How to clean your sneakers

It’s the nightmare of every sneaker lover: dirty leather, deep stains in the canvas and dirty mesh. But it gets even worse: the moment when we have to say goodbye to our favourite treasures because they are worn out and totally dirty and can no longer find their way onto the street… Just thinking about it makes our eyes moist. In fact, there are products that can save us from such a terrible catastrophe and help keep your favourite sneakers shining for a long time.

Requirements for sneaker cleaning

Before we explain to you in detail how to get your favourites nice and clean, here are a few basic rules. We know that it’s always annoying to take the laces out of your sneakers and put them back in again after cleaning them – an annoying job, but necessary if you want your sneakers to look like new again. That’s why we have a few simple tips on how to wash your laces properly:

Washing shoelaces correctly

Wash shoelaces in the washing machine: You heard right. The first step is to remove the laces from the shoes. Then put the laces in a washing net so that they don’t get lost in the vastness of the washing machine. You can simply add the laundry net to your normal washing. When the wash cycle is finished, simply hang the laces up and air dry.
Hand wash your shoelaces: If you’re a little impatient, you can easily wash your laces by hand. To do this, you need a bowl of warm water and a dash of detergent or your favourite sneaker cleaner. Simply place the laces in the water and let them soak for about 15 minutes. For more stubborn dirt, take the rough side of an ordinary kitchen sponge and work the laces with it. Then rinse the laces again with clean water and air dry.
Wash shoelaces with a toothbrush and washing-up liquid/Dish Soap: If you’re on the go and need a last-minute solution, we have just the thing for you. Take an old toothbrush with a little washing-up liquid and water on the bristles and brush over the dirty spots on the laces. Then remove the detergent residue with a damp cloth and dry the laces with a hairdryer.
Get your shoelaces white again: The above tips can be applied to any lace colour. But what if the white laces of our beloved pair of white sneakers look like they have been dragged through the mud. To get your laces sparkling white again, the first step is to soak them in lukewarm water with a little detergent. Then soak the whole thing with some baking soda and rub it in. But be careful with the baking soda: don’t rub it in too much or the laces will fray. Then rinse, squeeze and hang up. Et voilà! The laces look like new again!

If your laces are a lost cause, the ends are already frayed or you just don’t feel like cleaning them again, you can alternatively just buy new laces here. Next, you need to find out what kind of upper material the dirty sneaker is made of. You can find this information either in the item information in our shop or on the label on the insole.

Washing sneakers – how and with which cleaner?

So now we have unlaced our sneakers and found out about the upper material. How do we now manage to keep our favourites beautiful and clean for as long as possible? Wash them in the washing machine at 30 degrees? You can do that, but it’s not the best solution because often, especially white sneakers, turn yellow after washing. Nowadays there are all kinds of shoe cleaners, sneaker cleaners, protective or waterproofing sprays that help you keep your sneakers nice and clean again. That’s all well and good, but the problem is that there are countless possibilities and variations on how best to get your sneakers clean again.

Washing shoes in the washing machine

As a rule, neither sneakers nor other shoes should be put in the washing machine. Washing them by hand is much more considerate and ensures that your shoes last longer. But we admit, we have also washed one or two sneakers in the washing machine. But you should at least keep the following in mind when you use the machine:

Do not wash hotter than 30 degrees.
Do not use fabric softener.
Never wash leather shoes in a washing machine.
Use a wash bag or something similar. This will ensure that the sneakers do not rub directly on the drum.
Remove the inner sole.
Remove everything that can get loose. Individual parts such as laces should be washed separately.
Never spin the shoes. Rapid rotations can damage important functions such as cushioning.

Drying Tips

Stuff kitchen paper or newspaper inside the shoes. Change the paper more often to avoid mould.
Put shoes near the heating in winter. But be careful: NEVER put the shoes on the heating – they could become deformed!
After washing, it is best to impregnate or waterproof the shoes. You can find the correct instructions for impregnation here. For leather sneakers, use a special leather care product.

The right cleaner for which material?

The uncrowned king of sneaker cleaners is definitely Jason Markk. The products stand for exceptional quality and consist of biodegradable ingredients. On their website, the guys and gals show you which products are right for your favourite sneakers. Whether canvas, nubuck, leather, knit or suede – Jason Markk has the right tips and products for you.

