Caring for your ballet shoes is pretty important, not just for maintaining their delicate appearance but also to make sure they continue to support your every pirouette and plié.
No matter what the material of the shoe – canvas, leather or satin – each material requires a different cleaning method.
In this blog post, we’re looking at how to clean ballet shoes, and sharing some insider tips to ensure your shoes stay looking and feeling their best.
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Let’s start with the basics – why is it important to clean ballet shoes?
Not only does regular cleaning remove dirt and sweat buildup, but it’s also the best way to prevent odor-causing bacteria from growing. Plus, keeping your shoes clean can extend their lifespan, saving you money in the long run.
How to Clean Canvas Ballet Shoes
Canvas ballet shoes are the most popular choice of dancing shoes ballerinas own. They’re affordable, breathable, and the material is more forgiving than other types (looking at you, satin).
Canvas ballet slippers do come with their downsides, though. They can get worn out pretty quickly, for starters, so you have to replace them more often than others. Plus, they’re not as aesthetically pleasing.
So, how do you clean those stubborn stains off canvas ballet shoes? You have two options:
1. Use a Washing Machine
Lucky for us, canvas ballet shoes can tolerate machine washing and cleaning takes no more than 5 steps:
- Put your canvas shoes into a mesh laundry bag (if you don’t have this kind of wash bag, a pillowcase will suffice)
- Adjust your washing machine to a cold water, delicate cycle
- Add in gentle detergent then run the cycle
- While they’re wet, gently reshape your shoes with your hands
- Air-dry shoes in indirect sunlight for fresh-smelling results
Pro Tip: Try soaking your ballet shoes in water beforehand. If your shoes are particularly nasty, doing this should help rinse out some of that stubborn dirt.
2. Spot Cleaning
It’s totally normal to spot clean canvas ballet shoes. You won’t compromise the material or ruin your shoes – so don’t worry. Just make sure to follow these steps to maintain their integrity:
- Use a small amount of water with mild detergent
- Dampen a soft cloth or sponge with the solution
- In a gentle, circular motion, clean away the dirt and scuff marks (Don’t dab or rub!)
- Wipe away the excess detergent with a clean, damp cloth
- Air-dry your shoes on a sunny, hot day
Avoid placing the shoes in direct sunlight. The sun can change the texture and color of your shoes and you’ll have to replace them sooner than you think.
And never put your shoes in the dryer directly after the wash has ended – unless you want them to shrink!
How to Clean Satin Ballet Shoes
Any ballet dancer has that one dream pair of satin shoes that are reserved for special occasions and performances. The beautiful lines, the shiny fabric, and the eye-pleasing aesthetic make you want to protect any satin pair of ballet shoes.
And it makes sense! Satin isn’t a durable material, and while flattering, it also gets worn out and ruined fast. It’s one of the most delicate fabrics you could clean as well.
Where to start? Well, to no one’s surprise, you can only hand-clean satin ballet shoes. Machine washing is simply out of the question. It will completely ruin your beautiful shoes – even on a gentle cycle. Water damages satin and compromises its shine.
1. Hand-Cleaning Satin Ballet Shoes
The materials you will need are:
- A mild detergent or a specialized solution for delicate fabrics
- A soft cloth or a sponge
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
The steps to follow are:
- Mix the detergent with minimal water to create a paste-like solution.
- Sparingly apply it to your shoe using a soft cloth or sponge.
- Dab the black marks and dirty spots.
- For superficial dirt, use the toothbrush. Move in one direction to avoid scuffing the material.
- Air-dry your shoes. Don’t put them near strong heat sources; letting them bask in a shaded, warm area is best.
2. Using Baking Soda
Personally, I’m not a big fan of using a baking soda paste to clean my satin shoes. Unfortunately, the ingredient has a tendency to leave a chalky stain on them, ruining a beloved pair of ballet shoes.
However, I can’t deny that it works magically on particularly stubborn marks – so I owe it to tell you how to clean satin ballet shoes with baking soda:
- In a small bowl, mix a tiny amount of baking soda with an equal amount of water.
- With a soft-bristled toothbrush or cloth, apply the mixture to any dirty areas using gentle, circular motions.
- Let the mixture sit overnight (not any longer or you ruin them!)
- Using a clean, damp cloth, wipe the solution away. Move in one direction so as not to rub the baking soda into the fabric.
How to Clean Leather Ballet Shoes
Ballet dancers typically start out with an expensive pair of leather ballet slippers. While they can be an investment, they’re the most durable material a ballet dancer could practice in. Leather is also known to be more forgiving since it quickly adapts to the shape of your feet.
Better yet, leather is rather sturdy, which makes it perfect for beginners and tender-age ballerinas. They’ll stand by you as you master different ballet techniques – their only problem is how quick they are to get dirty.
Like satin shoes, you can’t put leather ballet shoes in the washer. The water damages the color and fabric. It may cause it to warp as well. Luckily, there are other methods to clean leather ballet shoes. Those include:
1. Spot Cleaning
Remember: Spot cleaning is always the safest way to clean any delicate fabric. That rule applies to your ballet shoes too. If your leather pair has easy-to-clean, superficial stains, then spot-cleaning with a damp cloth and a specialized detergent is best.
2. Use Dish Soap
Did you know that dish soap can be an incredibly mild detergent? A little of it can blot away more stubborn stains on your shoe. Make sure to wipe off any excess of it afterward.
3. Consider a Leather Cleaner
While leather cleaners can dry out your shoe, they’re still a safe option to consider. Use a gentle kind to treat the stains before you wipe it off. And if you notice the leather shine has dimmed after cleaning, condition the shoe with olive oil to gain it back.
4. Apply Melamine Foam
Melamine foam is often underrated. But what many people don’t know is that it’s a recurrent component in many detergents and shoe cleaners – which makes it perfect for your leather ballet shoes.
There are even melamine foam sponges for your convenience! When applied gently and in small quantities, they’ll easily remove stubborn scuff marks and black marks too.
How to Clean Pointe Shoes
Since they’re usually made from satin or leather, pointe shoes can be highly delicate to work with and clean. You’re not only looking to upkeep the pair’s material, but you also don’t want to ruin the toe box. Once that’s damaged, the pointe shoe is pretty much useless.
Fortunately, you can clean pointe shoes the same way you’d clean your satin or leather pair – simply follow the steps I covered above. Some pro tips to keep in mind though include:
- Don’t use water on pointe shoes: Bad idea, trust me. Avoid water at all costs. Don’t even add water to the detergent you’re going to use. Add it to a damp cloth instead and use that to blot away stains. Water will immediately ruin your toe box’s integrity.
- Remove dirt and dust early on: Just tapping your shoes together to dust off excess dirt in between rehearsals goes a long way. It prevents the stubborn buildup of marks – especially if your pointe shoes are made of leather. This fabric ingrains dirt quicker than others, making it harder to clean later.
SAVE FOR LATER!
In conclusion, keeping your dance shoes in top condition doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right techniques and materials, you can ensure they remain as pristine and performance-ready as the day you bought them.
Whether you’re cleaning traditional ballet flats, jazz shoes, or pointe shoes, remember that gentle care and regular maintenance are your best allies against wear and tear.
From avoiding water for certain materials to using specialised cleaning products, the above commonly-used methods will help extend the life and look of your dance shoes, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – your dance performance!
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