MyGolfSpy say to wipe off dirt and grass with a damp cloth. FootJoy wipes non-leather outsoles every round. National Club Golfer uses the club’s air cleaner if there is one.
- Knock off dry mud outside. National Club Golfer says not to bring mud indoors.
- Remove laces and loose insoles. FootJoy and RealSport101 do. RealSport101 soaks laces in mild soapy water.
- Clean the upper by material. See the material section.
- Scrub the sole. MoreGolf says a stiff brush in firm circles on outsoles and to let soapy water sit two minutes on caked mud.
- Rinse off the soap. National Club Golfer rinses all residue. MoreGolf says too much soap attracts more dirt.
- Dry, then condition or polish. Golf Monthly and National Club Golfer say only once fully dry.
Frequency: Golf Monthly says to do the full routine about once a month and wipe after each round. National Club Golfer warns that mud left on can end up “baked in”.
Spikes and Spikeless Outsoles
Spikes and spikeless outsoles are cleaned differently:
- Between spikes: an old toothbrush (National Club Golfer) or a golf shoe brush (GolfBalls.com). On spikeless shoes, National Club Golfer cleans the ridges.
- Removable spikes: RealSport101 removes them to brush the holes. MoreGolf unscrews them with the right wrench, soaks metal ones 5 minutes, cleans threads with a cotton bud, and refits only when completely dry to avoid cross-threading.
- Check between rounds: FootJoy says to check cleats are intact and seated, and not to over-tighten them.
- Hard surfaces: GolfBalls.com says not to wear spiked shoes on concrete or pavement.
See our shoe sole guide and the cleat guide for studs.
By Material: Leather, Mesh, Synthetic, Suede
Leather. MoreGolf says warm, not hot, water with mild soap in light suds, wring the cloth, work in small circles, then condition. Golf Monthly adds leather softener and shoe cream. MyGolfSpy says to condition only when clean and dry. FootJoy uses white shoe cleaner on white leather and matching cream on dark. See our leather shoe guide and conditioning guide.
Mesh. MoreGolf says a soft toothbrush and soapy solution with more pressure than leather. FootJoy hand washes with warm water and a squirt of dish soap, then blots with a cold damp cloth.
Synthetic. RealSport101 says the same soap and water method works. MoreGolf says synthetics tolerate more vigorous scrubbing than leather.
Knit. RealSport101 says use less water because knit holds moisture, and avoid soap, which can wear away coatings. See our knit shoe guide.
Suede. RealSport101 says brush with the grain and use a suede eraser on stubborn marks. Golf Monthly uses a rubber eraser and soft brush. See our nubuck and suede guide.
White shoes. Golf Monthly says use whitener sparingly, mainly on the toe, because “less is more”. See our white shoes guide.
How to Dry Golf Shoes
Every source says air dry and avoid heat. The detail differs:
- FootJoy: shade or indoors. Mesh: newspaper 30 to 40 minutes, then shoe trees while still damp. Soaked: newspaper 8 to 10 hours, then cedar shoe trees.
- MoreGolf: 12 to 24 hours in a ventilated spot, away from radiators. Replace paper after two hours if saturated.
- MyGolfSpy: newspaper 8 to 10 hours for wet shoes, cedar trees in while drying, no direct sun.
- Golf Monthly: airing cupboard dries faster and cuts odor. Outdoors if the weather is dry.
- GolfBalls.com: dry leather in fresh air before putting it in a shoe bag, because wet-to-dry leather without airflow can become brittle.
FootJoy says to keep shoes out of the trunk, to leave cedar shoe trees in when not in use, and to rotate between two pairs.
Where the Sources Disagree
Brushes on the upper. MyGolfSpy says don’t use any kind of brush. Golf Monthly, MoreGolf and RealSport101 use a soft brush or toothbrush, and National Club Golfer and RealSport101 say no wire brush. General advice: a damp cloth first, soft brush only where needed.
Soaking. RealSport101 soaks laces only. GolfBalls.com warns against long soaking and loose cleats. National Club Golfer keeps water barely over the sole. MoreGolf soaks metal spikes 5 minutes.
