To clean On Cloud shoes, take the laces and insoles out, knock the grit out of the pods underneath, wash the mesh upper by hand with warm water and a mild detergent, scrub the rubber with a baking soda paste, and let the pair air dry at room temperature with paper stuffed inside. That is On's own method, and it is a good one. The two things On rules out are the washing machine and the tumble dryer.
This guide is built around the Cloud 6 family. Materials vary across On's range, so if your Cloud 5, Cloudmonster or Cloud Roger looks or feels different, read the label inside the tongue before you start. SneakerSalt is not affiliated with On.
What you are actually cleaning
An On Cloud has three layers, and each one picks up dirt differently.
- The upper. On lists polyester engineered mesh for the Cloud 6 family. Road dust and dried sweat settle into the weave and turn a light colour grey long before it looks properly dirty.
- The midsole. Helion superfoam with CloudTec cushioning. Its exposed edge takes kerb scuffs, puddle splash and the grey line that builds up where the upper meets the foam.
- The outsole. Rubber pods or grip, depending on the model. The gaps between the pods are where gravel, grit and dried mud lodge, and a pair can look clean from the side while carrying half a footpath underneath.
What On says to do
On's running-shoe care article, quoted where the words are On's:
- Take out the laces and insoles first.
- For the upper: "mix warm water and a mild detergent in a bucket or basin".
- "Avoid using abrasive materials that might damage the fabric."
- For dirty outsoles, "use a mixture of baking soda and water to create a paste".
- Afterwards, "allow them to air dry at room temperature", with paper stuffed inside.
The article says nothing about bleach and gives no separate step for the CloudTec pods, so neither do we beyond getting the grit out of them.
How to clean On Cloud shoes at home, step by step
- Strip the shoe. Laces out, insoles out. The tongue hides a lot of dirt behind the laces.
- Clear the pods. Turn the shoe over and bang the soles together outside. Pick out any stones wedged between the pods with your fingers, then run a soft brush or an old toothbrush through the gaps while the dirt is dry. Wet grit turns into paste and packs in harder.
- Do the upper. Either follow On: a soft brush dipped in the warm water and mild detergent, worked gently over the mesh, nothing scratchy. Or use a foam: two pumps across the dirty area, ten seconds, then wipe with a dry cloth. Blot the mesh dry with a towel rather than rubbing.
- Wipe the midsole. The Helion edge is where the grey line lives. Foam it, wait, wipe. If your colourway has a painted or printed midsole, blot instead of scrubbing.
- Paste the outsole. Mix baking soda with a little water until it holds together, work it over the rubber pods with the brush, and wipe the residue off with a damp cloth.
- Dry them slowly. Stuff with paper, stand them somewhere airy at room temperature, and change the paper once it is damp. On says to keep them away from radiators and other direct heat, which can make the materials "warp or lose shape".
- Insoles and laces separately. Let the insoles dry completely before they go back in. Our insoles and odour guide covers them.
The whole job takes about fifteen minutes plus drying. A foam-only clean of the upper and midsole takes about two, and the shoe is wearable straight away because nothing went into it.
Where our foam fits
We sell a foam for the upper and midsole part of this job: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam. On mesh it is rated Excellent, and on the foam midsole it lifts surface grime without any water going into the shoe. The box includes a brush and a cloth, which covers steps three and four. It has no bleach and no solvents, and it is pH 7.2.
The rubber pods underneath are rated Excellent too, so once the grit is brushed out of the gaps the foam works there as well; On's baking soda paste is the alternative. Where it is not the tool: a scuff that has taken a chip out of the foam is damage rather than dirt, and we would rather say so than sell you a second bottle trying.
Cloud 5, Cloud 6, Cloudmonster and Roger
The method above is for a mesh upper over a foam midsole and rubber outsole, which is what On lists for the Cloud 6 family. For anything else in the range, check the label first. If it says mesh or knit, every step applies. If it lists a different upper, follow the label and use any cleaner only after testing a hidden spot, such as the inside of the heel collar.
Whatever the model, the pods are the part people forget, which is why a pair that looks clean from the side can still leave grit on the hallway floor.
Stains that need more than a wipe
- Mud: let it dry completely, then brush it off. Wet mud only smears. Clean what is left with the steps above.
- Grass: the soil lifts, the green often does not. Grass behaves like a dye, and on fabric the usual fix is a pretreatment with an enzyme stain remover. Our foam has no enzymes, so expect a partial result on grass.
- Oil or grease: cover it with cornstarch or talc first to soak up as much as possible, brush that off, then clean. An old oil mark may not come out fully.
Washing machine and tumble dryer
On is unusually direct about this. Adam Godfrey at On: "We never recommend putting dirty running shoes in the washing machine – or the tumble dryer." The reason given is that "the combination of sustained heat and detergent exposure can damage seams, shoe bondings and the overall integrity" of the shoe. Our washing machine guide covers what a drum does to sneakers in general.
Keeping them clean between washes
- Clear the pods every week or so. Two minutes with a brush stops grit building up.
- Wipe the midsole edge after a dirty day, before the grey line sets in.
- Rotate two pairs if you run most days, so each one dries out fully between wears.
More on the upper fabric itself is in our mesh and knit guide.
Questions people actually ask
Is Dawn dish soap safe to clean On Clouds?
A few drops in the basin will do as the mild detergent. Keep it weak: Nike notes that a high concentration of dish soap can discolour shoes.
Is it safe to put On Clouds in the dryer?
No. On rules out the tumble dryer and direct heat such as radiators. Paper inside, room temperature, patience.
How do I get my white On Clouds white again?
Clean them properly first: grit out of the pods, the mesh washed, the midsole wiped. Yellowing that is dirt comes off with that. Yellowing that survives a proper clean is a change in the material, and no cleaner reverses it.
What is the best homemade cleaner for On Clouds?
On's own recipe is the homemade one: warm water with a little mild detergent for the upper, and baking soda mixed with water into a paste for the outsole. Skip anything abrasive on the mesh.
For the mesh and the midsole edge, two pumps and a dry cloth: SneakerSalt Shoe Cleaning Foam, $24 with the brush and cloth included, free shipping, and your money back if it doesn't clean your pair.
