It’s a great feeling to find a brand name, high-quality pair of shoes at the thrift store for mere dollars. We love a good shoe thrift find (or any good thrift find for that matter – we have many!)! Shoes are one of our favorite things to thrift, though, because many second-hand shoes still have a ton of life left in them. And if you know how to clean thrifted shoes correctly, it’s not hard to make them look almost brand new.
We especially love thrifting kids shoes! Kids grow through shoes SO FAST, and it can feel like throwing money in the trash to buy them a $20+ pair of new shoes that they’re just going to wear for a couple of months and then grow out of. So, most of our kids shoes are actually used shoes that we’ve found in good condition and cleaned. In the process, we’ve learned the best methods for cleaning and disinfecting and even making them look new.
We’ve also learned what to look for and how to find the best shoes that will still give us many months or years of wearing (whether they’re for our kids or for us!).
Why We Love Thrifting and Thrifted Shoes
1. It’s economical
The most obvious reason is that thrifting is super economical. We’re strong believers in living below our means, not spending money we don’t have, and avoiding debt at pretty much all costs. And thrifting is one of the major ways that we can do that. (Other secondhand options like yard sale finds and Facebook Marketplace are very popular in our household, too, of course.)
Thrifting for some of our shoes is a great way for us to save probably hundreds of dollars per year – especially for our kids who go through multiple sizes per year!
2. Kids grow so fast!
While we’ve definitely scored some killer deals on name brand adult shoes, most of our second hand shoes are for the kids. I’ve found that the best way to do this is just by buying any thrift shoes I find that are their current size (if they need them) or above. We keep simple bins in the basement, so any shoes that are too big on them go in the assigned bin. Then, when they get to that size, we already have some shoes waiting for them. (We do the same thing with thrifted clothes.)
Grabbing any sizes above their current size allows us to save a lot more money in the long run than if we only bought the shoes we currently needed at the time. It’s no secret that thrifting means you have limited options, so if you only buy the size you currently need, it’s going to mean you have to spend a lot more time shopping around different thrift stores (which, in many cases, usually isn’t worth the amount of time it ends up taking).
Read more tips that have worked for us when thrifting for kids items!
3. Lots of styles and options
Thrifting for shoes just might open your eyes to some styles that you might not have bought at full price, but end up loving! Some of our favorite shoe finds – especially adult ones – are shoes that we never would have searched for at full price, but found for $5 or $10 and decided to give them a try.
Finding something unique or outside of your usual choices is part of the fun of thrifting!
How to Find the Best Thrifted Shoes
Certainly, not all secondhand shoes are winners. There are a lot of junky, worn out, or downright gross options out there (although many thrift stores do a good job of sorting through these beforehand).
So how do you find the perfect pair of shoes at thrift shops? Here are some tips from our years of rockin finds.
1. Walk around the store
Sometimes the best pairs aren’t actually in the shoe section of the store. One of our favorite thrift stores actually has shoes scattered on top of the clothing racks, in addition to a few dedicated shoe sections. You have to walk through every aisle to make sure to see them all, but it’s well worth it for some of the awesome pairs we’ve found!
A lot of thrift stores also keep their best or brand name items out on displays toward the front of the store or on end caps. These get snatched more quickly, of course, but it’s worth looking for sure!
2. Don’t be afraid of some dirt
Just because a pair of shoes looks dirty or muddy on the outside (which can be common especially for kid shoes which have been run through a mud puddle or two) doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily too worn out to buy. Dirt can be cleaned. Easily. Check to see if the soles and insoles are worn out or the material is ripping or cracking before writing them off.
We’re found plenty of rain boots or chore boots that have some dirt on them but end up being in great condition after a good washing.
3. Bring socks to try them on
If you know you might want to try some shoes on, bring socks! Although it’s not a surefire solution to keep you from contacting germs, it definitely helps create a barrier against potential germs or odors. It can also give you a better idea of what the shoes really feel like.
(Overwhelmed by the thought of taking your kids along? Check out our tips for how to go thrifting with kids and actually enjoy it!)