In addition to Jason Markk cleaning accessories, you will find care and cleaning products from The Art of Protection, Solitaire and the traditional brand Collonil in our shop. But the sporting goods manufacturers themselves, such as adidas, also take care of the matter and develop their own products that help to keep your sneakers looking clean and new. The upper material always plays a major role. From leather, suede, nubuck to classic fabric shoes – everything needs care and attention. The best way to protect your trainers is to spray them with a special waterproofing spray right after you buy them, so that they are protected from wind and weather and you don’t have to clean and scrub them much later.

In our shop you will find a large selection of care and cleaning products from various brands.

What is the best way to clean textile sneakers?

If your sneakers are made of fabric or mesh, such as the classic Vans, you can easily get them clean again. You need a soft brush, soap (or a special sneaker cleaner would be best) and a clean cloth. And of course, water, preferably lukewarm. Luckily, you can’t do too much wrong when cleaning textile sneakers. If you have a special sneaker cleaner, apply it to the brush, never directly on the sneaker. Wet the brush and go over the shoe in circular motions until you get a good layer of foam. Afterwards, simply rinse off the dirty foam, stuff the sneaker with newspaper and place it in the sun. By the way, the newspaper ensures that your sneakers don’t get deformed and at the same time accelerates the drying process a bit – clearly print media still has its uses.

What is the best way to clean synthetic sneakers?

For sneakers that have an upper made of man-made materials, such as a rubber surface or synthetic leather, we definitely advise against washing them in the machine!

To get your treasures nice and clean, you’ll need a brush, a coarse cloth, cleaning foam, a sponge, a brush and waterproofing spray for a perfect finish. First remove the laces and preferably also the insoles before you start. Then brush the sneakers briefly to remove the coarse dirt. Pour the cleaning foam onto the sponge and again go over the upper and the outer sole in circular movements so that it foams up nicely. Try to be a little more careful here, as the materials are sometimes very sensitive, avoid pressing on too hard, treat the areas more often and more gently. You can use an old kitchen towel or similar as a cloth. Dampen it briefly and dab the sneaker with it, do not rub it. Finally, stuff the sneakers with newspaper and let them dry in the fresh air. Afterwards, it is best to impregnate the sneakers directly to prevent further soiling.

What is the best way to clean smooth leather sneakers?

With smooth leather, it’s always a bit difficult to say how sensitive the sneaker ultimately is, so it’s best to feel your way carefully and see for yourself how sensitive the sneaker ultimately is.

For cleaning, you will need two brushes, cleaning foam or sneaker cleaner, a microfibre cloth and, of course, lukewarm water. For the perfect finish, you can also use a leather care product, depending on whether the sneakers are made of muted leather or nappa leather.

Before you start, remove laces, insoles and anything else that is loose, brush the sneakers and remove the coarse dirt and dust. Again, do not apply the cleaning foam directly to the sneaker, but on a wet brush, with which you then brush the upper evenly until all the dirt is removed and a thin layer of foam forms on the sneaker. For smaller corners that you can’t reach so easily with the brush, you can also use an old toothbrush. Then remove the foam with a damp cloth. To dry, stuff the sneakers with newspaper and put them out in the fresh air. When the sneakers are dry, you can rub the leather care product into the material. This way, your sneakers will last for a long time.

What is the best way to clean rough leather sneakers?

By rough leather we mostly mean suede, velour and nubuck. These types of leather are much more sensitive than the smooth leather described above, which is why we also have to be a little bit more careful when cleaning them. Especially with dyed leather and nubuck you have to be extremely careful, because they can quickly discolor and fade just by coming into contact with water. To be on the safe side, you can go over them carefully with a white towel and test how much the upper material stains.

For cleaning you need a normal brush, a nubuck brush, leather soap or upholstery foam with applicator (sponge, small brush), a microfibre cloth and of course lukewarm water again.

We start as usual: remove laces and insoles and clean the sneakers of dust and dirt. Use the nubuck brush to clean the individual areas, then use the leather soap and circular movements to remove all dirt from the sneakers. For those of you who prefer to use upholstery foam, it’s best to let it soak in for a few minutes. Then clean the sneakers again with a damp cloth and circular movements.

