10 Best Shoe Brushes UK 2023 | Kiwi, Cherry Blossom and More

There's a reason horsehair shoe brushes are the most common – because they're the most versatile. This brush not only cleans, but also buffs and shines beautifully. It is said that if you only buy one style of shoe brush, it should be horsehair, so it makes sense for this to be our winning pick! 

We recommend this particular horsehair brush because it manages to pass all of the quality checks in build, design, and material. We also love the fact that you can buy the neutral-toned brushes separately or as a pair if needed. All in all, this is a sturdy product that's well worth the price. 

As the name suggests, this brush is made from super-soft goat hair bristles. This softness makes it ideal for delicate materials and any precious footwear items you want to take good care of. The hand-finished wooden handle is also well-designed and rather elegant, too. 

Another plus is that this brush is very easy to maintain; it can be combed out and also washed with liquid soap. Handily, it's also useful for dusting off your shoes and boots and is available in dark and light colours. For a finishing brush to give that spotless final shine, this is as good as it gets.

This set of two applicator brushes may be compact, but they're very useful for applying polish. The small frame enables you to manoeuvre seamlessly around your shoes as you work in your polish, wax or cream and it's able to reach all corners, including hard-to-reach places like the welt.

Not to mention, their portability makes them great for travel or stashing in your desk! Build-wise, the rounded wooden handles are ergonomic and comfortable to hold, and the pig hair bristles are quite versatile – they can also be used for cleaning and removing excess polish.

This crepe brush is ideal for delicate leather due to its soft and sticky bristles which pulls dirt apart. Best suited for suede and nubuck shoes, the flexible bristles remove soiling and debris gently and thoroughly. 

The flat handle is made of polished beechwood too, which guarantees a longer-lasting product. This is an impressive brush, particularly for those who want to avoid harsher brass wire and prefer a gentler alternative. It can also be used on shoes made of fabric and canvas.

Not every brush can give a deep and thorough cleaning like this one! The brass bristles are genuine as opposed to just plated, so it is very efficient at getting underneath the fibres of your suede footwear to get the job done. 

The wooden extended handle, shaped like a toothbrush, allows for a tight hold and ensures your hands are at a good distance from the bristles, thereby keeping them clean during use. The rather harsh bristles are not right for more delicate suede materials, though, which is something to be mindful of.

This natural pig hair brush is available in dark and light bristles, allowing you to have different brushes for light-coloured and dark-coloured shoes accordingly. The bristles are stiffer than horsehair and perfect for cleaning shoes and working polish into textured leather.

Wren's brush has a durable, varnished wooden handle which is contoured on either side, allowing you to rest your fingers comfortably while working and minimising slipping. The handles are a bit rough around the edges, but the general quality of the brush is satisfactory.

Here's a nice, soft shoe brush that's made of 100% natural horsehair, with an extended length that's extra convenient to use. This premium quality brush is great for buffing in polish and shining boots and shoes.

Not only does it come at a decent price, but it's practical and adaptable for both cleaning and polishing purposes. You might find that some hairs are lost in the course of using it, but it gets the job done and is worth the price.

This polishing brush, also by Kiwi, is made from dense, natural bristles which are suitable for tackling trapped dirt and stubborn stains. After applying your polish with an applicator, you should buff with this brush to give your leather shoes a glossy shine.

It has a flat, wooden handle that is both large and comfortable to hold, as well as being of a good quality and durability that mean it will stay with you for a while. Do note, however, that the natural hairs may shed a bit.

This multi-purpose cleaning brush by the popular Kiwi brand does a great job at light cleaning. It has a soft rubber head that is gentle on suede and nubuck shoes, as well as a brush and an eraser block for the removal of stains and shiny marks.

This easy-to-use kit restores the appearance of suede and nubuck after removing water spots and stains. Some reviewers have reported, however, that it is not very tough on stains even if you apply plenty of pressure, so you'll need a harder brush if you're dealing with heavy staining. 

This triple-sided brush is designed to clean and revive suede and nubuck shoes. The tough synthetic bristles really get under the nap of the suede to remove stains, marks and dirt, and the rubber adds shine. It's also practical to use, with a long, ergonomic wooden handle and a hole at the tip for hanging.

This is a multipurpose brush that can be used to clean items other than shoes too! However, because it is so tough it's likely to scratch your footwear if you aren't sure what you're doing, so it will require very careful use.