Shoes soaked by rain or covered in mud: what to do in the first 24 hours

In short: rain-soaked shoes need proper drying and mud removal within the first 24 hours, before the water stains suede or starts an odour.

The afternoon rain in Saigon arrives fast, and the flooding even faster. You get home with shoes soaked through and covered in mud. What you do in the next 24 hours decides whether they stay intact or start to fall apart: peeling glue, water marks, mould and odour all start here.

This article covers what to do right away, how to treat each material, and the signs that it is time to take them to a shop. For an overview of other shoe conditions, see our shoe cleaning service.

What to do as soon as you get home

1. Remove the laces and take out the insoles. Left as they are, the insides never fully dry.
2. Blot the surface water with a dry towel. Press gently to soak it up, do not rub.
3. Stuff newspaper or paper towels inside until full, to keep the shape and absorb moisture. Replace the paper after a few hours; wet paper left in place stops working.
4. Leave the shoes somewhere airy, in the shade. Stand them at an angle so air can reach the soles too. An ordinary fan is fine.
5. Do not wear that pair again until it is completely dry, which usually takes one to two days depending on the material.

Mud: let it dry before brushing

The natural reflex is to rinse them under the tap straight away. That is fine for colourfast fabric shoes, but with most other materials, scrubbing wet mud only pushes the particles deeper into the fibres.

The safer way: let the mud dry completely, tap it so the clumps fall off, and brush off the rest with a dry brush. Only then deal with any remaining marks using a damp cloth. Red soil or dark mud on light-coloured shoes can easily leave a yellowish stain if scrubbed in a hurry.

Flood water is not the same as rain

Shoes caught in the rain just need to be dried properly. Shoes that waded through flood water are different: flood water carries sewage, grease and bacteria. Even once dry, the shoes are still dirty inside, and often start to smell within a few days.

For a pair that has been through flood water, clean the inside and the insoles too, not just the outside. If a smell has already appeared, see our article on smelly shoes.

Treatment by material

Fabric and canvas

The most water-tolerant. After brushing off the dried mud, you can hand wash them with a neutral soap and cool water. Do not soak for long or use hot water, especially on multi-coloured shoes, as the colour can easily bleed into white areas.

Smooth leather

Wipe clean, stuff with paper and let them dry very slowly. Leather that dries fast shrinks and stiffens. Once fully dry, always condition the leather to replace the oils the water has taken out. If white patches appear on the leather after drying, that is salt from the water or sweat rising to the surface; wipe with a damp cloth and condition again.

Suede and nubuck

The group most easily damaged by water. Let them dry naturally, then brush with a suede brush to lift the nap. The most common problem is water marks: the wet area dries darker than the surrounding leather. Trying to fix water marks yourself very often makes them spread, so this is a sensible time to send them to a shop. See also our guide to caring for suede shoes.

Mesh and running shoes

The fastest to dry, but the thick cushioning holds water for a long time. Do not trust the dry mesh; press the insole and inner sole to check for dampness.

The fastest ways to ruin wet shoes

• Drying in harsh sun. Leather cracks, fabric yellows, rubber soles turn brittle.
• Using a hair dryer, or leaving them by a heater or stove. Heat softens the glue, and the sole starts to come away at the toe and heel.
• Putting them in a box while still damp. This is the shortest path to mouldy shoes.
• Wearing them while still wet. Wet leather stretches to the foot and loses its shape, and wet glue holds much less.

Signs you should take them to a shop

• Suede or nubuck shoes with water marks.
• Light-coloured shoes stained by mud or red soil that will not brush out.
• Still smelly after drying, or they have been through flood water.
• The sole starts to come away at the toe or heel after drying. That falls under shoe repair, and it is much simpler when dealt with early.

At Foxpro, fabric and canvas shoes are covered by our basic cleaning package at 90,000d, which cleans the upper, sole, laces and inner lining. Leather, suede and nubuck shoes use the deep cleaning package at 150,000d, which adds leather conditioning and reshaping. The final price is given after we see the shoes, and we only start once you agree.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a hairdryer on rain-soaked shoes?

Better not. Heat shrinks the lining, stiffens leather and softens the sole adhesive. Dry them naturally somewhere breezy, packed with white paper rather than newspaper.

Do rain-soaked shoes need cleaning straight away?

Yes, especially with mud. Dried mud grips the fibres and brings staining with it, while rainwater left on leather invites mould.

Does frequent rain ruin leather shoes?

Leather that soaks and dries repeatedly gets stiff and cracks along the folds. Condition it once dry; leather that has faded needs colour restoration at 400,000d – 650,000d.

What does the shop charge for rain-damaged shoes?

It is priced as normal cleaning: 90,000d for fabric and canvas, 150,000d for leather and suede. Add deodorising at 300,000d if there is a smell.