How To Clean Sneakers: Refresh Your Tennis Shoes

Did you know that if you let your tennis shoes stay dirty, they could wear out faster? It’s true. Also, dirty sneakers look terrible. So, this article will explain how to clean sneakers without ruining them, plus offer tips on easy ways to refresh your tennis shoes so they last longer and can look brand new.

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Dirty Sneakers That Need To Be Cleaned

Unless you’re a sneakerhead, which is someone obsessed with sneakers, you may not care what your tennis shoes look like. However, there are very real reasons to keep those shoes clean, especially if you have them in regular rotation.

For one thing, dirty sneakers or ones that haven’t had time to air out after exercise can be gross. You don’t want to put on the sneakers you wear to play pickleball, only to discover they smell so bad that you can’t stand to be in the same room with yourself. Imagine what your partner will think.

Offensive olfactory issues aside, there’s another reason you should learn how to clean your sneakers. If you don’t keep them clean, you could be contributing to your kicks having a shorter lifespan. According to experts at Nike, when dirt, dust and who knows what else gets stuck in the nooks and crannies of tennis shoes, it can cause sneaker material to degrade faster.

That being said, with many sneaker types, you cannot just toss them in the washing machine. Many brands with thick soles, such as Hoka sneakers, specifically warn against machine washing. It seems that the twisting and turning and spinning of a wash cycle ruins the inner workings of running shoes. The only part you can safely put in the washing machine? The shoelaces.

How To Clean Sneakers

When it comes to how you clean your sneakers, it all depends on the materials. For example, canvas tennis shoes — think Converse or Vans — can go in the washing machine. However, running shoes with thick soles and the following three materials must be washed by hand:

• Suede
• Mesh
• Leather

Cleaning Suede Sneakers

If you purchased a pair of vintage Puma suede sneakers at a thrift store, you don’t want to risk ruining your find by cleaning them the wrong way. That’s why it’s important to understand how to clean suede sneakers. Start by giving them a good brushing. However, not any brush will do. 

Since it is easy to scratch or damage suede, Good Housekeeping recommends using a suede brush to remove any surface debris. These brushes are usually made with a wooden handle or spine and have softer bristles than other shoe brushes. Suede brushes are designed to clean off the suede without ruining the nap — that’s the part that makes suede soft to the touch. Also, always brush with the grain.

How To Clean Mesh Sneakers

Even though your children may grow out of their youth-size shoes before the mesh wears out, you still want to get as much life out of those sneakers, running or basketball shoes as possible. You probably paid a decent amount when you bought them.

Gena Lazcano of Ginger Casa has two teenage boys who love white shoes. “I’ve tried a lot of things to get them clean,” she said. She learned the hard way the importance of hand washing her sons’ sneakers. “I put one pair of white shoes that had black fabric on it into the washing machine,” she recalled, “and the black ran onto the white. It was awful!”

Cleaning Leather Tennis Shoes

Like suede shoes, brush your leather sneakers first before washing them. You can use a soft bristle toothbrush to get rid of dust and dirt. Then, mix dish soap with warm water, dip the toothbrush in the mixture and scrub the sneakers.

You can use rags or a soft towel to blot any remaining moisture afterwards. This is an important step, because if you leave leather wet, it will shrink. Finally, if your leather sneakers are white, you can use special shoe polish made for white leather, such as the kind from the Kiwi brand.

How To Clean White Sneakers

The first step in cleaning white sneakers is brushing as much dirt off the surface as possible. Like with leather shoes, you can use a soft toothbrush for this task. 

Once they’re as dirt-free as possible, here’s what Runner’s World says you should use next — a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They call it one of the best sneaker cleaners for getting white tennis shoes looking brand new again. Moisten the Magic Eraser and use it to get rid of any scuffs or stains.

Another way to whiten your sneakers? Leave them out in the sun. Zuzana Paar of Best Clean Eating likes to dry tennis shoes in the sun. “You get even more brightness,” she said. Gena Lazcano agreed: “Sunlight for drying and whitening works well, too.”

Have you heard about the cleaning powers of baking soda? It has a  slightly gritty texture which makes it an excellent gentle abrasive for scrubbing surfaces without scratching them. I use it to clean oil stains on our driveway, remove maggots in trash cans, and clean berber carpets, among other things. Naturally, I also use it to clean my sneakers.

