Sneakers are designed to be worn. And with wear comes all manner of scuffs and stains. Fortunately, most sneakers can be cleaned in a few simple steps, returning every pair—within reason—to its original appearance.
Below, an outline of the supplies and tools you’ll need, step-by-step instructions, guidelines for cleaning various materials and insights on cleaning a range of colors. Since you will be removing dirt and debris, you may want to clean your shoes outside or set up a designated area indoors to contain the residue. Now, let’s get started.
Cleaning Supplies and Tools
In order to clean your sneakers effectively, you’ll need dish soap, baking soda, a shoe brush, a toothbrush and a soft, clean cloth. Additionally, it may be helpful to have the following optional items on hand: a melamine sponge, leather conditioner, white vinegar, mild laundry detergent, sneaker wet wipes, a suede brush and a microfiber towel.
How to Clean Your Sneakers Step by Step
1. Remove the Laces and Insoles
Begin the cleaning process by removing the laces from the upper. If you plan to wash the insoles, remove them at this stage. If you do not plan to wash the insoles, you may leave them inside your sneakers. Steps for cleaning the laces and insoles are outlined below.
2. Place a Shoe Tree in Your Sneakers
Place a shoe tree in your sneakers or stuff them with crumpled pieces of newspaper. This will help your sneakers retain their shape during cleaning.
3. Remove Loose Dirt and Debris
Using a dry shoe brush or toothbrush, remove loose dirt and debris from the upper, midsole and outsole. Generally, a shoe brush is effective for cleaning wide swaths of material, while a toothbrush is helpful for cleaning smaller and more nuanced areas.
4. Create a Mild Cleaning Solution
For white and lighter-colored shoes, create a cleaning paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and water.
For all other shoes, mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap. The resulting solution should be mildly foamy and have the consistency of water.
5. Hand-wash the Laces
The laces should have been removed in Step 1. If not, remove the laces from the upper now.
Apply a small amount of the mild cleaning solution to the laces with your hands. Continue to massage the laces until the solution has permeated the entirety of each lace. Lightly rinse with warm water, squeezing any residue out with your hands. Pat dry with a soft cloth. Set aside to further air-dry.
6. Wash the Insoles (Optional)
If you are not washing the insoles, skip this step and proceed to Step 7.
If you are washing the insoles and did not remove them in Step 1, remove the insoles now and set aside.
Dip a shoe brush, toothbrush or washcloth in the mild cleaning solution. Scrub both sides of each insole, lightly rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Set aside to further air-dry. Make sure the insoles are completely dry before reinserting them into your shoes.
7. Wash the Midsoles and Outsoles
Dip a shoe brush, toothbrush or washcloth in the mild cleaning solution. Scrub the midsole and outsole thoroughly, applying more solution as needed to your brush or washcloth to ensure every part of the sole unit is clean. Lightly rinse the midsole and outsole with warm water, and pat dry with a soft cloth.
8. Wash the Uppers
Dip a toothbrush or soft cloth in the mild cleaning solution. Gently clean the uppers, taking your time to avoid wearing down or damaging the fabric.
Once all the dirt, debris, scuffs and stains have been removed, use a dry microfiber towel or a soft, clean cloth to gently blot and soak up the remaining moisture and residue. Repeat if necessary.
Note: Avoid drying by rubbing as it can wear down the upper material or spread any remaining residue.
9. Air-dry
Air-dry your sneakers, laces and insoles at room temperature. Always allow your shoes—including laces and insoles—to dry completely before wearing them again. Most shoes will take at least eight hours to fully dry.
Different Materials
The above steps are applicable for most sneakers. However, different materials can benefit from specific considerations and steps. Below, helpful tips for common materials, including leather, knit and canvas.
How to Clean Leather Sneakers
From the Air Jordan 1 to the Nike Dunk Low, leather sneakers are among the most durable. With such a resilient material, however, comes a lifetime of stains and scuffs. Follow the above steps regularly to keep your leather sneakers clean.
Additionally, you may want to use a melamine sponge or leather conditioner at the end of the cleaning process to further remove stains and scuffs. As always, be gentle while using these products in order to avoid wearing down or damaging the leather.
How to Clean Suede Shoes
Famously appearing on the PUMA Suede, suede is among the most difficult materials to clean. Exercise patience throughout the cleaning process to avoid wearing down or damaging the fabric. Follow the below steps to restore suede to its original appearance.
Use a suede brush or microfiber towel to gently wipe away surface debris. Work in the same direction as the material rather than going against the grain.
Use a suede rubber eraser or a pencil eraser to rub away any surface marks.
For deeper stains, dip a soft, clean cloth in white vinegar. Scrub the fabric in alternating directions, gently going with and against the grain until the stain is removed.
