How to Clean Soft Ballet Slippers

Co-authored by Geraldine Grace Johns

Last Updated: February 15, 2022 Approved

Ballet slippers or shoes quickly become soiled with frequent dancing and need regular cleaning to preserve their look. Cleaning your ballet shoes regularly will ensure that their appearance and performance are always up to par. You can use tools you have around the house, like detergent, baking soda, and window cleaner to make sure that your leather, canvas and pointe shoes are neat and clean for your next performance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Leather Ballet Slippers

1
Spot clean with a damp cloth. If just a couple of spots on your leather shoes are looking dirty, dampen a soft cloth and rub them gently.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Geraldine Grace Johns
Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.}
2
Rub a drop of regular laundry detergent into the shoe for a deeper clean. Gently rub the detergent over the surface of the shoe with a cloth or a toothbrush, then wipe it clean with a soft, dry rag.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Mix detergent or dish soap into a cup of water and apply it to your shoe. Put a few drops of detergent or dish soap in a bowl of warm water and mix it until it's sudsy. Wet a sponge in the solution and wash the surface of the shoe, then rinse the sponge out and wipe clean any residue. Dry the shoe with a soft towel.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Use a window cleaning product to clean your shoe. Spritz some window spray onto a paper towel and rub it gently on the shoe. You can also use a melamine foam, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, in the same fashion, but avoid doing this too often as the cleaners can dry out the leather.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Put on the shoes after cleaning them. The damp leather will mold to your foot for a good fit. Wear them for about half an hour, or until dry.^{[5]
X
Research source}
6
Avoid using much water while cleaning your leather shoes. Water can dry leather out and make it brittle and cracked, so use as little as possible when cleaning your ballet shoes.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Your Canvas Ballet Slippers

1
Place slippers in a small lingerie bag and load them into the washing machine. You can put them in a load of light, similarly-colored clothes, or by themselves. If you're not sure if any of your clothes have dyes that will wash out and stain your shoes, run the slippers through in their own, separate load.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Wash your slippers on a cold, delicate cycle with mild detergent. Avoid using fabric softener or bleach.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}
- Do not put leather ballet slippers in the washing machine.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Geraldine Grace Johns
  Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
  Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.}
2
Lay them out to dry. Reshape the shoes and lay them on a towel or a drying rack to dry. Make sure they're not lying in direct sunlight. Do not run your slippers through the dryer, as this could cause them to shrink or lose their shape.^{[10]
X
Expert Source

Geraldine Grace Johns
Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.}
3
To restore color, use foundation makeup or calamine lotion. Washing your canvas ballet shoes won't compromise the integrity of the shoe, but it might wash out the color a bit over time. If you see just a couple of faded spots on your shoes, apply a few of dabs of foundation or pink calamine lotion onto the spots with a cloth, cotton ball, or makeup sponge for a quick, pre-performance fix.^{[11]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Pointe Shoes

1
Mix dish detergent into water and apply it to your shoe. Use a small amount of water and dab it onto the shoe with a soft cloth or toothbrush. Wipe the shoe clean with a clean, slightly damp cloth for a general, all-over cleaning.^{[12]
X
Research source}
2
Make a cleaning paste with baking soda and water to remove stains. Sprinkle some baking soda into a bit of water and stir until it forms a paste. Use a soft cloth or toothbrush to rub it onto the stain in a circular motion and let dry overnight. Wipe away any remaining residue the next morning with a clean cloth.^{[13]
X
Research source}
3
Use calamine lotion to remove and cover up the stains. Dip a cotton ball into a bit of calamine lotion and pat all over the pointe shoes, especially on the stained or dirty areas. The lotion will absorb some of the bigger stains. As a bonus, the pink color of the calamine will lend your shoes a clean, consistent color tone.^{[14]
X
Research source}
4
Avoid saturating the shoe. Use a very small amount of water while cleaning your pointe shoes. If over-saturated, the glue will break down and the shoe won't be able to support the foot en pointe.^{[15]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

How do I get dirt off my ballet shoes?

Geraldine Grace Johns
Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
Geraldine Grace Johns is a Professional Ballerina and the Owner of Grace Ballet in New York and Los Angeles. Geraldine toured through New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Korea as Jammes in Ken Hill's Original Phantom of the Opera. She has studied with the Royal Academy of Dance in London to become a teacher and taught for the Kudo School of Ballet in Yokohama. Geraldine also ran her own Royal Academy of Dance School in New Zealand before studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Geraldine was a guest coach and Master Class teacher in Toronto for the Canadian Royal Academy of Dance's Dance Challenge in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She was also a guest coach and Master Class teacher for the USA Royal Academy of Dance Challenge in Long Beach, California in 2019 and 2020. Grace Ballet Los Angeles has won recognition as one of 13 Best Ballet Schools in Los Angeles since opening her school. Geraldine is a contract Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies for the Royal Academy of Dance.

Geraldine Grace Johns

Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Use a mild detergent and spot-clean soft ballet shoes. Canvas slippers can be put in the washing machine and air dried, but do not put leather ballet slippers in the washing machine.
Question

Can I break in my pointe shoes by soaking them in water overnight?

Community Answer

Definitely do not soak pointe shoes in water. This will do more harm than good. Breaking them in dancing will also strengthen your feet, so your best bet is to just dance in them a lot.
Question

Can you wash toe shoes with this method?

Community Answer

As a dancer myself, I can put them in the washing machine, l but it will make them tighter.