Drying time. FootJoy and MyGolfSpy say 8 to 10 hours with newspaper for soaked shoes. MoreGolf says 12 to 24 hours for complete drying. Both can be true: newspaper first, full dry later.
Waterproofing. MyGolfSpy says well-maintained leather repels some water and prolonged exposure may not be reversible. Golf Monthly says a protector or wax spray is optional and good for winter, lasting roughly 2 to 3 wears. FootJoy does not cover it.
Mesh in the machine. FootJoy allows warm water, Tom’s Guide says cold.
Questions Golfers Ask, Answered
“Can you put golf shoes in the washing machine?”
FootJoy, Golf Monthly and Tom’s Guide say only mesh or trainer-style pairs. National Club Golfer and RealSport101 prefer hand washing.
“How do you clean white golf shoes?”
White shoe cleaner for scuffs (FootJoy), whitener sparingly on the toe (Golf Monthly).
“How do you clean between the spikes?”
An old toothbrush (National Club Golfer) or a golf shoe brush (GolfBalls.com).
“How do you dry wet golf shoes?”
Newspaper for 8 to 10 hours, then cedar shoe trees (FootJoy, MyGolfSpy).
“How often should you clean golf shoes?”
Wipe after every round and do the full routine about once a month (Golf Monthly).
“Should you waterproof golf shoes?”
Sources differ. Golf Monthly offers protector sprays, MyGolfSpy says well-kept leather repels some water.
“Can you leave golf shoes in the car?”
FootJoy and MyGolfSpy say no, because trunk heat breaks down materials.
“Do shoe trees help?”
FootJoy says cedar trees restore shape and absorb water and odor. Golf Monthly says they can make shoes last 2 to 3 times longer.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Heat. FootJoy says never use a blow-dryer or external heat. MoreGolf adds tumble dryers and radiators.
- Wire brushes on leather. National Club Golfer and RealSport101 warn.
- Bleach. RealSport101 and MoreGolf warn.
- Hot water. MoreGolf says it can damage adhesives.
- Leaving mud on. RealSport101 says it can dry out and crack leather.
- Storing damp. GolfBalls.com warns about bacteria and odor.
- Over-tightening spikes. FootJoy and Tom’s Guide warn.
- Too much whitener or soap. Golf Monthly and MoreGolf warn.
How we checked this
- Steps come from FootJoy, Golf Monthly, National Club Golfer, MyGolfSpy, GolfBalls.com, RealSport101, MoreGolf and Tom’s Guide. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on brushes, machine washing and waterproofing, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell golf gear or care products. None gives test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Golf Shoe Care Helpers
A shoe cleaner kit with brushes, a leather conditioner kit and mesh wash bags cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.
Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit
A shoe cleaner with a brush and microfiber towel.
Check it on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean golf shoes?
Wipe after the round, clean the upper by material, scrub the sole and spikes, and air dry with newspaper (FootJoy, Golf Monthly).
Can you wash golf shoes in the washing machine?
Some sources allow mesh pairs only. National Club Golfer and RealSport101 prefer hand washing.
How do you clean white golf shoes?
White shoe cleaner for scuffs (FootJoy) and whitener sparingly (Golf Monthly).
How do you clean between spikes?
An old toothbrush or golf shoe brush (National Club Golfer, GolfBalls.com).
How long do golf shoes take to dry?
MoreGolf says 12 to 24 hours. FootJoy says 8 to 10 hours of newspaper for soaked shoes.
How often should you clean them?
Wipe after every round and do a full clean about monthly (Golf Monthly).
Do cedar shoe trees help?
FootJoy says they restore shape and absorb water and odor.
Can you store them in the car?
FootJoy and MyGolfSpy say no, since trunk heat breaks down materials.
The Short Version
Wipe after every round, clean by material, keep heat away, and let leather dry fully before conditioning.
Keep Reading
Sources
- FootJoy: Golf shoe care
- Golf Monthly: How to clean golf shoes
- National Club Golfer: How to clean your golf shoes
- MyGolfSpy: How to care for leather golf shoes
- GolfBalls.com: How to care for golf shoes
- RealSport101: How to clean golf shoes
- MoreGolf: How to clean golf shoes
- Tom’s Guide: How to clean golf shoes
