How to clean any shoe: sneaker and shoe care, material by material

Before you start: what you need

• Two brushes: a soft brush for uppers and a medium or stiff brush for midsoles and outsoles.
• A microfiber cloth to lift foam and dirt instead of pushing it around.
• A mild cleaner: a dedicated sneaker cleaner, or a few drops of gentle dish soap in a bowl of cool to lukewarm water.
• For suede or nubuck: a suede eraser and a suede brush. Keep water to a minimum.
• Paper or shoe trees to hold the shape while the pair dries.

Two rules before anything touches the shoe: test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and never use bleach, acetone, or a hair dryer on sneakers. Bleach yellows rubber and strips color, and direct heat can weaken the glue that holds the sole on.

The basic method that works on most sneakers

1. Prep. Remove the laces and insoles. Knock off loose dirt by tapping the soles together.
2. Dry brush. Brush the whole shoe dry first. Most dirt comes off before any liquid goes on.
3. Clean the uppers. Dip the soft brush in your solution, not the shoe. Work in small circles, one panel at a time, and wipe each panel with the cloth as you go.
4. Clean midsoles and outsoles. Switch to the stiffer brush. Soles can take more pressure and more solution than uppers.
5. Wash the laces. Soak them in the leftover solution, rub them together, rinse, and hang them to dry.
6. Dry slowly. Stuff the pair with paper and let it air dry at room temperature, out of direct sun. Allow a full day before wearing.

How to clean shoes by material

Canvas

Canvas is forgiving. Use the basic method with a little more solution and a medium brush. Rinse residue with a damp cloth so soap does not dry into the weave and leave a ring.

Mesh and knit

Mesh traps dirt under the surface and frays if you scrub hard. Use a soft brush, light pressure, and blot with the cloth rather than rubbing. Hold a finger behind thin mesh panels so you do not stretch them.

Smooth leather (and how to fix white leather shoes)

Wipe leather with a barely damp cloth and a small amount of cleaner, then dry it straight away. Light scuffs on white leather usually lift with a melamine sponge used gently and with very little water. Finish with a leather conditioner so the leather does not dry out and crack at the creases. Deep creasing, paint loss, and stains that have soaked in need professional restoration rather than more scrubbing.

Suede and nubuck (gamuza)

Suede, called gamuza in Spanish, is the material most often ruined at home. Clean it dry first: brush in one direction to lift the nap, then use a suede eraser on marks. For stubborn spots, use a cleaner made for suede with as little moisture as possible, then brush the nap back up once it is dry. Never soak suede or put it in a washing machine. Read more in our Suede 101 article or the Spanish-language gamuza guide.

How to clean sneaker soles and keep white soles white

Midsoles and outsoles hold the most visible dirt, and they are where a clean pair is judged. Scrub them with a stiff brush and your solution. For grime in the texture of white soles, a paste of baking soda and a little water, worked in with the brush and wiped off, gives extra grip without harsh chemicals.

A melamine sponge works well on smooth rubber midsoles. Be gentle on painted midsoles, because it can wear the paint through.

Yellow soles are a different problem. Yellowing on white or icy soles is usually oxidation of the rubber, not dirt, so scrubbing will not reverse it. That needs a dedicated treatment. Our oxidation treatment and Un-Yellowing add-on ($24.99) are built for exactly this.

How to clean the inside of sneakers

1. Pull the insoles out and hand-wash them with a soft brush and mild soap. Press out the water with a towel rather than wringing them.
2. Wipe the inside lining with a damp cloth and a drop of cleaner, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth.
3. For odor, sprinkle baking soda inside once the shoe is dry, leave it overnight, then tip it out.
4. Let the insoles and shoes dry completely, separately, before you put them back together. Trapped moisture is what brings the smell back.

How to clean clogs

Rubber or foam clogs can be washed in warm, soapy water with a soft brush, then rinsed and air dried. Keep them out of hot cars, dryers, and direct sun, because heat can shrink or warp foam.

Leather or suede clogs follow the leather and suede steps above. If they have a wooden or cork footbed, wipe it with a barely damp cloth and never soak it.

How to clean worn, heavily used shoes

Heavily worn pairs need patience, not stronger chemicals. Do two or three light passes with the basic method rather than one aggressive one, and let the pair dry between passes. Clean and deodorize the insides as well, because a clean upper on a pair that still smells does not feel clean.

Some problems mean it is time for a professional. These include soles separating from the upper, cracked or peeling midsole paint, deep yellowing, and stains that have set into suede. See our sneaker and shoe repair guide for what can be fixed.

How to clean shoes with a shoe cleaner

Dedicated sneaker cleaners work best when you follow the label's dilution. Apply the cleaner to a wet brush instead of directly onto the shoe, work it into a light foam, and lift the foam off with a microfiber cloth. Using more cleaner rarely helps. It mostly leaves residue that attracts dirt faster. Our guide to sneaker cleaning products explains which type of cleaner suits which material.