How do you wash your shoes?

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 for as long as possible, the first thing you should do is to waterproof the shoes before you wear them. This will cause less dirt to stick to the shoes, and any stains will be easier to wash away. If the damage has already been done, we have several effective tips that can remove even the worst stains.

General tips

Here are some general tips to maintain the appearance and quality of your shoes before we go directly into how to wash them. They are very simple and can quickly become a nice little routine when you get home again. It's always best to take care of these steps as early as possible, so you prevent it from becoming very hard to get them clean again.

Step 1 - Wash away visible dirt. Assess how much time you have to do this, and use a clean towel, a used toothbrush that you plan to throw away, or if you are really in a hurry; your hands.

Just like with your teeth, it is important to remove dirt from the shoes, so it does not get worse - this will save you from future problems and headaches.

Step 2 - The next thing you can do is remove the remaining dirt that came from a trip outside; even if you just walked to the store where the road is clean - you would be surprised at how much can get stuck under the shoe.

Rinse the shoes with a wet towel or a concentrated stream of water; for example, under the sink or showerhead, if you are careful enough. This is especially useful if you have been for a run in the woods, where it is wet and muddy.

Step 3 - Last but not least, clean the large and visible stains. If you have gotten large stains on the shoes, and they are recent, it is likely possible to remove them if you quickly apply a soap and water mixture to the stain.

Which products you can use for this depends on the shoe, and we will delve deeper into how to remove tough stains and marks later in the article.

The other general tips will assist you greatly, but it is important to be cautious with the different materials that the shoes have, and it will require a bit more attention from you if you have to clean them further. Below we will guide you through how to wash knitted, mesh, canvas, leather, synthetic leather, and suede shoes.

Knitted and mesh shoes

Also known as knit or knitted shoes, which can be described as breathable with a mesh-like appearance. It has been a huge trend lately to wear knitted sneakers, but the problem is they quickly 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 anything that loves to penetrate the material, which can often seem impossible to clean.

Mesh shoes have the same issues as knitted shoes, as they are both made of breathable material. Dirt and other grime get trapped in the netting around the shoe when you are out for a run or training, for example. The difference between mesh and knitted shoes is that mesh shoes are usually made of synthetic materials like polyester or nylon and therefore can withstand 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 can handle the washing machine as long as you remove the laces and insole and set the washing machine to 30 degrees with low spinning. The white shoes are made in such a way that they retain their white color longer. But if you want to be more cautious, follow the advice below.

With this guide, we will make the impossible possible. Although knitted and mesh shoes require a lot of love, it doesn’t mean they can’t be transformed back to their original state - they just need a bit more patience and gentleness.

Here’s how to do it

With knitted shoes, you should be very careful; they are soft and moldable, 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 should use a soft cloth or microfiber cloth to remove stains.

1. In terms of cleaning products, you should also be cautious. The chemicals in detergents can be too strong for the fabric. Instead, use a mild shower gel.
2. Cover the area you want to wash with soap and moisten it with cold water.
3. Gently rub it with the cloth until the stain is lifted out of the fabric.
4. Rinse off soap residues with a wet towel and let it air dry.

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

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

Synthetic leather shoes

The material in synthetic leather shoes does not hold onto stains as tightly as nylon/polyester mesh and is more forgiving than real leather shoes, so fortunately, it is much easier to wash your synthetic shoes. Hopefully, you will notice that dirt and grime lift easily as you begin to clean them.

Here’s how to do it

1. Mix a solution that contains warm water and a little mild detergent.
2. Take a clean cloth and dampen it in the mixture before you begin to wash the dirty areas on the shoe.
3. Once you have moistened the dirty areas, 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 soap residues and let the shoes air dry.

Canvas sneakers

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

Here’s how to do it by hand

1. Make a mixture that contains equal parts baking soda and warm water.
2. Find the good old used toothbrush or a new one specifically for shoes, and dip it in the mixture you made.
3. Scrub stains and dirt away from the shoes with the toothbrush until they are clean.
4. Let the shoes dry with the mixture on before you possibly wash away the baking soda mixture once it has dried and hardened 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 frustration and headaches when it comes to cleaning it. It can be easy to get a number of stains on leather shoes, and they are very susceptible to wear and tear, which can distort the natural patina of the material. As soon as you notice that the shoes have developed a stain, it’s important to carefully clean the stains that have occurred.

Here’s how to do it

1. Make a mixture with a bit of 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 surface of the shoes.
2. Add baking soda to the mixture from step 1, and mix it with a used toothbrush or a suitable brush for leather. Use the toothbrush to scrub the soles of the shoe until you see no more dirt. Wipe away the soap and dirt with the microfiber cloth, or rinse it away gently under the sink.
3. A smart idea we’ve come up with is to use window cleaner to make the shoes shinier! Spray the solution either directly on the shoe or onto a microfiber cloth, polish it, and wipe it off.
4. Do the same with the other shoe and let them dry completely, but keep them away from direct sunlight and heat.

Suede shoes

Suede sneakers are one of the most frustrating shoes to try to maintain quality on. Suede lacks the outer protective barrier that leather has, giving it that velvety feel, but it also means that it is very vulnerable to a host of accidents you might encounter while wearing them. To make matters worse, suede is also quite resistant to cleaning.

If you haven't done so already, it would be a good idea to invest in a brush that is specifically designed for suede. Just be careful with the brushing, as you don’t want to be too aggressive, but the brush can do wonders for cleaning the surface.

Another thing you might invest in is a suede eraser. You press the eraser against the stain and rub and manipulate it until the stain disappears. When you’re done, use a clean cloth to wipe away any residue from the cleaning.

If the shoes are still not clean after using the two tools you have invested in, or if you simply do not wish to invest in them, you can use white vinegar.

Here’s how to do it

1. Apply a little white vinegar to a clean cloth and gently moisten the cloth on the stain. You don’t need much vinegar, so use as little as possible.
2. Gently wash the stain with the cloth that has white vinegar on it.
3. Once you have removed 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've gotten a thorough introduction on how to clean sneakers, we can summarize the guide with a few simple tips to keep them clean.

1. Check your shoes every time you come home. It may seem like an unnecessary and annoying extra task to do, but if you keep track of how your shoes are doing before you put them away, you can preserve their quality.
2. It is super important to clean