How to Wash Sneakers the Right Way

Do you know how to wash sneakers properly? Doing so ensures a more handsome look and a longer life for your shoes.

If you’re a grown man reading this, I can’t stress this enough. You absolutely, 100% need to know how to wash sneakers. You need to know the proper techniques and the right cleaning agents to use on different styles and materials. 

Unless you wear pre-distressed models, nothing levels down shoes more than when dirty. This is especially so for classic white trainers. And by the way, you can ruin even the best, most well-thought-out outfit with a bad pair of shoes.

People tend to overlook sneakers since they’re so casual. Don’t be that way. Casual and relaxed should never mean sloppy. Moreover, by keeping your sneakers well-maintained, they’ll last you longer. So, knowing how to clean your shoes yourself isn’t just aesthetic but completely practical.

Here’s everything you need to know.

How to Wash Sneakers in the Washing Machine: A Step-By-Step Guide

I know that using a washing machine for sneakers can be pretty controversial. Some say it’ll break the machine, and others think it can damage the shoes themselves. However, if you do it right, this is a legitimate option for getting your sneakers squeaky clean.

In general, if your sneakers are canvas, cotton, polyester, or nylon, the washing machine isn’t a problem. If your shoes are leather, suede, vinyl, or rubber, you should likely hand clean them. Just make sure to read any tags or warnings. You never know; there are treated and hybrid materials that might be able to handle a gentle wash.

The best way to wash sneakers in the washing machine requires the following:

• An old toothbrush (or a new one that you can designate as your shoe-cleaning brush)
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Old cloths
• A mesh laundry bag
• A disinfectant (white vinegar also works in a pinch)
• Baking soda

Remove the Laces and Machine Wash Them

Before you do anything, you have to remove your shoelaces and wash them separately. You certainly don’t want to keep them on the shoes. The nooks and crannies created by the weaves of the lacing will hold onto dirt. Moreover, the eyelets won’t get the cleaning they need. Also, don’t wash them with your footwear at all, even when removed. They’ll get all tangled up or even unravel. 

You can either let them soak in disinfectant, wash them by hand in the sink, or throw them in a separate mesh bag. It depends on how dirty they are. If they were once white but are now a dark, inconclusive color, you might just need new laces.

Wash the Insoles by Hand

Next, remove your insoles. Start by sprinkling some baking soda over them. This will absorb odors that might stick around even after cleaning.

Then, fill your sink or a bucket with lukewarm water and just a teaspoon of laundry detergent. Personally, I like to plug my sink, squirt the detergent in, and then turn my sink on using the shower spray setting. The pressure creates nice suds.

Place the insoles in and scrub them using a cloth or brush. Pay special attention to the toe and heel areas, as that’s where moisture gathers.

Clean the Soles Thoroughly

Before you throw your sneakers into the washing machine, you need to get in on those outsoles. Considering how much ground they hit, the washing machine won’t clean them as easily as it does the uppers.

First, hold one shoe in each hand and clap the outsoles together. This will disengage any loose dirt. I also like to brush the outsoles with a dry toothbrush to continue to loosen and remove debris.

Next, make a paste using water and baking soda. Mix one part baking soda and two parts water. You want the consistency to be like toothpaste but grainy. This is your cleaning agent. Now, take your toothbrush and scrub the paste onto the bottoms and sides of the outsoles. For extra stubborn stains, feel free to use white vinegar or disinfectant with bleach if the outsoles are white.

Wash the paste off your outsoles by running it under water, either in your sink or bath.

Place the Shoes in a Mesh Laundry Bag

If you don’t have a mesh laundry bag, you absolutely have to get one. You can find ones made of polyester, which is strong yet light, or cotton if you want to go a more organic, sustainable route. 

Why place your sneakers in a mesh bag? Well, the mesh design ensures that the water and soap will still pass through, thoroughly cleaning the shoes. However, it also protects your shoes from damage from the machine. It also protects the machine from your shoes, which can get snagged within the inner mechanisms. 

Moreover, if your washer is big enough, you can clean more than one pair at a time without all four pieces constantly bumping up against each other. In my experience, though, I wouldn’t clean more than two pairs at once.

Before you throw the shoes into the bag, pull the tongue out. This opens the shoe up more, allowing the suds to pass through every single surface. 

Determine the Best Setting to Wash Sneakers

Don’t use high settings or hot settings when washing sneakers. I highly recommend cold water 90% of the time. Cold washing is also more energy-efficient, won’t fade colors, and will ensure the sneakers keep their structure and shape. However, if you have highly stained white sneakers, you can occasionally use a warm setting.

Always stick to a gentle cycle and a slow spin. This prevents your soles from getting damaged and prevents your machine from getting damaged.

Finally, you’ll use about half the amount of detergent you’d use with a regular load of laundry. I’d say just under half the amount is good. Too much detergent might stain and even stiffen your shoes. You don’t want to break in your sneakers all over again.

Let your sneakers air dry — don’t use the dryer.

How to Wash Sneakers by Hand

You really can’t wash leather sneakers in the washing machine. Again, the same goes for rubber, vinyl, or suede shoes. These days, there are so many hybrid materials and special laundry bags that there are rare exceptions. Still, I wouldn’t risk it.