How to Clean Knit Sneakers
Knit materials such as Flyknit and Primeknit provide flexibility and comfort, and are featured on some of today’s most iconic styles, including the VaporMax Flyknit, Yeezy Boost 350 V2 and UltraBoost. To further restore the appearance of knit materials, create a mild cleaning solution with a soap that does not contain chemicals. Dip a soft, clean cloth in the solution and rub the cloth in the same direction as the knit, gently removing dirt and debris with each pass.
Note: Avoid bleach or other powerful cleaning products as they can damage the fabric.
How to Clean Canvas Sneakers
From Vans to Converse, canvas is one of the most common sneaker materials. To further restore the appearance of canvas, dip a shoe brush or toothbrush in the mild cleaning solution. Scrub the material in small, circular motions until all residue is removed. Pat dry with a soft cloth and set aside to further air-dry.
Note: Canvas is a strong material and can generally withstand a considerable amount of scrubbing. However, exercise caution to avoid wearing down or damaging the fabric.
How to Clean Rubber Shoes
Appearing on a wide range of sole units, rubber is among the most practical shoe materials, favored for its ability to withstand long-term wear and adverse conditions. For shoes made entirely of rubber, rinsing with warm water frequently will help reduce buildup of dirt and debris. Rinsing with warm water regularly will also work with rubber-like silhouettes such as the Crocs Classic Clog, made from a proprietary resin known as “Croslite.”
To remove heavier buildup, mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent. Dip a shoe brush or toothbrush in the mild cleaning solution. Scrub the rubber in small, circular motions until all residue is removed. Lightly rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Set aside to further air-dry.
How to Clean Foam Shoes
Foam is an increasingly popular shoe material, comprising the entirety of the Yeezy Foam Runner, Yeezy Slide and others. Like rubber, rinsing with warm water frequently will help reduce buildup of dirt and debris. Additionally, wiping the material with sneaker wet wipes will help remove dirt and debris.
To remove heavier buildup, dip a shoe brush or toothbrush in the mild cleaning solution. Gently scrub the foam in small, circular motions until all residue is removed, being careful not to scratch the material. Lightly rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Set aside to further air-dry.
How to Clean Different Sneakers
How to Clean White Air Force 1s
To clean white Air Force 1s, start by removing the laces and soaking them in warm, soapy water. Use a clean soft brush or cloth with a specialist cleaning product to gently scrub dirt from the shoe’s leather surface. Rinse the cloth, wipe off excess soap and air-dry. Repeat this process to clean the midsole. For scuff marks, use a magic eraser or baking soda paste.
How to Clean Nike Flyknit Sneakers
Nike Flyknit sneakers require a more gentle hand due to their knitted fabrication. Remove the laces and insoles, and soak them separately in warm, soapy water. Use a clean soft brush or toothbrush with a mild specialist cleaning product to scrub the Flyknit upper in a circular motion. Avoid soaking the entire shoe. After scrubbing, wipe down with a lightly dampened cloth and air-dry. Repeat this process to clean the midsole.
How to Clean adidas NMD Sneakers
Similar to Flyknit sneakers, to clean adidas NMDs, remove the laces and insoles, cleaning them separately. Use a mild specialist cleaning product and a clean soft brush to scrub the mesh upper and Boost midsole (be extra vigilant not to apply too much pressure to the Boost material). Pay attention to dirt buildup on the sole’s edges.
After scrubbing, wipe down the shoes with a lightly dampened cloth to remove the soap residue. Let them air-dry away from direct sunlight to avoid damaging the material.
How to Clean Basketball Shoes
To clean basketball shoes, start by removing the insoles and cleaning them separately. Then, remove dirt and debris from the soles using a brush. Wipe the upper material with a damp cloth and mild soap or specialist cleaning product, using a clean soft brush in a circular motion for tougher stains. Avoid soaking the shoes entirely. Rinse off soap residue, then air-dry. Wipe the soles regularly during use to remove buildup and maintain grip.
How to Clean Different Colors
Generally, the steps for cleaning sneakers remain the same whether they are white, black or any other color. However, there are a few guidelines to optimize cleaning white sneakers and to avoid damaging the color of other sneakers.
White Sneakers
In addition to using the mild cleaning solution, it may be helpful to repeat Steps 7 and 8 above using white vinegar. Simply dip a shoe brush, toothbrush or washcloth in white vinegar and repeat Steps 7 and 8. If the laces are also white, you may apply white vinegar to them as well, following the guidelines in Step 5.
For stubborn scuffs and stains, gently scrub the surface of the material with sneaker wet wipes or a melamine sponge after cleaning with the mild cleaning solution and white vinegar. As always, exercise caution to avoid wearing down or damaging the fabric.
Colored Sneakers
As outlined in Step 4, mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap. Be sure to avoid using bleach or other powerful cleaning products as they may alter the color of your sneakers. Additionally, because baking soda has a bleaching effect, you should refrain from using it to clean colored shoes, with the exception of white parts of the shoe such as certain soles.