Some people think that white sneakers look best when worn and worn. Others know you’ll never scratch a spotless Jordan (video). If you want to clean your sneakers, the effort required depends on the material of the shoes. But you should at least be able to make them look a little less gross.
How long does it take to clarify this?
Count on five minutes to an hour (plus drying time), depending on the type of shoes and how dirty they are. The materials your shoes are made from determine how you clean them and how long it takes.
Fill the shoes and brush off the loose dirt
To keep your shoes in shape, first stuff them with shoe trees or something else like rags or newspaper. This makes the shoes easier to handle and provides a buffer to absorb any liquids that seep through.
If you have a shoe brush, use it to remove dirt. An old toothbrush, a soft nail brush, or even a soft washcloth will also do. The goal is to remove dust and dirt without driving it deeper into the material.
Clean leather sneakers
Luckily, leather sneakers are the easiest to clean. If you’re using Crep Protect wipes, open a new one and gently buff the spots with the soft side of the cloth. If the dirt is stubborn, use the printed side of the towel. If you don’t have Crep Protect wipes, a Magic Eraser will work too (but be careful using it, as the eraser can be abrasive if you press too hard).
You can get into those hard-to-clean nooks and crannies easier by removing the laces (but keeping the laces on will keep your shoes in shape). Make sure the shoes are completely dry before wearing them.
How to clean canvas sneakers
Canvas shoes like Chuck Taylors and Super gas can be difficult to clean because the dirt gets into the fabric of the shoe. However, the fabric usually stands up to a lot of scrubbing, so most stains can be removed with a little work.
After mixing the dish soap and water, clean your shoes by scrubbing them with a toothbrush in small circular motions. When you’re done, wipe them down with a damp cloth to remove any remaining soapy water.
Allow your shoes to dry between polishing sessions. You can’t tell how much dirt is left when they’re still wet.
If your sneakers still have stains, try a stain remover like Tide or OxiClean. Apply the stain remover and let the liquid sit for about five minutes before wiping it off with a damp cloth. At first I was hesitant to try something this aggressive, but sneaker legend Jason Mark said it was okay, so it’s going to be okay.
To the washing machine?
A heated debate is whether shoes should be thrown in the wash. Some have done it successfully. But don’t ignore the stories of shoes falling apart in the washing machine (something that happened to editor-in-chief Jen Hunter). So proceed with caution as it is not a delicate process.
How to clean knitted shoes
Knitted shoes, like Nike’s Flyknit or Adidas’ Primeknit, are incredibly comfortable and have tremendous flexibility. They are also a nightmare to clean.
Start by soaking a clean washcloth in soapy water and gently scrub the shoe with it. To maintain the structure of the shoe, work in the direction of the stitch as much as possible. Wipe off any soap residue.
As with plimsolls, you can use stronger cleaners if needed with knit shoes. However, since you don’t have to scrub the knit as hard as other materials, you should always touch it lightly.
And as with all shoes you clean, let them dry completely before wearing.
Final
Clean the midsole by moistening the magic eraser and rubbing it on the edge of the sole of the shoe. Save this step for last in case there are drips while cleaning the top of the shoe.
While working on this piece, I tried cleaning my partner’s white jersey Stan Smiths. Let’s just say the improvements were marginal, even after several tries over several days. Sometimes you have to admit that your sneakers will never look as shiny as the day they came out of the box. And maybe that’s okay.
