How to Clean your Sneakers

Are your white sneakers turning brown? Have your shoes have seen better days? With a little bit of care, you can clean sneakers and make them look new again. It’s important to care for your sneakers properly and cleanings on a regular basis will help keep your shoes looking and performing at their best. Cleaning your sneakers in a safe way depending on what material they are made of is necessary to prevent damage to the shoe. This blog post will show you how to clean sneakers of a various materials including, leather sneakers, canvas sneakers, knit sneakers and suede sneakers without damaging them. So let's get started!

Preparation

Check the material of your shoes

Depending on the material of your shoes, you may need to use different cleaning methods. More durable materials include leather/synthetic leather, and canvas and the more delicate materials including suede and knit. 

Gather your supplies

Once you know what materials you are dealing with, gather the supplies you need to clean your sneakers.

• Dish soap or a sneaker cleaning solution
• Soft bristle brush or toothbrush
• Stiff bristle brush
• Microfiber towel
• Bowl
• Warm water
• Suede eraser (optional)
• Suede brush (optional)
• Shoe tree (optional)

Step-by-step guide

1. Make your cleaning solution

Add a few squirts of dish soap or sneaker cleaning solution into a bowl of warm water.

2. Remove laces 

First, remove any laces from your sneakers and place them in the bowl with cleaning solution. Insert the shoe tree (optional) to help provide some additional support when cleaning the sneaker.

3. Clean the uppers and tongue

For leather, and canvas, dip the soft bristle brush into the cleaning solution and lightly scrub the uppers and tongue in circular motions. Use the towel to dry pat the shoe.

For suede, it is best to not get suede wet as the color may run and the suede texture could change. Use the soft bristle brush and dry brush the shoe. Use the suede eraser (optional) for stubborn stain. After that, use the suede brush (optional) to brush the suede.

For knit, dip the microfiber towel into the cleaning solution and light rub the uppers in the same direction as the fabric. Never clean with bleach or other harsh chemicals since they can harm the fabric. Use a dry towel to dry the shoe. 

4. Clean the soles

Dip the stiff bristle brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the midsole and outsole. Be careful and make sure that the stiff bristles do not touch the uppers as it may damage the shoe. Use the towel to dry pat the shoe.

For suede shoes, please be careful to not wet the uppers. If you do wet the uppers, use the towel and lightly dab the suede dry.

5. Clean the insoles

If you need to wash the insoles, remove the insole and shoe tree (optional) and use the soft bristle brush to scrub the inner lining and insoles. Use the towel to lightly pat dry the lining and set the insole aside to dry. 

6. Let your shoes dry 

Once you have finished cleaning your shoes, let them dry completely before inserting the insole back in and wearing them again. It usually takes 7-8 hours for shoes to fully dry.

There you have it! With a bit of time and effort, you can clean your sneakers and make them look new again. 

PUSHAS is Australia’s Premium Sneaker Marketplace based in Sydney and Los Angeles. Buy and sell authentic, new sneakers and join the sneaker family.