So, you want to wash leather, rubber, and suede sneakers by hand. Don’t worry. It’s easy!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Saddle soap for leather sneakers
• Suede cleaner for suede
• A water and detergent mix for any other material (one teaspoon of detergent to one cup of water)
• Horsehair dauber brushes
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Leather conditioner
• Undyed microfiber cloths. You can also use paper towels or old white clothes.
• A toothbrush

Prepare the Sneakers

Again, you’ll want to remove the laces, remove any excess dirt, and clean them separately. You might also replace particularly tattered ones. Remember, this allows you to clean the eyelet stays more thoroughly.

Again, to remove excess dirt, clap the outsoles of both shoes together. Hold them by the collar and smash the outsoles against each other. 

Pretreat Any Stains

You can spot-treat stains after you’ve cleaned the shoes, too. However, I like to pretreat stains beforehand. Then, if after the cleaning process, I still need to do some spot treatment, I’ll do that as well.

You’re going to make your baking soda paste again. Again, mix one part baking soda and two parts water to get that toothpaste-like consistency. Dip your toothbrush into the paste, then gently brush the stains out.

Certain stubborn stains might take some patience. You may have to brush for five to ten minutes, then wait a bit longer to see the stain fade. This might take a good 40 minutes overall.

Mix a Cleaning Solution

For leather, open your saddle soap can, pour warm water into the top, and dip your dauber brush into the soap. Then, take the soapy brush and make circles in the water-filled can top. This will make some nice, healthy suds, which you’ll use to clean the leather sneaker.

For suede, you’ll take a clean, damp cloth and apply suede cleaner onto the cloth’s surface. This is your weapon against dirt on suede.

Finally, for rubber or vinyl (or if you want to hand clean your canvas and cotton sneakers), you’ll use your detergent-water mix. You can pour a teaspoon of detergent into one cup of water and simply stir, or you can shake it up in a mason jar.

Hand Wash the Sneakers

Now, you’ll take your cloth or your horsehair brush and apply the cleaner to the sneakers. Go one shoe at a time.

Apply the cleaning solution in small circular motions throughout the surface of the sneaker. Start in the darker, highly-stained areas and move outwards from there. Typically, this means starting near the eyelet stays.

In fact, you should be pretty aggressive at the eyelets. Dirt and debris love to congregate in that area. You also want to be aggressive at the outsoles and any other seams and stitches. 

Make sure to lather up the entire upper.

Rinse and Air Dry

From there, take a damp cloth and wipe off the lather. Make sure to get all of the lather off. Any suds you leave on there might dry up and leave residue behind. 

Once all of the suds are gone, take another dry cloth and dry off the surface. Of course, depending on the sneaker’s material, you won’t always be able to get the surface perfectly dry.

Once your drying cloth gets damp, move on to another cloth. Otherwise, you might end up reapplying water and soap to the surface.

Then, finally, store the sneakers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space for 24 hours.

How to Wash and Dry Sneakers: Basic Rules

I want to remind you of the following basic rules. Think of this section as an at-a-glance TLDR that you can always reference once you’ve learned the basic process:

• Always wash your laces separately. Always.
• Remember to open your sneaker tongue before throwing it in the mesh bag.
• Always stick to cold or warm washes and gentle cycles.
• Never use a drying machine.
• Get your clean shoes as dry as possible using cloths, then let them air dry.

For leather sneakers, once you’ve let them dry for 24 hours, you also want to use a leather conditioner. Remember, leather is essentially skin. Just as skin needs lotion and hair needs conditioner, leather needs leather conditioner.

Apply your leather conditioner to a clean, undyed cloth. Then, like with your cleaner, apply it in small circular motions. Once you’ve done this to the entire surface, take a horsehair brush to the seams and eyelet stays to get the conditioner in tight spots.

FAQs

If you still have questions about cleaning sneakers, here are the most common!

How Often Should You Wash Sneakers?

If you wear your sneakers frequently, wash them every couple of weeks. Of course, if they’re visually dirty, wash them no matter how recent the last cleaning was.

Can You Wash Sneakers With Clothes?

Yes, you can throw a mesh sneaker bag in with other clothes. However, avoid doing this if your sneakers are extra dirty.

Can You Wash Leather Sneakers?

You want to hand clean your leather sneakers. Don’t throw them in the washing machine.

Can You Wash Sneakers in the Dishwasher?

Don’t clean your sneakers in the dishwasher. It’s unsanitary. The kind of messes that end up on your dishes aren’t at the same level as the messes that get on the bottoms of your shoes.

Conclusion: Keep Your Sneakers Clean

Now you know how to wash sneakers the right way! It’s really important to keep your sneakers clean. Sure, your gym trainers or outdoor camping trainers aren’t meant to be squeaky clean. 

However, there’s no charm in dirty or stained sneakers that you’re wearing for style purposes. And remember, a bad pair of shoes can really ruin an outfit. Don’t let that happen to you.

Do you have any secret tips or tricks for washing sneakers? Let us know in the comments below.