How to clean your sneakers: 12 tips that’ll make your shoes spotless again ? (FULL INSTRUCTIONS)

Taking a brand new pair of sneakers out of their box and putting them on for the first time is a great feeling. Suddenly, saying that the world is at your feet suddenly starts to make sense. Which makes it all the more painful when you see that your once-flawless sneakers slowly start getting dirtier and dirtier. And this is when you start thinking to yourself, how do I clean them up?

To fix this, there are several ways you can clean your dirty sneakers. We’ve put together 12 fool-proof ways that you can make them almost brand new again. The following tips will tell you how to restore suede, leather, canvas, white and any other kinds of sneakers. Let’s get started.

How to clean your sneakers + BONUS VIDEO GUIDE

Before we get into cleaning specific materials, here’s a universal approach:

1. Use a brush
   To remove the most visible dirt.

2. Take out the laces and insoles
   These need to be cleaned separately.

3. Get a smaller cloth,
   Soak it in water and remove the less visible dirt particles, including the ones in the lace holes.

4. Use a fine cloth
   To dry the sneakers and give them a bit of shine.

5. That’s it
   Leave the shoes to dry at room temperature. For better results, repeat step 3.

VIDEOGUIDE

In the next section, you’ll find verified and sneakerhead-preferred ways to clean specific types of sneakers.

What do I need for cleaning sneakers and shoes?

One of the ways you can prevent getting your shoes dirty is protection from the brand CREP Protect. Their sprays create an invisible membrane on your sneaker, which prevents them getting dirty for an amount of time.

The same goes for products from Jason Markk, which are considered to be among the best in the world at keeping shoes clean. Their wet wipes and synthetic sneaker-cleaning brushes work better than garlic soup on a hangover.

If your sneakers still were to get dirty, don’t worry, we have a complete sneaker-cleaning set available. For enthusiastic sneakerheads, cleaning your sneakers could even be fun.

Five rules for correctly cleaning sneakers:

1. Be gentle. If you apply too much force, you might irreparably damage your sneakers.
2. Let your sneakers dry out inside. No direct sunlight.
3. Keep the washing machine as a last resort. If possible, keep cleaning your sneakers manually. 
4. Don’t rush it. Don’t be afraid to repeat the steps and give the sneakers time to dry out in between. A perfect result won’t just appear out of nowhere.

Clean your shoes regularly. It’s not worth it to clean your shoes once a year – by cleaning them regularly, you prevent your sneakers from getting clogged with dirt.