Special case: Cleaning white sneakers properly

White sneakers – it feels like the only time they are really white is when you have just bought them. Maybe for a few days afterwards. But then comes what always has to come: dirt and grime. And as we all know, you can see that immediately on white sneakers. Popular models like the adidas Stan Smith, the Nike Air Force 1 or the Reebok Club C 85 in white magically attract dirt. To restore your favourite sneakers to their former glory, we have listed a few special tips for white sneakers here:

Scouring milk for white leather sneakers: In every household there is still a bottle of scouring milk lying around in some corner. Guaranteed! Rub a small amount into your sneakers with a small sponge. Please note: Only use scouring milk on white leather sneakers and do not use a colored sponge.
Baking soda: The ultimate home remedy. Your grannies have been swearing by the white powder for decades. Put a little baking soda in a container of lukewarm water and let them soak for a few minutes. Then carefully sponge the sneakers and rinse with clean water. Sounds crazy, but it works great!
Washing-up liquid and toothpaste: Now you’re probably thinking: OK, the 43-Crew have gone completely mad. But try it out for yourself. White toothpaste works wonders on fabric and leather sneakers. All you need is a clean toothbrush, washing-up liquid and a dry towel. The first step is to soak the brush in water and put a dab of detergent on it. Rub it into the sneakers until it foams. Dab off the foam and then repeat the same with a dab of white toothpaste.

Cleaning sneaker soles

The soles of sneakers or shoes in general are the least sensitive part of the shoe. The greater the tread depth, however, the more likely it is that most dirt will collect here. That’s why you have to reach for a brush and use water and cleaner. To be a bit more gentle, we also like to use a pump or something similar after shootings to remove smaller dirt residues. This way, water that has collected in the treads can simply be blown away. Especially at the edge of the sole, erasers can be used very well to get rid of streaks and the like. At the end, polish again with a towel. This not only dries the soles, but also removes the last impurities.

Drying sneakers without deforming them

Even if you can wash Vans, for example, in the washing machine, the dryer is absolutely forbidden. It is too warm here and the shoe is unprotected and permanently rubs against the drum. Both of these factors cause the shoe to deform and wear out. In other words, you won’t get your sneakers out the way they looked before. You should also not put your sneakers on the heating. Here, too, the heat is the problem. It causes the materials to expand and deform.

As you can see, there are two problems with drying your sneakers. Firstly, they deform quickly when drying, especially in an environment that is too warm. Secondly, unnecessary wear and tear should be prevented. It is therefore best to simply stuff the shoes with newspaper or kitchen paper. Both absorb the moisture and keep your favourite shoes in shape. You just have to make sure that you don’t stuff too much into the shoes and then deform them. You should also change the paper as soon as it gets too wet.

Little tips and tricks

If you have small scratches in your white sneakers and can’t get them clean with the products mentioned above, we have the covering white from Solitaire. You can easily use this on all white smooth leather shoes. To clean your soles properly, you can use the Quick Wipes from Jason Markk. By the way, these are also ideal for emergencies. Of course, the cleaning manufacturers have also thought of something for on the road and have put together Cleaning Travel Kits especially for you, for example from Jason Markk. The perfect cleaning kit for on the go.

Prevent dirt and grime: Adapt sneaker selection to external conditions

There are seasons like summer or spring that are just made for taking your favourite clean sneakers out of the wardrobe and wearing them out. Little rain, lots of sun – a land of milk and honey for sneakers. Unless you are at a music festival or have had a wild club night. In addition to the warm months, there is of course also the cold season. The days get shorter, the temperatures drop, and rain and snow are back. You don’t really want to mess up your sneakers. So, what’s left? The winter boots. But let’s face it, we’ve never been big fans of winter boots. But luckily your favourite brands have sneakers ready to wear in all kinds of dirty weather. Brands like adidas, Nike, New Balance and Vans now offer a wide range of winterized and waterproof sneaker silhouettes. The most important feature to ward off moisture and dirt is waterproof upper material. Here, for example, there are highly functional sneakers made of Gore-Tex material. Of course, you can never avoid dirt. Thanks to the functional materials of winter sneakers, you can often get your shoes clean again quickly with a damp cloth. In our shop category “Winter Sneakers – Approved” you will find a large selection of sneakers for the cold season.