How to Clean and Care for Golf Shoes So They Last

Clean your golf shoes after every wet round: knock off the mud, wipe them down, remove the insoles and let them air dry away from direct heat, then reproof them a few times a season. Do that and a good pair lasts three or four winters instead of one. Rushing them onto a radiator or leaving them caked in mud is what kills golf shoes early.

Golf shoes take more punishment than any other kit in your bag: wet grass, mud, sand and coastal salt, round after round. A five-minute routine after each game keeps them waterproof, grippy and comfortable for years. Below is the exact process our pros use, plus how to store them, when to reproof, and the two low-cost bits of kit that make the job easier.

How do you clean golf shoes after a round?

Do it while the mud is still soft, before it bakes on. The whole job takes five minutes at the boot of the car or the kitchen sink. Never put them in the washing machine: the drum wrecks the waterproof membrane, the glued seams and the shape.

1. Bang the soles together outside to knock off the worst of the mud and loose grass.
2. Use a soft brush to work dried mud out of the outsole, the cleats or lugs, and the welt where the sole meets the upper.
3. Wipe the uppers with a cloth dipped in lukewarm water and a little mild soap. Avoid washing-up liquid with harsh degreasers on leather.
4. Rinse spikes and lugs under a running tap to clear grit, then dab the uppers with a clean damp cloth to lift the soap.
5. Pull out the insoles and loosen the laces so air can move through the shoe.

A dedicated brush with stiff and soft bristles makes short work of the sole without scratching the upper. This retractable golf brush clips to your bag and doubles for your clubs, so it earns its place either way.

What is the right way to dry golf shoes?

Air dry them slowly at room temperature, never on a radiator, in an airing cupboard or with a hairdryer. Fierce heat shrinks and cracks leather, warps synthetic uppers and can unstick the glued sole, which is the single most common way golfers ruin an expensive pair.

Stuff the shoes loosely with scrunched newspaper or kitchen roll to draw moisture out from the inside and hold their shape. Change the paper after a couple of hours if the round was a soaking one. Stand them somewhere with moving air, out of direct sun, and give them a full day to dry before you wear them again. Drying the insoles separately stops that damp, musty smell taking hold.

How do you keep golf shoes waterproof?

Reproof them regularly, because the factory waterproofing wears off with use and washing. Even shoes with a GORE-TEX or branded membrane rely on the outer fabric shedding water first, and once that outer layer wets through, your feet feel cold and damp long before the membrane is at fault.

A spray-on proofer restores that water-repellent finish in minutes. Clean and dry the shoes first, then spray an even coat over the whole upper, including the tongue and the seams, and leave it to cure as the label says. A footwear-specific proofer like this one works on leather, synthetic and knit uppers alike.

As a rule, reproof at the start of the season, then again every four to six wet rounds. If water stops beading on the surface and starts soaking in, it is time to spray again.

How should you store golf shoes between rounds?

Store them clean, dry and at room temperature, with shoe trees or loose paper inside to hold the shape. A cool, dry cupboard indoors is ideal. Avoid the two worst options: a sealed bag in a hot car boot, which breeds mould and heat-warps the sole, or an unheated shed over winter, where freeze-thaw cycles crack the outsole and stiffen the leather.

Rotating two pairs, one spiked for the wet months and one spikeless for summer, gives each pair a full day to dry out between games and roughly doubles how long both last. Keep them in a breathable shoe bag rather than loose in your holdall so they do not sit against damp towels and grass.

When should you replace cleats or the shoes themselves?

Replace soft-plastic cleats once the grip teeth wear flat, usually every season or two of regular play. Swapping them is a five-minute job with the supplied key, and fresh cleats give an old pair a new lease of life on wet ground. Keep the thread clean so they do not seize in.

Replace the shoes when the outsole tread is worn smooth, the upper leaks even after reproofing, or the sole starts separating from the upper. A well-cared-for pair should give three or four seasons before that point. When it is time to upgrade, our best golf shoes guide covers the top spiked and spikeless picks for every budget.

If you are shopping for a fresh pair or a spare set to rotate, read our best golf shoes 2026 buying guide for the in-stock spiked and spikeless options our pros rate right now.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put golf shoes in the washing machine?

No. A washing machine wrecks the waterproof membrane, unsticks glued seams and warps the shape, even on a cool cycle. Clean golf shoes by hand instead: brush off the mud, wipe the uppers with lukewarm soapy water, rinse the spikes and let them air dry slowly. Machine washing is the fastest way to ruin a good pair.

How do you dry wet golf shoes quickly?

Remove the insoles, loosen the laces and stuff the shoes with scrunched newspaper to pull moisture from the inside, changing the paper after a couple of hours. Stand them somewhere with moving air at room temperature. Never use a radiator, airing cupboard or hairdryer, as the heat cracks leather and can unstick the sole.

How often should you reproof golf shoes?

Reproof at the start of the season, then every four to six wet rounds after that. The simplest test is to look at the uppers: if water still beads and rolls off, the finish is fine, but once it starts soaking in your shoes need another coat of spray-on proofer. Always clean and dry them before reproofing.

How do you get rid of smell in golf shoes?

Dry them properly after every round, as damp is what causes the smell. Take the insoles out to air separately, and use scrunched paper inside to draw out moisture. For lingering odour, a sprinkle of baking soda left in overnight and tipped out works well, as do reusable cedar or charcoal inserts between rounds.

How long should a pair of golf shoes last?

A good pair, cleaned and reproofed regularly, should give three or four seasons of play. Rotating two pairs so each dries fully between rounds extends that further. Replace them when the tread wears smooth, the upper leaks despite reproofing, or the sole starts peeling away from the upper.

Should you use shoe trees for golf shoes?

Yes, or scrunched paper as a cheaper stand-in. Both hold the shoe's shape as it dries and stop the toe box collapsing, which keeps the fit comfortable and helps the waterproofing last. Cedar shoe trees also absorb moisture and cut down on smell, so they are a worthwhile few pounds for shoes you want to keep for years.

Looking after golf shoes is not complicated: knock off the mud, dry them slowly, reproof a few times a season and store them somewhere cool and dry. Spend five minutes after each wet round and one pair will see you through several British winters with your feet dry and your footing sure.