How to wash shoes?

Washing running shoes is something many people may not think of as a necessary task at times since they often use the same shoes over and over again. It can also be that people think shoes are just like clothes and that you can definitely just throw the shoes into the washing machine to clean them again. What often happens then is that you can damage the delicate materials used to assemble the shoe and, in the worst case, completely distort the shoes. So if you really plan to wash your shoes in the washing machine, do it carefully and keep them away from the dryer. Place the shoes in a pillowcase, use cold water, very little detergent, if you're washing completely white shoes – use bleach instead, and use low or no spin cycle and let them air dry. Again, no dryer! Next, we will explain how you can wash by hand to avoid damaging your favorite pair.

Avoid dirty shoes with this trick

One of the best tips for white shoes is prevention. If you want to keep your new sneakers clean and white as long as possible, the first thing you should do is impregnate the shoes before using them. This will make less dirt stick to the shoes, and any stains will be easier to wash off. If damage has already occurred, we have several effective tips that remove even the worst stains.

General tips

Here are some general tips to preserve the appearance and quality of your shoes before we dive straight into how to wash them. They are very simple and can quickly become a nice little routine once you get home again. It is always best to take care of these steps as early as possible to prevent it from becoming very difficult to get them clean again.

Step 1 - Wash away visible dirt. Evaluate the time you have to do this and use a clean towel, a used toothbrush you were about to discard, or if you really are pressed for time; your hands.

Just like with your teeth, it is important to remove dirt from the shoes so the problem doesn’t get worse – it will save you from future troubles and headaches.

Step 2 - Next, remove remaining dirt from a trip outside; no matter if you just took a walk to the store where the road is clean – you’ll be surprised how much can stick under the shoe.

Rinse the shoes with a wet towel or a concentrated water stream; for example under the sink or showerhead if you are careful enough. This is especially useful if you've been running in the forest where it's wet and muddy.

Step 3 - Last but not least, clean the large and visible stains. If you have gotten large stains on the shoe recently, it will probably be possible to remove them if you are quick enough to apply a soap and water mixture to the stain.

What kind of products you can use depends on the shoe, and we will go deeper into how to remove difficult stains and marks later in the article.

The other general tips will get you far, but it is important to be cautious with the different materials of the shoes and that requires a bit more attention from you if you need to clean them further. Next, we will guide you through how to wash knitted, mesh, canvas, leather, synthetic leather, and suede leather shoes.

Knitted and mesh shoes

Also called knit, or knitted shoes, which can be described as breathable with a mesh-like appearance. It has been a big trend recently to wear knitted running shoes, but the problem is that they easily get dirty. Unlike other materials found in shoes, knitted materials are very porous by nature; in other words equipped with pores and openings. This means they attract mud, dirt, sweat, and everything that loves to seep into the material, which often seems impossible to clean.

Mesh shoes have the same problems as knitted shoes since both are made from breathable material; dirt and other grime get trapped in the mesh around the shoe when you, for example, go for a run or workout. The difference between mesh and knitted shoes is that mesh shoes are usually made of synthetic materials like polyester or nylon and can tolerate more thorough cleaning.

How to wash shoes in the washing machine

Our running shoes are made of mesh material, and we have found that they tolerate the washing machine as long as you remove the laces and insoles and set the machine to 30 degrees with low spin. The white shoes are designed to keep their white color longer. But if you want to be more careful, follow the advice below.

With the help of this guide, we will make the impossible possible. Although knit and mesh shoes require some care, that doesn’t mean they can’t be restored to their original condition – they just need a bit of extra patience and gentleness.

How to do it

With knitted shoes, you must be very careful; they are soft and shapeable, which makes them more fragile compared to a nylon blend mesh or other materials. This means brushing is a no-go and too rough for the fabric, so you must use a soft cloth or microfiber cloth to remove stains.

1. Regarding cleaning products, you must also be cautious. Chemicals in detergents can be too harsh for the fabric. Instead, use mild shower soap.
2. Cover the area you want to wash with the soap and soak it with cold water.
3. Gently rub with the cloth at your disposal until the stain has been lifted from the fabric.
4. Remove soap residues with a wet towel and let it air dry.

With mesh, you may have used stronger materials like nylon and polyester, so it will then be possible to use a brush if you have one or a used toothbrush. It also varies if the shoes are soft or hard; so if you choose a toothbrush, use soft bristles for soft shoes and hard bristles for hard shoes.

1. You know your shoes best, so choose the right brush – soft for soft and hard for hard.
2. Brush off the dirt and grime you have on the shoes.
3. Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part vinegar and soak the mixture on the dirty areas or stains for about 15 minutes.
4. After the 15 minutes, gently scrub the area you covered for a couple of minutes before finally using a soft and wet cloth to wash and wipe it away.

