Wear and tear on shoes is inevitable; after all, you're outside and walking on hard pavement all the time. This can become extra painful if accidents happen on your favorite pair of boots or extra expensive leather or suede shoes you expect to last you forever. But, with the help of the right shoe brush, you can remove those stains and restore your shoes back to life.
We've picked out some of the best shoe brushes, like Kiwi's Shine Brush, which is made of 100 percent horsehair and is gentle enough on even the most delicate leather shoes. You have nine other options to consider for different shoe materials, as well as a buying guide to introduce you to the right brush to polish and shine your shoes.
Image | 1 ![]() Kiwi | 2 ![]() Ralyn | 3 ![]() Jason Markk | 4 ![]() Job Site | 5 ![]() Footfitter | 6 ![]() Jovitec | 7 ![]() Shacke | 8 ![]() Sof Sole | 9 ![]() Footfitter | 10 ![]() Alloda |
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Name | Shine Brush | Shoe Polish Daubers | Premium Shoe Cleaner Essentials Kit | The Original Boot Scrubber | Large Crepe Brush | Horsehair Shoe Polish Brushes | Suede and Nubuck 4-Way Brush | Suede and Nubuck Cleaning Kit | Signature Jumbo Shoe Shine Brush | Shoe Cleaning Brush |
Features | Horsehair Brush to Bring Out That Shine | Reliable Daubers for Buffing Any Leather Color | A Sneaker-Friendly Shoe Cleaning Kit | Boot Stains and Dirt Are No Match for This Brush | Crepe Brush for Suede and Nubuck | A Set for Your Leather Cleaning Needs | 4-Way Shoe Cleaner for All Hard-to-Reach Areas | Erase Grime, Restore and Clean | Large Horsehair Brush for Bigger Shoes | One Brush for Your Shoe-Cleaning Needs |
Price | $6.39 | $10.60 | $16.00 | $19.99 | $13.00 | $10.99 | $6.99 | $6.99 | $17.00 | $6.83 |
Bristle material | Horsehair | Horsehair | Synthetic | Nylon | Rubber | Horsehair | Rubber, nylon, brass | Rubber, nylon | Horsehair | Boar hair, nylon |
Best for | Leather | Leather | Sneaker leather, canvas, rubber, vinyl | Work boots, rubber shoes, sneakers | Suede, nubuck | Leather | Suede, nubuck | Suede, nubuck | Leather | Leather, suede, nubuck, rubber, canvas |
Bristle hardness | Soft | Soft | Medium | Hard | Soft and sticky | Soft | Soft | Not specified | Soft | Soft and hard |
Dimensions | 5 x 1.5 in. | 5.5 in. | Not specified | 9.5 x 6.5 x 4.8 in. | 5 x 1.8 in. | Brush: 6.7 x 4 in., dauber: 6 x 1.5 in. | Not specified | 3 x 1 in. | 8 x 2.75 in. | Not specified |
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Here is a lineup of shoe brushes that cater to leather, suede, nubuck, and even sneakers and rugged boots. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
$6.39
Bristle material | Horsehair |
---|---|
Best for | Leather |
Bristle hardness | Soft |
Dimensions | 5 x 1.5 in. |
Set of 2
$10.60
Bristle material | Horsehair |
---|---|
Best for | Leather |
Bristle hardness | Soft |
Dimensions | 5.5 in. |
$16.00
Bristle material | Synthetic |
---|---|
Best for | Sneaker leather, canvas, rubber, vinyl |
Bristle hardness | Medium |
Dimensions | Not specified |
$19.99
Bristle material | Nylon |
---|---|
Best for | Work boots, rubber shoes, sneakers |
Bristle hardness | Hard |
Dimensions | 9.5 x 6.5 x 4.8 in. |
$13.00
Bristle material | Rubber |
---|---|
Best for | Suede, nubuck |
Bristle hardness | Soft and sticky |
Dimensions | 5 x 1.8 in. |
Set of 3
$10.99
Bristle material | Horsehair |
---|---|
Best for | Leather |
Bristle hardness | Soft |
Dimensions | Brush: 6.7 x 4 in., dauber: 6 x 1.5 in. |
$6.99
Bristle material | Rubber, nylon, brass |
---|---|
Best for | Suede, nubuck |
Bristle hardness | Soft |
Dimensions | Not specified |
$6.99
Bristle material | Rubber, nylon |
---|---|
Best for | Suede, nubuck |
Bristle hardness | Not specified |
Dimensions | 3 x 1 in. |
$17.00
Bristle material | Horsehair |
---|---|
Best for | Leather |
Bristle hardness | Soft |
Dimensions | 8 x 2.75 in. |
$6.83
Bristle material | Boar hair, nylon |
---|---|
Best for | Leather, suede, nubuck, rubber, canvas |
Bristle hardness | Soft and hard |
Dimensions | Not specified |
If you want to keep your shoes pristine, you will need the right brush for cleaning and conditioning. The buying guide below will explain which shoe brush works best with a particular shoe material and help you look for a good shoe brush.
