How to Clean Dr. Martens Shoes

Co-authored by Marc Sigal

Last Updated: July 27, 2022 References

Dr. Martens, which are also referred to as Docs and Doc Martens, are a brand of leather footwear with a very distinctive look. Known today for their yellow stitching, cushioned soles, and durability, Dr. Martens actually date back to the Second World War, when the first pair was created by a German doctor who injured himself on leave during a ski trip. Dr. Martens shoes and boots are traditionally leather—though vegan versions are now available—which means they require some extra care to maintain the hide. But cleaning and even polishing your Docs is a relatively simple process, and with regular care your shoes or boots will last for years.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Dr. Martens

1
Remove the laces. This will make the cleaning process easier, and give you a chance to clean the laces.^{[1]
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Research source} Swirl the laces around in some soapy water, and give them a scrub if they're dirty. Rinse them under clean water, ring them out, and hang them to dry.
2
Brush off dust and dirt. With a shoe brush or old nail brush, carefully brush off dirt, dust, and dried mud from your Docs. Be sure to get into all the hard to reach places as well, such as where the stitching is and inside the tongue.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- If you don’t have a shoe or nail brush, you can use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to remove dirt and dust.
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3
Take care of scuffs and old polish. If you have any scuffs or polish build-up on your Docs, you can remove both with an acetone-free nail polish remover. Apply some nail polish remover to a clean rag or lint-free cloth. Gently rub at scuffs and polish build up until the scuffs wear away and the polish comes off.
- When you're finished, rub the shoes down with a damp, clean cloth and allow them to air dry.^{[3]
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- Don’t rub too hard with the nail polish remover, otherwise you may damage the finish.
4
Condition the leather. Because leather was the skin from a living animal, it needs to be moisturized and conditioned (just like human skin) to prevent it from drying, cracking, and losing its durability.^{[4]
X
Research source} Rub your Docs with a cloth or sponge to massage a conditioner into the leather, making sure to get the hard to reach places as well. Let them dry for about 20 minutes afterward.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.} Popular leather conditioners include:
- Lemon essential oil (not olive oil, which can cause oil damage)^{[6]
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- Mink oil^{[7]
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- While saddle soap is often recommended as a conditioner for leather, the lye it contains can actually cause your leather to dry, crack, and deteriorate faster^{[8]
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5
Clean the soles. Fill a small bucket or bowl with warm water and a few drops of liquid soap or dishwashing liquid. Take a dishwashing brush, shoe brush, or toothbrush and scrub the soles with the soapy water to remove dirt, grime, mud, and anything else you’ve stepped in.
- Wipe the soles off with a damp rag when you're finished.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Polishing Dr. Martens

1
Find the right polish. To polish leather, you want to match the color of the polish to the color of the leather as closely as possible. Choose a neutral polish if you can't find one to match your Docs, or if your Docs are multicolored.^{[9]
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- Dr. Martens recommends using only wax-based polishes, and just on their smooth leather products.
2
Lay down newspaper. Choose a location that can get dirty if any accidents occur, and protect the surface you're working on with bags, newspaper, or some other cover.^{[10]
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3
Apply the polish. Take a rag or lint-free cloth and run it around in the polish in a circular motion to warm the wax, which will make the polish easier to apply. Apply the polish to the entire shoe, using gentle but firm pressure to get the polish into the leather’s pores.^{[11]
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Research source} If necessary, use a cotton swab or soft-bristled toothbrush to get polish into the hard to reach places.^{[12]
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- If your shoes are old and have never been polished, consider applying a second layer of polish.^{[13]
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- When you're finished, allow the polish to sit on the shoes for 10 to 20 minutes.
4
Buff the leather. With a shoe brush, begin to gently buff and polish the leather all over, working the polish into the shoes and removing excess at the same time.^{[14]
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Research source} If you're looking to achieve a mirror shine, the process is slightly more in depth:
- Dip your finger into a pot of clean water and allow a couple drops to fall onto a spot on the leather.
- Dip a cloth into your shoe polish and rub that spot using circular motions. Work in small areas at a time, applying water and working more polish into the leather with a cloth.
- It will likely take a couple hours to cover the entire boot or shoe, but you should notice the leather getting increasingly smooth.^{[15]
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5
Shine the boots. When you’ve finished buffing your Docs with a brush or using the mirror shine technique, rub the leather with a clean piece of nylon to remove dust and extra polish, and to buff the leather to a shine.^{[16]
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6
Repeat every three months. To give your Docs the longest life possible, clean and condition them every three months.^{[17]
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Research source} To keep them looking as new as possible, polish them every time you clean and condition them.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Removing Stubborn Stains From Dr. Martens

1
Remove gum. With a scraper, spoon, or credit card, remove as much of the gum as possible. Take a hair drier and heat the remaining gum until it becomes tacky. Then apply the sticky side of a piece of tape to gum and peel it off. Press the tape on again and peel it off a few more times. If necessary, reheat the gum with the hair drier and repeat until the gum is gone.^{[18]
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- After removing any stubborn stains from your boots, proceed with regular cleaning to remove excess residues and cleaning products.
2
Clean paint off. The best thing to remove paint from your Dr. Martens is mineral spirits. Mineral spirits is a petroleum-based solvent that works well at dissolving paint. Because it’s oil-based, it’s safe to use on leather.
- Take a clean rag and dip it in some mineral spirits. Rub the affected area with the rag, adding more mineral spirits as needed. Continue rubbing until the paint dissolves and comes off.^{[19]
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3
Get rid of glue. For this DIY project you will actually need a penetrating oil like WD-40. Apply the oil to the glue and a small area of the boot surrounding the glue. Let it sit until the glue becomes soft, then scrape the glue with a butter knife or plastic scraper. If necessary, repeat these steps again until the glue is gone. Wipe away the excess oil when the glue has been removed.^{[20]
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4
Remove sticker residue. Use a scraper or credit card and scrape off as much of the sticky substance as possible. Take a clean rag and dip it in some acetone, nail polish remover, or even peanut butter.^{[21]
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Research source} After rubbing the cleaner into the shoe, take the scraper to it again. Repeat as necessary.
- Wipe the area with a clean damp cloth and allow it to dry.

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Expert Q&A
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Question

What do you clean Doc Martens with?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Wonder Balsam, which is a product made by Dr. Martens that contains coconut oil, beeswax, and lanolin, and which is designed to help protect against water and salt.
Question

Can you machine wash Dr Martens?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No. You really don't want to get leather shoes wet, since moisture causes leather to shrink. You're much better off cleaning your Dr. Martens by hand.
Question

What do I do when my Docs get wet?

Community Answer

You really don't have to do anything! Most recommend a water-protectant spray, which does work, but Dr. Martens are honestly very durable, and look even better with age/wear.