If you want to deep clean your white sneakers, follow this quick guide. Here are the things you’ll need:

• Liquid dish soap
• 1 cup warm water
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons water
• Soft-bristle brush
• Clean cloth
• Toothbrush
• Paper towel
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

1. Remove the shoelaces. 
2. Using a soft-bristle brush, brush away any loose dirt. Wipe down the exterior of the shoe with a clean cloth, including the tongue and the rubber edge. Rinse the brush clean.
3. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the cup of warm water. Dip the clean soft brush into the soapy water and gently brush both shoes.
4. In a small bowl or container, mix the baking soda and water to create a paste. Dip an old toothbrush into the mixture and gently apply on stained areas of your sneakers. Gently scrub in circular motions until the stains are completely gone.
5. Rinse your sneakers in the sink. Place it under running water to remove excess dirt or soap residue.
6. Place the wet sneakers on top of a clean cloth or paper towels. Rub the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser along the rubber. Wet the eraser sponge as needed.
7. Crumple some paper towels into a ball and stuff your sneakers with them for moisture absorption inside. This will also help maintain the shape of your shoe.
8. Allow your sneakers to air dry, changing the paper towels as needed when they get too wet.

Attack Stains As Soon As They Happen

If you’ve ever spilled something on a rug like coffee or pee, then you know the importance of cleaning a carpet before the stain sets in. It’s the same with sneakers. 

For example, if you’re out during a rainstorm and your sneakers get caked with mud, you’ll need to clean them off as soon as you get home. This is especially important with light-colored shoes, like white or tan sneakers. They’ll absorb the color of mud and, left as they are, will likely never be their original color again.

However, with leather or suede sneakers, you’ll need to take extra steps. Since you cannot wash these tennis shoes in a traditional way — such as soaking them in water — you should remove as much mud as possible first. Then, blot the moisture. After that, let the shoes dry fully before brushing away any remaining dried dirt.

Deodorizing Your Sneakers

Another way to keep your shoes clean and fresh is by taking proactive steps to deodorize them. Aside from washing the insoles regularly, you can eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda inside your shoes – this will absorb moisture and neutralize smells. I also use dryer sheets, activated charcoal bags, and other odor-absorbing products to get rid of unpleasant smells.

As mentioned above, place your shoes under direct sunlight or in a well-ventilated area for a few hours to dry out any moisture. Lastly, I always remind my kids to wear their moisture-wicking socks to prevent the buildup of bacteria that causes bad odors, especially when they will be out for most of the day.

Protect Sneakers For The Future

The next time you buy new sneakers, tennis shoes or any footwear, you can try a preventative step to keep them cleaner longer. How? Spray them with a water-repellant product like Scotchguard. Kiwi also makes a similar kind of product to protect suede and leather shoes specifically.

Aside from these quick tips, here are other effective ways to help protect your sneakers for the future:

• Keep A Regular Cleaning Schedule: Cleaning the sneakers you frequently use is important to keep dirt and stains from settling in, which can cause long-term damage. Athletic footwear like tennis shoes should be cleaned every few months, depending on the frequency of use. For sneakers you wear daily, it’s ideal to schedule a monthly cleaning.
• Store Your Sneakers Properly: Proper storage goes a long way in keeping your sneakers in tiptop shape. It also protects them from damaging elements like direct sunlight and humidity, which may cause fading and deformation. Store your shoes in a dark place like a cool, dry closet.
• Avoid Harsh Conditions: Don’t wear your favorite sneakers out when it’s raining heavily outside or if you’re going someplace with  rocky trails. There are footwear specifically designed for extreme weather and rough terrains, and using your regular sneakers may cause it to incur significant damage.
• Rotate Your Shoes: Rotate between different shoes to allow each pair to breathe, air out, and recover, helping reduce wear and tear. Doing so also provides the cushioning and support materials to have time to decompress and regain their shape. 
• Repair Damages Promptly: If you notice small tears or loose stitching, address them right away to prevent them from becoming major problems. Timely repairs not only keeps your shoes in great shape, but it also helps extend their lifespan.

By following these preventive steps, you can extend the lifespan of your sneakers, specifically your tennis shoes. Also, you will always have spiffy-looking footwear to wear.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.