SHOE CARE GUIDE
Looking after your Dotty Fish shoes properly will help keep them comfortable and looking their best for longer. Our footwear is made using carefully selected materials, including soft leather, suede, cotton and flexible rubber, and each needs slightly different care.
Below you’ll find simple advice for cleaning and caring for each Dotty Fish style. A little regular care can help maintain the materials, shape and grip while your little one crawls, cruises, walks and explores.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CARE FOR?
Jump straight to the care information you need:
SOFT SOLE SHOES & SANDALS
Our soft sole shoes and sandals are made from genuine leather with soft suede soles. Gentle cleaning is best for helping to look after the natural materials.
- Spot clean gently: Use a damp sponge, soft cloth or baby wipe to gently remove marks or dirt from the leather.
- Maintain the suede sole: Use a suede brush to gently brush the soles and restore their texture. This can help maintain the natural grip of the suede.
- Allow to air dry: If the shoes become damp, leave them to dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and direct heat.
- Do not machine wash: Machine washing can damage the leather and suede and may cause the shoes to lose their shape or shrink.
Please remember: Our soft suede soles are primarily designed for indoor wear. Crawling and regular use on rough outdoor surfaces can cause the leather and suede to wear more quickly.
RUBBER SOLE SHOES
Our rubber sole shoes combine soft leather uppers with flexible rubber soles. They can be worn for light outdoor use in dry conditions, but are not designed as wet-weather shoes.
- Wipe the leather clean: Use a damp cloth, soft sponge or baby wipe to gently remove dirt and marks from the leather upper.
- Clean the rubber soles: Wipe the soles with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.
- Allow to air dry: If the shoes become damp, leave them to dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and direct heat.
- Do not machine wash: Machine washing can damage the leather and may affect the shape and fit of the shoes.
For the best results, avoid wearing your rubber sole shoes in very wet conditions, muddy areas or over particularly rough terrain.
SUEDE SLIPPERS
Our cosy slippers are made from genuine suede with a warm fleece lining and soft suede soles. Gentle cleaning will help preserve the texture and appearance of the suede.
- Spot clean gently: Use a slightly damp cloth or sponge to gently remove marks from the suede.
- Maintain the suede sole: Use a suede brush to gently brush the soles and restore their texture, helping to maintain grip on smooth indoor floors.
- Allow to air dry: If the slippers become damp, leave them to dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and direct heat.
- Do not machine wash: Machine washing can damage the suede and may cause the slippers to harden, lose their shape or shrink.
COTTON BOOTIES
Our baby booties have a soft cotton outer, cosy fleece lining and flexible suede sole. Although the upper is cotton, we recommend spot cleaning rather than machine washing because of the suede sole.
- Spot clean gently: Use a slightly damp cloth or sponge to gently remove marks from the cotton outer.
- Maintain the suede sole: Use a suede brush to gently brush the sole and restore its texture, helping to maintain grip on smooth indoor floors.
- Allow to air dry: If the booties become damp, leave them to dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and direct heat.
- Do not machine wash: Machine washing can damage the suede sole and may cause the booties to lose their shape or shrink.
SWIM SHOES
Our swim shoes are designed for adventures around water, so regular rinsing after use will help keep them fresh and remove sand, salt and chlorine.
- Rinse after use: Rinse the shoes thoroughly with clean water after wearing them at the beach or pool to remove sand, salt or chlorine.
- Spot clean when needed: Use a damp cloth or sponge with a small amount of mild soap to gently clean the fabric upper.
- Clean the rubber soles: Wipe or rinse the flexible rubber soles to remove dirt and debris.
- Allow to air dry: Leave the shoes to dry naturally in a well-ventilated area, away from radiators and direct heat.
- Do not machine wash: Machine washing is not recommended as it may damage the materials and construction of the shoes.
BIBS & LEGWARMERS
Our cotton accessories can be machine washed, making them easy to keep clean and ready for everyday adventures.
- Organic Cotton Bibs: Machine washable. We recommend washing at 30°C.
- Legwarmers: Machine washable. We recommend washing at 40°C.
OUR TOP SHOE CARE TIPS
- Always allow footwear to dry naturally at room temperature.
- Avoid radiators, tumble dryers and other direct heat sources.
- Never machine wash leather or suede Dotty Fish footwear.
- Use a suede brush occasionally to refresh soft suede soles and help maintain their grip.
- Remember that leather and suede are natural materials, so small variations and signs of wear are normal.
- Choose footwear appropriate for where it will be worn – our soft sole shoes, sandals and slippers are primarily designed for indoor use.
NEED A LITTLE HELP?
If you’re unsure how to care for your Dotty Fish shoes, or you have a question about a particular pair, our team is always happy to help.