4. Check the soles and the inside of the shoes
This is usually your best clue as to whether or not a pair of shoes is worth buying. If the soles are worn out, the tread is run down, or the insoles have a strong footprint on them, those are all good clues that the shoes have already had a lot of wear and may not have many miles left in them.
Why is Cleaning Thrift Store Shoes Important?
Shoes can carry a whole lot of bacteria – something that you don’t really have to think about (or at least not nearly as much) with thrifted clothes. Even if you can’t see them, these bacteria can transfer to your feet. Gross.
You don’t really know what bacteria or viruses the previous owner might have had, and there can also be worse issues like fungal infections or athlete’s foot to think about.
And honestly, bacteria aside, bad odors or just plain old weird smells are common for shoes.
Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to clean all different types of shoes and get rid of any possible bacteria, and even that classic thrift store smell if it bothers you!
(As a side note, we’ve never had any known problems with bacteria from thrift store shoes. But if you have the chance to give them at least some sort of cleaning, it’s definitely better safe than sorry.)
How to Clean Thrifted Shoes
Quick cleaning options
If you need to wear your thrifted shoes right away and don’t have time to go through a thorough cleaning, one of the quickest cleaning methods is using wet wipes (Clorox wipes work well) and disinfectant spray.
Give them a quick wipe over, spritz some Lysol spray inside, and if possible, wear socks with them. A pair of clean socks will help prevent any possible bacteria from transferring to your feet before you have time to give them a thorough cleaning.
If you have time – but not time to actually do the work of cleaning them – you can throw most shoes in the washing machine with some mild laundry detergent. Most canvas shoes and tennis shoes can also be dried in a dryer on LOW HEAT. High heat can damage the shoes. If you have a dryer rack, use that, or stuff the shoes with newspaper or small towels. Adding larger items to the dryer, like damp towels, can also help the shoes avoid bouncing around too much.
Tip: If you’re going to machine wash your shoes, it’s a good idea to brush off as much loose debris as possible first. This will help to avoid clogging your machine.
Light cleaning
Cleaning your new pair of shoes doesn’t have to be a big deal! Here are some light cleaning options for getting rid of bacteria and bad smells.
- Lysol or Clorox wipes. Rubbing both the inside and outside of your shoes with disinfectant wet wipes is a super easy to way to get rid of possible bacteria.
- Disinfectant spray. A shoe disinfectant spray is another easy and convenient way to give your shoes a quick cleaning!
- Baking soda. Baking soda is a natural and highly effective deodorizer that’s ideal for getting rid of any weird smell you notice in your shoes. To clean insoles, simply sprinkle them with baking soda and let it sit overnight (you can do this with the soles inside the shoes, or take them out). You can also mix baking soda with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and rub it on any stains to clean dirty sports. Just create a paste, let it dry, and then clap or brush it off.
- Shoe deodorizer. If you find yourself buying thrifted shoes often (or you just want to keep your current shoes smelling great!), you may find it worthwhile to grab some deodorizing shoe spray. This is a quick and easy way to eradicate bad smells. As a more natural option, you can also make your own deodorizer with essential oils such as tea tree, cypress, and lemon.
- Washing machine. This might be our most-used cleaning method for shoes. You can wash tennis shoes and canvas shoes using mild detergent in your washing machine, which makes cleaning so easy! However, you should avoid using a washing machine for suede, plastic, and leather. These materials need to be hand washed. Remove the laces and any loose dirt before using a washing machine.
Drying your shoes
The safest way to dry your shoes after washing is to simply let them air dry away from direct heat.
If you need to wear them quickly, you can also dry tennis shoes or canvas shoes in the dryer on low heat using a dryer rack. If you don’t have a dryer rack, add some towels to your load to keep the shoes from bouncing around too much.
Heavy cleaning
If you’re really concerned about viruses and fungus (hello athlete’s foot), it’s definitely not a bad idea to do some more heavy-duty cleaning on your shoes. Here are some ways you can really get to work on nasty fungi and bacteria.
- Rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a really strong cleaner, but it can be used on all sorts of shoes – even more delicate material like leather. Just mix 3 parts rubbing alcohol with 1 part warm water. Then, dip a cloth in and use your damp cloth to wipe the inside and outside of your shoes.
- Soak and scrub. You can use the soak and scrub method on the whole shoe or just the insoles. This method works especially well when you have stuck-on dirt or mud. Just soak your shoes in soapy water (a bucket, sink, or even bathtub works well) for about 30 minutes, then use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to work off any remaining dirt. Rinse if there’s any soap residue left.
- Bleach (for white shoes only). Bleach is one of the strongest cleaning solutions and a powerful disinfectant, but you need to make sure to only use it on white portions of shoes (or fully white shoes) to avoid staining. It’s great for cleaning soles – simply dip a toothbrush into a small amount of bleach water and scrub the soles. You can also make a bleach spray by combining bleach and water in a spray bottle, and spray it on white shoes as a disinfectant. Remember that you should avoid touching bleach, and wash your hands promptly if you do.
Cleaning delicate shoes – Leather & suede
The cleaning process is a little different for delicate items, such as leather, plastic, suede shoes, which require special care. These materials should not be put in the washing machine, as they can easily become damaged.
Instead, all you need to do is gently hand wash your shoes with a damp, clean cloth. You can also apply a bit of antibacterial soap if needed.
Use downward strokes to clean your shoes, and avoid oversaturating them. If there’s any soap residue left, brush it off with clean water on a damp rag.
When you’re finished, let them air dry.
For leather, you can also apply a leather conditioner to dry shoes.
Tricks to Make Your Thrifted Shoes Look New
If you want to give a pair of worn or old shoes an extra boost, here are a few tips that we use often to make them look like new!
- UV light. UV light is a natural disinfectant and one of the best (and easiest) ways to brighten up your shoes! You can actually buy UV light sanitizers that slip inside your shoes and do their work. Or, to brighten the outside of your shoes, just set them in the sun! This works really well for whites (shoes and clothes!), but keep in mind that it can cause darker colors to fade some over time.
- Magic eraser. Magic eraser is just… magical. I love using these on the top part of the sole (the part you can see), especially if it’s rubber. It is (I think) one of the best ways to restore that “brand new” look to a pair of shoes.
Steps for Cleaning Thrift Store Shoes
As you can see, there are a whole bunch of ways to clean your thrifted items! It’s really up to you which method you prefer and which one fits the needs of your shoes.
Here are the basic steps for cleaning thrift store shoes. Keep in mind that not all of these are applicable to every shoe.
- Brush off any loose dirt. For nearly any shoe, the first thing you should do is brush off any loose dirt, either with a rag or a soft-bristled brush.
- Remove the insoles. If the shoes have removable insoles, you can clean them first. You can do this by soak them in dish soap and hot water for at least 5 minutes. Then, use a hard-bristled brush (a toothbrush works well) to scrub them, especially any stained parts. Alternatively, you can also rub them with a wet wipe or spray them with disinfectant spray.
- Wash the outside. Next, wash the outside of your shoes by running them through the washing machine, rubbing them with disinfectant wipes or a disinfectant spray, or soaking them in soapy water (unless they’re delicate).
- Dry them outside or in a well-ventilated area. Lastly, allow your shoes to air dry. If you’re in a hurry, you can also put many types of shoes in the dryer on a dryer rack or with damp towels. Direct sunlight is also great for killing bacteria, but keep in mind that it can damage suede and leather, and may cause color to fade over a longer period of time.
- Enjoy your clean shoes! There’s nothing like rocking a pair of clean thrifted shoes.
Pin This Post for Later!
What’s Your Favorite Thrift Store Find?
Do you have a favorite thrift store deal (shoes or otherwise)? Tell us what it is (and how much you paid, if you remember!) in the comments!
While we love thrifting for shoes and clothes, some of our favorite second hand items have also been larger items like a John Deere, furniture, and appliances, too! We’re always up for a deal!
Related Posts
Leave a Reply