Cloths are used for a number of purposes, including wiping off saddle soap, applying conditioner, oil, or cream polish, and buffing polished leather.

In general, it is best that cloths be 100% cotton. Polyester binds to polish too easily and can strip polish off of leather rather than smoothing it. Cut up T-shirts, sheets, and cloth diapers are often used in bootblacking.

Specialized cloths include buffing cloths, which are strips of cotton twill brushed on one side used specifically for buffing high-shine leather, nylon cloths (often pantyhose or nylon socks) for finish buffing, and terrycloth towels. Cloths should be selected with an eye toward the amount of lint that the cloths will shed, as lint can often interfere with a good shine or oiling.