The Best Nubuck Cleaner - 2021
We looked at the top 5 Nubuck Cleaners and dug through the reviews from 23 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Nubuck Cleaners.
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Our Picks For The Top Nubuck Cleaners
One Coat OnlyMany nubuck protectors require multiple coats, but this one only requires one.
Versatile CleanerThis cleaner's benefits go well beyond nubuck to include rugs, couches and a wide range of shoe types.
Portable KitThis kit includes everything you need to clean and protect your suede or nubuck shoes, along with a zippered case that makes it easy to take with you.
Strong but SafeThis formula is both strong and safe, tackling tough stains like beer and oil with ease.
Why we recommend these nubuck cleaners?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 5 Nubuck Cleaners and also dug through the reviews from 23 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Nubuck Cleaners.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector
Our Take
This protector repels water as well as oil-based stains to keep your boots clean even during everyday wear. It's safe to use both on suede and unfinished leathers like nubuck. One of the best things about this protector, though, is that it only needs one coat to be effective.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
KIWI Suede & Nubuck Shoe Cleaner Kit
Our Take
This cleaner is an entire kit that comes in a zippered case that makes it easy to take on the go. You'll get a suede cleaner, suede protector, a handled cleaning brush, a cleaning cloth and a stain-eraser block. The cleaner removes tough stains, shiny marks and water spots for a thorough clean.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
5. Aged Leather Pros Ph Balanced Leather, Suede & Nubuck Cleaner
Our Nubuck Cleaner Findings
Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector
What We Liked: This protector repels water as well as oil-based stains to keep your boots clean even during everyday wear. It’s safe to use both on suede and unfinished leathers like nubuck. One of the best things about this protector, though, is that it only needs one coat to be effective.
Pink Miracle Leather & Nubuck Shoe Cleaner Kit
What We Liked: This cleaner works with a wide range of shoe material types, including canvas, leather, vinyl and plastic. But it isn’t limited to shoes. It’s also safe to use for cleaning household items like rugs, armchairs and couches.
KIWI Suede & Nubuck Shoe Cleaner Kit
What We Liked: This cleaner is an entire kit that comes in a zippered case that makes it easy to take on the go. You’ll get a suede cleaner, suede protector, a handled cleaning brush, a cleaning cloth and a stain-eraser block. The cleaner removes tough stains, shiny marks and water spots for a thorough clean.
Bickmore Suede & Nubuck Cleaner
What We Liked: This spray not only removes oil and water stains, but it also conditions as it softens to keep your shoes in great shape. It’s nontoxic but strong and effective without leaving chemical residue behind. You can use it to clean grain leather, suede and nubuck.
Aged Leather Pros Ph Balanced Leather, Suede & Nubuck Cleaner
What We Liked: This cleaner features a pH-balanced formula specifically designed to safely remove stains without harming the leather. It can be used on a variety of leather types and won’t leave residue behind. In addition to cleaning and protecting your leather, it keeps mold and mildew at bay.
Our Nubuck Cleaner Buying Guide
If you’ve ever shopped for a leather coat, handbag or pair of shoes, you know there are many different varieties of leather. One of those types, nubuck, is frequently confused with suede due to its extremely soft texture.
Nubuck is made from the top layer of calfskin or cowhide, which is a tougher and more resilient material than the layer beneath that’s used for suede. Manufacturers buff and sand nubuck to give it a consistent look, which softens it to a velvety texture, giving it that suede-like look and feel.
But even though nubuck is tougher than suede, its rough surface does tend to absorb oils and dirt more than other types of leather. That means if you have nubuck leather, you’ll definitely need to keep a cleaning solvent of some type on hand.
To clean nubuck leather, first use a dry brush to remove any surface dirt. A suede eraser can be a great second step in eliminating soil from the outermost layer. This two-step process will help keep you from grinding that dirt into the material when you start applying cleanser to it. At that point, you’re ready to start applying cleanser. Follow the directions on the solution. If it calls for a cloth to apply it, make sure you use one that is lint-free. Once you’ve treated the area, use a lint-free, dry towel to blot away as much moisture as you can before allowing the material to air dry.
No matter which solvent you choose to clean your nubuck, it’s always best to test it on a small, less-visible area before applying it to the stain. You may find that cleaning it changes the texture of the nubuck. To return it to its original softness, run a suede eraser or dry brush over the area.
DWYM Fun Fact
Wallpaper may not be as widely in use as it once was, but at one time, wall coverings were a symbol of wealth. What better way to flaunt your financial status than by outfitting your home’s walls with leather? This began as something called Cuir de Cordoue, which was typically made from lambskin and embossed and gilded before being hung on the wall.
Cuir de Cordoue was introduced in eighth-century Spain, gradually growing in popularity and spreading to Europe by the 11th century. Today, you can cover your walls in faux suedes and leathers, and genuine embossed leather wallpaper can mostly only be found in history books.
The Nubuck Cleaner Tips and Advice
- Although you can find nubuck cleaner, there are plenty of solutions that will work with a wide range of leathers and other materials. Just make sure the cleanser is safe to use on nubuck before you get started. Suede cleaners are typically a safe option.
- With boots of any type of leather, you’ll want to remove the insoles after you’ve worn them. They will have difficulty drying inside the boot and eventually begin to develop an unpleasant odor.
- If your nubuck is exposed to water, either through rain or another source, try to let it dry for at least 24 hours before wearing.
- Cleansers will open the pores of your nubuck, leaving them more vulnerable to dirt and debris. It’s best to follow up cleanser with some type of leather or suede protectant.
- If the inside of your boot gets wet, absorbing the moisture with newspaper for a half an hour or so can help wick some of that away.
- Never set leather near a heat source to dry. Leather is vulnerable to hotter temperatures. It’s best to let them dry at room temperature.
- You can save time by buying a leather cleaner that also has protector built in. Instead of having to apply multiple coats, you can do everything in one step.
- You may find that a multipurpose cleaner gives you more bang for your buck. Some leather cleansers also clean canvas, vinyl and other shoe materials, as well as household items like sofas and rugs.
- If you buy a kit, make sure you have somewhere to store everything. Kits that come with a zippered bag or pouch make it easy to take everything on the road with you when you travel.
- Some leather cleaners and protectors can leave a residue behind. You can often brush this residue off, but make sure you won’t end up with a tacky surface when you need to remove a stain and protect your leather.
About The Author
Stephanie Faris is a novelist and business writer whose work has appeared on numerous blogs. She worked for the State of Tennessee for 19 years, the latter six of which were spent as a supervisor. She has written content for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2011. In addition to her online content, she is also the author of eight novels for Simon & Schuster, including the Piper Morgan chapter book series.