 

Synthetic leather shoes

Materials in synthetic leather shoes do not hold stains as tightly as nylon/polyester mesh and are more forgiving than real leather shoes, so the difficulty level of washing your synthetic shoes is fortunately much easier. Hopefully, you will notice that dirt and grime lift easily as you begin cleaning them.

How to do it

1. Mix a solution of warm water and a little mild detergent.
2. Take a clean cloth and soak it in the solution before you begin washing away and soaking the dirty areas on your shoe.
3. Once the dirty areas have been soaked, gently scrub them with a brush or toothbrush for a few minutes.
4. Wipe the shoes clean with a soft and wet cloth to remove any soap residue and let the shoes air dry.

Canvas sneakers

Canvas shoes are, however, less forgiving and get dirty more easily than synthetic leather shoes, but in return, they are very durable. That said, it is possible to clean the shoes with your washing machine; just be careful and preferably place them in a pillowcase and run a gentle program with cold water and very little detergent, and if the shoes are completely white, you can add bleach and skip the detergent. When done, take them out and let them air dry. But it is always best to wash shoes by hand as you’ll have more control over what goes where.

How to do it by hand

1. Make a mixture containing equal parts baking soda and warm water.
2. Find an old or new toothbrush specifically for shoes and dip it in the mixture you prepared.
3. Scrub the stains and dirt on the shoes with the toothbrush until clean.
4. Let the shoes dry with the mixture still on before possibly washing away the dried and hardened baking soda mixture with a damp cloth.

Leather shoes

Leather can be a fantastic material that can do a lot for an outfit, but it can also create great frustrations and headaches when cleaning the garments. You can easily get many stains on leather shoes, and they are very easy to get wear marks on and from nearly anything, which can distort the material’s natural patina. Once you notice the shoes have gotten a stain, the most important thing is to carefully clean the stains that have occurred.

How to do it

1. Make a mixture with a little liquid dish soap and water in a bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture and use it to gently wash away visible dirt and salt stains from the shoe’s surface.
2. Add baking soda to the mixture from step 1, and mix it with a used toothbrush if you use one or a brush with suitable bristles for leather. Use the toothbrush to scrub the shoe soles until you see no more dirt. Then wipe away soap and dirt with the microfiber cloth or gently rinse it off under the sink.
3. An ingenious idea we’ve discovered is that you can use window cleaner to make the shoes shinier! Spray the cleaner either directly on the shoe or on a microfiber cloth, then polish and wipe it dry.
4. Do the same with the other shoe and let them dry completely, but keep them away from direct sunlight and heat.

Suede leather shoes

Suede leather sneakers, or suede, are one of the most frustrating shoes to try to preserve quality on. Suede lacks the outer protective barrier of leather which gives it the velvety feel on the shoes but also makes it very vulnerable to all sorts of unfortunate accidents you might come across while wearing them. To make matters worse, suede is also quite resistant to cleaning.

If you haven’t already, it is wise to invest in a brush specially suited for suede leather. Just be gentle with the brushing as you don’t want to be too aggressive, but the brush can work wonders to clean the surface.

Another thing you can invest in is a suede eraser. You press the eraser against the stain and rub and manipulate it until the stain disappears. When finished, take a clean cloth to remove residues from the cleaning.

If the shoes still haven’t been cleaned by the two remedies you invested in or you just don’t want to invest in them, you can resort to white vinegar.

How to do it

1. Apply a little white vinegar on a clean cloth before gently soaking the cloth on the stain. You don’t need much vinegar, so use as little as possible.
2. Wash the stain carefully with the cloth that has white vinegar on it.
3. Once you have managed to wash away the stain, clean the area with a damp cloth or towel and let it air dry.

How to keep your shoes clean

Now that you have a real introduction to how to clean sneakers, we can summarize the guide with a few simple tips to keep them clean.

1. Spot-check your shoes every time you come home. It may seem like an unnecessary and tiresome extra thing to do, but if you keep track of how your shoes are before putting them away, you can maintain their quality.
2. It is super important to clean stains immediately when you notice them. Gravel, soil, and other sticky stuff you encounter can be easiest to clean off immediately upon contact with your shoes, so try to deal with it as soon as possible, even if all you have available is some soap and water in a bathroom sink.
3. Last but not least, apply products that create a protective barrier when necessary. Not all shoe types need to be sprayed or rubbed in, but leather and suede in particular will greatly benefit from a little extra care. Remember to impregnate your shoes.
4. You impregnate leather shoes with wax. Suede / Nubuck or other shoes such as sneakers and running shoes; use spray. Remember to wash the shoes and let them air dry unless they are brand new before impregnating, so the impregnation forms a fresh and protective layer.