{"id":1484,"date":"2026-09-11T15:21:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foxpro.vn\/blog\/giay-bi-uot-nuoc-mua\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T17:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T17:59:31","slug":"giay-bi-uot-nuoc-mua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foxpro.vn\/en\/blog\/giay-bi-uot-nuoc-mua\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoes soaked by rain or covered in mud: what to do in the first 24 hours"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What to do as soon as you get home<\/h2>\n
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  1. Remove the laces and take out the insoles.<\/strong> Left as they are, the insides never fully dry.<\/li>\n
  2. Blot the surface water<\/strong> with a dry towel. Press gently to soak it up, do not rub.<\/li>\n
  3. Stuff newspaper or paper towels inside<\/strong> until full, to keep the shape and absorb moisture. Replace the paper after a few hours; wet paper left in place stops working.<\/li>\n
  4. Leave the shoes somewhere airy, in the shade.<\/strong> Stand them at an angle so air can reach the soles too. An ordinary fan is fine.<\/li>\n
  5. Do not wear that pair again until it is completely dry<\/strong>, which usually takes one to two days depending on the material.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Mud: let it dry before brushing<\/h2>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Flood water is not the same as rain<\/h2>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Treatment by material<\/h2>\n

    Fabric and canvas<\/h3>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Smooth leather<\/h3>\n

    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<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

    Suede and nubuck<\/h3>\n

    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<\/strong>: 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Mesh and running shoes<\/h3>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    The fastest ways to ruin wet shoes<\/h2>\n