The best brush for cleaning sneakers depends on what they're made of. For most pairs, the Angelus Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush is the one to start with: its bristles are soft enough for suede and knit but firm enough to scrub dirt out of leather and canvas, and it's made to pair with Angelus Easy Cleaner. Add the Detail Cleaning Brush Set for tread and stitching, a Nylon Suede Brush if you own suede, and a horsehair brush if you also polish leather shoes.
We've been making shoe care tools in Los Angeles since 1907. Here's what each brush is for, so you can buy the one or two you'll actually use.
Start here: what do you mostly clean?
Every Angelus shoe brush, side by side
| Brush | Bristles | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush | Medium, 5 inches long | Scrubbing whole sneakers with Easy Cleaner, any material |
| Detail Cleaning Brush Set | One soft, one hard | Tread, stitching, eyelets, and tight spots |
| Nylon Suede Brush | Nylon | Dry brushing suede and nubuck, lifting the nap |
| Shoe Shine Rocker Brush | 100% horsehair, 6.5 inches | Brushing dust off leather and buffing wax to a shine |
| Premium Shoe Shine Brush | 100% horsehair, 5 inches | The same job in a smaller size that's easy to travel with |
| Wax Applicator Brush | 100% horsehair, small | Working shoe polish into the leather before you buff |
For everyday sneakers: the Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush
If you're buying one brush, make it this one. It's 5 inches long, which fits easily in your hand around a toe box, and the bristles are soft enough that you won't fuzz up suede or knit with normal pressure. On leather and canvas you can press harder to get the dirt out. Put Easy Cleaner on the shoe or the damp brush, scrub in small circles, and wipe with a towel. The Easy Cleaner Kit comes with the brush, the cleaner, and a microfiber towel.
For soles, tread, and stitching: the Detail Cleaning Brush Set
A big brush skims over grooves. The Detail set gives you a hard-bristle brush for lug soles and outsole tread and a soft one for stitching, eyelets, and the spot where the upper meets the midsole. Most people use the big brush for the uppers and switch to these for the last five minutes.
For suede and nubuck: the Nylon Suede Brush
Suede gets brushed dry, before any cleaner touches it. The Nylon Suede Brush lifts dust out of the nap and stands flattened fibers back up. Pair it with a suede eraser for scuffs. The Nubuck & Suede Kit has both. Our suede guide shows the full process.
For leather shoes and boots: horsehair
Horsehair is soft enough that it won't scratch smooth leather and stiff enough to move dust and buff wax. You'll use it two ways: to brush off dust before you clean, and to buff after you polish.
Shoe Shine Rocker Brush
The full-size 6.5-inch brush. The rocker shape fits your hand and covers a whole shoe quickly. Shop
Premium Shoe Shine Brush
A 5-inch version that fits in a travel kit or a desk drawer. Shop
Wax Applicator Brush
A small brush for working polish into the leather and into the welt, where a cloth won't reach. Shop
Customer story
"I had never used brushes for polishing and buffing before and I had no idea what I was missing!! I cant get over the shine I got using these brushes with neutral shoe polish wax." (Kristie S., verified buyer)
Which brushes do you actually need?
| If you own | Get |
|---|---|
| Mostly leather, canvas, or mesh sneakers | Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush (or the Easy Cleaner Kit) |
| Sneakers with heavy tread or white midsoles | Add the Detail Cleaning Brush Set |
| Any suede or nubuck | Add the Nylon Suede Brush or the Nubuck & Suede Kit |
| Dress shoes or boots you polish | A horsehair shine brush, plus the Wax Applicator if you polish often |
How to care for your brushes
Rinse cleaning brushes in warm water after a messy job and let them dry bristles down, so water doesn't sit in the base. Tap suede brushes against the edge of a table to knock the dust out. Keep the horsehair brush you buff with separate from the one you use for dusting, and use one horsehair brush per wax color so a black polish doesn't end up on tan shoes.
Got your brush? Here's what to do with it
How to clean sneakers, step by step · A 2-minute routine to keep them clean · How to polish leather shoes
Sneaker brush FAQ
What is the best brush for cleaning sneakers?
For most people, the Angelus Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush. It's soft enough for suede and knit and firm enough for leather and canvas.
Can I use a toothbrush to clean sneakers?
It's small and covers very little at a time, so you'll be at it for a while. A dedicated brush with a cleaner made for shoes gets more dirt out with less work. One customer told us exactly that: "I used to clean my sneakers with an old toothbrush, soap/water, and paper towels... With the Easy Cleaner Kit I was able to get more off, with less work and less of a mess."
Is horsehair good for cleaning sneakers?
It's great for dusting leather and buffing polish, but it's too soft to scrub dirt out of canvas or soles. Use the Sneaker Cleaning Brush for that.
What brush should I use on suede?
A nylon suede brush, used dry. It lifts the nap without tearing it. For cleaning, use the Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush with very little Easy Cleaner.