The bristle material is key to cleaning your shoes without damaging the surface material. There are particular bristle types that achieve desired results without risking your leather shoes getting scratched or suede boots becoming dull.
The most common brush material is horsehair, as it is especially effective on leather shoes. The bristles are exceptionally soft and will not scratch or damage even the most sensitive leathers. They are also flexible, meaning you can pick up dirt that gets stuck on the grooves of your shoes.
An alternative to horsehair is goat hair brushes, which also provide a gentle polish on delicate leathers. Some manufacturers offer a combination of these two for that cleaning and polishing effect.
Avoid synthetic bristles such as plastic or metal on especially delicate and expensive leather, as these are more challenging to handle and could damage your shoes.
You will need a different approach for suede or nubuck shoes as they have a different texture than leather. Therefore, you should go for rubber, brass, or coconut coir bristle brushes when cleaning suede or nubuck.
Rubber crepe brushes are soft and sticky, making them perfect for attracting dirt on the shoe, removing light stains, and pulling on the nap, the fine bristles on suede and nubuck, to bring back the original shine.
Brass wire brushes are for removing tough stains that have settled on your shoes. Lastly, coco coir brushes are great for boots. The bristles can scrape off caked-on mud and dirt and pull on stubborn stains to restore your shoes' color and shine.
You can even find triangular brushes with multiple bristle types on each side to allow you to thoroughly clean and maintain your shoes without having to buy many brushes.
The bristle hardness also plays a part in the type of finish you are looking for, whether you're buffing, shining, or cleaning.
Soft bristles are great for shining and buffing, while medium-hard bristles can thoroughly clean the shoe. Lastly, rigid or stiff bristles can remove tough ingrained marks on your shoe as well as get in the midsole area for cleaning.
You can purchase multiple brushes to achieve the clean-to-shine process, or consider a brush with dual bristle types on each side.
We recommend separating dark from light when it comes to the brush used for the wax and cream. It's best to have a designated brush for each shoe color to avoid accidentally staining your tan shoe, for example, with dark wax or polish.
Furthermore, experts recommend separating cleaning brushes from those used for polishing, as dust or dirt particles can remain on the bristles and get stuck on the cream or wax during application.
Most shoe brush handles are rectangular-shaped and are about the same size as the bristle area. Daubers often have a longer handle for grabbing, so you have better control for buffing. A great choice is a handle made of polished wood that offers a comfortable grip with no rough edges.
We also recommend double-checking with reviews to confirm that the bristles are packed securely into the handle and don't come loose or fall off while brushing. Some brushes, including premium ones, still shed during initial use to get rid of the weakest hairs. However, you can expect this to lessen with continued use.
A dauber is an accessory that complements a regular brush. It is traditionally used for polishing. Thanks to its rounded shape, you can buff and polish in circular strokes. Utilizing a dauber also makes it easier to grab some wax and cream for cleaning.
Another commonly used accessory for polishing and waxing is cotton flannel cloths that can buff and shine shoes. They're more prone to streaking, and you can end up with wax or cream on your fingers during application.
Shoe cloths, however, are great for final touch-ups after the polish has set. You can rub the shoe and bring out the shine from leather for a glossy finish.
Are you looking for other essential products to extend the life of your favorite shoes? We've got a few more suggestions worth trying.
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