Method1Spot-Treating Small Stains
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1Wipe off visible dirt with a soft brush or pick it up with a lint roller. Gently brush the dirt off the shoe with an upward motion so it doesn’t get ground further into the fibers. If you’re using a lint roller, go over the dirty area lightly to pick up dirt without pushing it deeper into the exterior.[1]If your shoes got muddy, it’s best to let the mud fully dry before trying to treat the stain. It’s easier to brush away dried mud and the likelihood of spreading the mud to other areas of the shoe will be smaller.
2Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of cool water and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of mild laundry detergent. Put the water and laundry detergent into a small bowl and stir them together until the water gets sudsy. If you have a gentle detergent, like Woolite, that would work great for your felt shoes. But regular dye- and fragrance-free laundry detergent will also work.[2]If you don’t have mild laundry detergent, you could sub 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of white vinegar to create a gentle alternative cleaning solution.
- 3Dip a clean towel into the soapy water and blot the stain. If possible, use a white towel so you can see how much of the stain has transferred off of the shoes and onto the towel. Rinse the towel in clean water and repeat the blotting process until the stain is gone, which may take 5-10 minutes depending on how large the stain was to begin with.[3]
Because felt is a fairly fragile fabric, avoid vigorous scrubbing and instead gently press down on the stain repeatedly.
4Treat tougher stains by scrubbing them gently with a soft brush. If the stain still seems like it’s not coming up after blotting it with the soapy towel, you may need to scrub it a little harder. Dip a soft brush into the water and laundry detergent mixture, then gently brush the stained area back and forth. Avoid pressing down too hard and try your best to use a light touch.[4]Brushing the stain back and forth helps the soap get deeper into the fibers of the shoe.
After scrubbing the stain, you could go back to blotting the area with the damp towel to see if the combination of the two methods helps.
- 5Use a specific spot remover if the detergent doesn’t work on the stain. Depending on what you got on your shoes, you may need something a little stronger to remove the stain. A grease remover, white vinegar, or rubbing alcohol may work. Try the following methods for various stains:[5]
Warning: Always test grease removers and rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous section of the shoes first, just in case it discolors the felt.
Blot grease stains with a towel soaked in rubbing alcohol or grease remover.
Dab bloodstains with a towel soaked in white vinegar, then blot the area with cold water.
Treat grass stains by putting mild laundry detergent directly on the stain, then blot it with a towel soaked in rubbing alcohol.
- 6Trim away stained fibers that won’t come clean. This won’t always be an option depending on how deep the stain is, but if there are fuzzy, discolored fibers that can be cut off, try to carefully trim them with a pair of fine scissors.[6]
This may work especially well if the fibers got a little fuzzy or stretched while you were cleaning the stain.
7Lay your shoes on a clean towel and let them air dry. Never put your felt shoes into the dryer, and avoid placing them close to any heat sources. Heat has the potential to misshape your shoes. Instead, place your shoes somewhere safe where they won’t be in the way, and let them dry for 12-24 hours.[7]Once the exterior and interior of your shoes are dry to the touch, you can go ahead and wear them again.
