How to Clean & Condition Clarks Shoes (Leather, Suede & Crepe Soles)

Clean the upper and sole separately. For suede Wallabees, start with a dry suede brush; use a suede-specific cleaner for marks that remain. For smooth leather, remove dirt before applying a suitable leather-care product. Clarks recommends diluted mild detergent for rubber and crepe soles, kept away from suede uppers.

Check the material on your exact pair. A Wallabee can be suede or leather, and the word Beeswax is a finish name, not an instruction to apply household wax. Feet Heart is an authorized Clarks retailer and a family-run business founded in 2003.

Which routine does your pair need?

Match the care method to the material

Material	Start here
Smooth leather	Remove loose dirt, then use a leather balm or cleaner suitable for the finish. Test first.
Suede or nubuck	Brush gently with the nap. Use a product labeled for suede or nubuck if dry brushing is not enough.
Beeswax leather	Check finish compatibility before conditioning or polishing. A product that adds shine may change the look you bought.
Crepe sole	Work on the sole separately with diluted mild detergent and a small brush. Keep the solution away from the upper.

How do I clean smooth leather Clarks shoes?

1. Remove laces where they get in the way and gently brush off loose dirt.
2. Follow the directions on a leather cleaner or balm suitable for the finish. Test it on a small, hidden area first.
3. Let the shoes dry naturally, away from direct heat. Buff only when the care product's instructions call for it.

Clarks' leather and suede care guide covers cleaning and conditioning. Do not transfer a high-shine polish routine to suede, nubuck or a finish you want to keep matte.

How do I clean suede or nubuck Clarks shoes?

Begin with the gentlest useful step: brush loose, dry dirt in the direction of the nap. If marks remain, Clarks' shoe-cleaning guide recommends a suede and nubuck foaming cleaner. Follow its directions, work gently with the grain and allow the shoes to dry.

Use a compatible protector according to its label, testing first because it can alter the shade. A protector does not turn an ordinary suede Wallabee into a waterproof shoe. Clarks' suede-care advice recommends keeping untreated suede away from rain.

Can I use Dawn dish soap on suede Clarks?

Keep dish detergent off suede uppers. A specialist suede cleaner is the appropriate next step after brushing; the diluted-detergent method below is for the sole. There is no need to experiment with kitchen mixtures to follow this routine.

How do I clean crepe soles?

1. Brush away loose dirt while it is dry.
2. Use a small amount of diluted, mild, colourless washing-up liquid with a sponge or soft brush on the sole only.
3. Keep it off suede or textile uppers and leave the sole to dry thoroughly.

Clarks' material-by-material care page supports this method and warns against harsh solvents. Cleaning removes surface grime; do not expect every discoloured or worn sole to return to its original appearance.

What if the shoes get wet?

Let them dry at room temperature, away from a heater or radiator. Once suede is dry, assess whether gentle brushing is enough. Avoid promising yourself a ten-minute restoration: cleaning cannot guarantee a new-looking finish on a heavily worn pair.

Use shoe trees to help hold the shape between wears. Before buying another care product, identify whether the problem is dirt, a changed finish or physical damage. A shoe-repair specialist can assess cracked uppers, separating soles or damage that cleaning will not resolve.

Shop this guide: Wallabee Maple Suede · Wallabee Beeswax Leather · Bradley Step

Choose the material you want to wear

Prices and pictured-color sizes were checked September 6, 2026. The product page shows the current selection; online availability does not confirm stock at a particular store.

The pictured low Wallabees appear in Clarks' men's range. Use our Wallabee sizing guide to check the size system and fit. Prefer a darker suede? See the Black Suede Wallabee. Compare the Wallabee Boot and Women's Desert Boot by their exact upper material before choosing a care routine.

For leather lace-ups, browse Whiddon Cap and Whiddon Plain. The Wallabee versus Desert Boot comparison covers the difference in shoe shape.

Frequently asked questions

Can I machine wash Clarks shoes?

Do not machine wash the leather or suede Wallabees and Desert Boots discussed here. Clean the upper by material and the sole separately. For another Clarks model, follow its own care label rather than assuming one washing rule covers every shoe.

How do I get scuffs out of suede Wallabees or Desert Boots?

Start with gentle dry brushing along the nap. For remaining marks, use a suede-specific cleaner as directed and test compatibility first. Cleaning may improve the appearance, but it cannot guarantee that worn or damaged suede will look new.

Why are my Clarks crepe soles turning yellow, and can I fix it?

A colour change is not necessarily dirt that will wash off. The sole can look different after wear, and cleaning may not restore its original colour. Remove surface grime gently; ask a shoe-repair specialist to assess sticky, cracking or separating rubber.

How do I keep leather Clarks from cracking?

Use leather care that suits the exact finish, follow its directions and let damp shoes dry away from direct heat. Shoe trees help hold their shape. Conditioning is maintenance, not a repair for an upper that is already cracked.

Can I use dish soap on the suede upper?

Keep dish detergent off suede uppers. Use a dry brush and, when needed, a purpose-made suede cleaner. Clarks recommends diluted mild detergent for the rubber or crepe sole, with care to keep it away from suede and textile.

Is Beeswax Wallabee a suede shoe?

The pictured Wallabee style 26156605 has a Beeswax leather upper. Maple style 26155515 and Black Suede style 26155519 have suede uppers. Check the style and finish rather than treating every Wallabee as the same material.

How often should I condition or protect Clarks shoes?

Follow the instructions for the material and the care product you use. Check the finish regularly and after cleaning; there is no single schedule for every Clarks shoe, weather condition and amount of wear.

Sources: Clarks material care · Clarks shoe-cleaning guide · Clarks suede care · Beeswax Wallabee details · Maple Wallabee details

Standard U.S. shipping is free on orders of $50 or more and single-pair orders up to 5 lb. Full-price items have a 30-day return window after delivery with free return shipping. Items must be unworn, in original packaging with tags attached. Sale items are final sale. See our return policy.

Find your next Clarks pair

For help with a particular pair, call (310) 398-7497 or email info@feetheart.com. You can also visit Feet World in Culver City or Arcadia to try shoes in person. Ask about the style and size before visiting.

Shop Clarks at Feet Heart