In short: high heels fail in three places: a scuffed heel, a scratched toe and a dirty lining. Cleaning is gentle and follows the material, while the heel covering and worn colour belong to restoration rather than cleaning.
A heel is usually thin, full of glued details and built on a set last, so it is handled quite differently from a sneaker. This article says how far you can go yourself and when to send them in. For the wider service see shoe cleaning.
- Where heels fail
- Cleaning by material
- Doing it at home
- What to avoid
- When to send them in
- Pricing
- Frequently asked questions
Where heels fail
- The heel itself: it rubs the road and the other shoe as you walk, so the covering scuffs and then peels.
- The toe: knocked against steps, leaving white scratch marks on coloured leather.
- The lining: worn barefoot, so it absorbs sweat, and a light lining goes dull and starts to smell.
- The forefoot sole: wears down on one side following how you walk.
- Glued details: bows, crystals and metal clasps come away easily with water and heat.
Cleaning by material
Smooth and calf leather
Wipe with a well wrung damp cloth, use a leather cleanser if dirt has settled, then condition. Never soak, never use alcohol.
Patent leather
It picks up colour from clothes and from other pairs stacked on top. Wipe with a soft cloth and never use an abrasive solution, which dulls the gloss.
Suede and satin
The two that hate water most. Treated dry, dabbed point by point. Satin that gets wet is left with a ring that is very hard to even out again.
Fabric and applied details
Work in small sections and avoid dragging across the applied pieces, whose glue softens easily. Metal parts are wiped separately and dried straight away.
Doing it at home
- Dust them off, running a soft brush along the stitching and the gap at the heel.
- Test the solution inside a strap or behind the heel first.
- Wipe the upper in one direction with a well wrung damp cloth, a small section at a time.
- Wipe the lining with a damp cloth and let it dry naturally, never rinse it.
- Pack them with white paper to hold the shape and keep them somewhere airy, out of the sun.
What to avoid
- Soaking the pair in a basin or putting them in the washing machine: the glue gives way and applied details come off.
- Using a stiff brush on patent leather or satin.
- Hot drying to speed things up: the leather shrinks and cracks at the creases.
- Old newspaper inside: the ink transfers into a light coloured lining.
- Stacking pairs of different colours while they are still damp.
When to send them in
Cleaning deals with the dirt. The four jobs below belong to restoration and shoe repair: heel covering that has peeled, colour worn off the toe and the edges, a forefoot sole worn down on one side, burst stitching or a stretched strap. Worn colour has to be touched up, see colour bleeding and fading.
If the pair has sat in a cupboard and shows white spots, read mouldy shoes first to see how much can be saved.
Pricing
| Service | Price | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Basic cleaning | 90,000d | Fabric and canvas heels |
| Deep cleaning | 150,000d | Leather, suede and nubuck heels |
| Premium shoe cleaning | 250,000d | Expensive designer pairs with many applied details |
| Deodorising and sanitising | 300,000d | A lining with a strong smell |
A guide price, confirmed once the technician has seen the actual pair. See shoe cleaning pricing or book online.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cleaning high heels cost?
From 90,000d for a fabric pair and 150,000d for leather and suede. A designer pair with many details is priced under the premium package at 250,000d.
Can a scuffed heel be repaired?
Light scuffing can be covered with a colour touch-up. If the covering has peeled away in patches it has to be redone, which belongs to shoe repair and is quoted separately once we have seen the pair.
Can satin marked by water be saved?
It depends. A fresh small ring can be evened out; an old dried one usually fades rather than disappears. The technician looks first and tells you plainly.
Do you pick up shoes from home?
Yes. Bring them to the shop at 1/56 Nguyen The Truyen, Tan Son Nhi, Tan Phu, or book a slot and we collect them anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. It normally takes 3 to 4 days.