Sneaker Cleaning Guides

How to Get Cat Pee Out of Shoes (and When They Can't Be Saved)
Cat urine needs cool water, detergent and an enzyme cleaner, not perfume or heat. The steps for canvas and mesh, the harder truth about leather and suede, and what to do with insoles. Read more...
How to Wash Allbirds: Machine Method, Tree vs Wool, and the Mizzle
Allbirds is one of the few shoe brands that says yes to the washing machine. The cold, gentle method, how Tree and Wool pairs differ, the one model to spot clean, and what never to do. Read more...
How to Clean adidas Campus 00s: Suede, Grey and Black Pairs
The Campus 00s is mostly suede, so clean it dry first and wet it as little as possible: brush, erase, blot each panel evenly, dry slowly. Grey and black pairs, water stains, vinegar. Read more...
Can You Machine Wash Suede Shoes? No, and Here's What to Do Instead
Suede and washing machines don't mix: water sets stains, and tumbling and detergent damage leather and glue. How to rescue a pair that went in anyway, and the dry-first way to clean suede. Read more...
How to Clean Climbing Shoes Without Hurting the Rubber or the Glue
Climbing shoes need a damp cloth after every session and, now and then, a gentle hand wash with mild soap. What La Sportiva and Scarpa say, plus smell, mould, and why heat is the real enemy. Read more...
Dishwasher Shoes: Can You Wash Shoes in the Dishwasher?
Washing shoes in the dishwasher is a popular hack that no shoe maker we checked recommends. What the cycle does to glue, foam and leather, and how to get the same result by hand. Read more...
How to Clean White On Cloud Shoes (and Keep Them White)
White On Clouds show every grey mark. How to clean the mesh, midsole and pods without bleach, which whitening hacks belong on the sole only, and what yellowing no cleaner fixes. Read more...
How to Clean White Nike Air Max 270s: Upper, Midsole and Air Unit
White Air Max 270s are textile, synthetic overlays, a two-piece foam midsole and the Max Air unit. How to clean each part, keep the pair white, and handle white 90s, 97s and 95s too. Read more...
How to Clean Vessi Shoes: Which Styles Can Be Machine Washed
Vessi lists seven styles for a cold machine wash in a bag; the rest get rinsed and wiped by hand. Both methods, the Weekend conflict, drying, spot cleaning and the waterproofing question. Read more...
How to Clean adidas Sambas: Leather Upper, Suede Toe, Gum Sole
A Samba is three materials on one shoe, so clean them one at a time: brush the suede toe, foam and wipe the leather, then the gum sole. Black pairs, stains, insoles and the washer question. Read more...
How to Clean Work Boots: Leather, Steel Toe, Grease and the Inside
Knock off the mud, brush the stitching, wipe, dry without heat, condition, inspect. The work boot routine, plus grease, the inside, electrical-hazard soles and why not the washer. Read more...
How to Clean Running Shoes by Hand (Mesh, Foam Midsole, Outsole)
Running shoes are mesh, foam and rubber glued together, and each part cleans differently. The hand method, what ASICS, Brooks and Nike say, drying, insoles, stains and the washer question. Read more...
How to Clean New Balance 9060s: Mesh, Suede Overlays and Midsole
The 9060 is mesh with suede overlays on a dual-density midsole. How to clean each part without water marks, what New Balance says, and how to handle black, grey and leather pairs. Read more...
How to Clean Basketball Shoes: Uppers, Soles and Grip
Clean basketball shoes in three zones: the upper (gentle, blot dry), the midsole (foam and wipe) and the outsole (brush and a damp cloth, which is also how you keep the grip). No washer, no dryer. Read more...
How to Clean Rubber Shoes, Rubber Soles and Rain Boots
Rubber is the easiest part of a shoe to clean. Mild soap, a soft sponge, a rinse and a slow dry, plus scuffs, clear and coloured rubber, rain boots, flip-flops, and the few things that damage it. Read more...
Can You Wash Cleats in the Washing Machine? Why the Answer Is No
Soccer, football and baseball cleats shouldn't go in the washer: the maker says it can damage the cleats and the machine. Laces can. The ten-minute hand clean, and what to do about the smell. Read more...
How to Remove Shoe Glue: Super Glue, Rubber Cement and Residue
Glue comes off shoes differently depending on what it is. Super glue, rubber cement, tape residue and white glue on leather, canvas, mesh and rubber, and when acetone is a bad idea. Read more...
How to Clean Golden Goose Sneakers Without Losing the Distressing
Golden Goose distressing is designed in, so clean only the dirt you added: by hand, with a mild product, then air dry. What Golden Goose says about suede, white pairs, glitter and the washer. Read more...
How to Clean adidas Shoes: Leather, Suede, Knit and Boost
Clean adidas shoes by what they're made of: a light foam on leather and knit, blot-only on suede, a wipe on the sole, then air dry. Plus where adidas's own washer advice contradicts itself. Read more...
How to Clean Yeezy Slides (Plus Nike, adidas and Other Slides)
Yeezy slides are injected EVA foam, so soap, water and a soft brush do most of the work. How to deep clean them, what changes for light and black pairs, and what to keep away from them. Read more...
Stain on Leather Shoes? Identify It First, Then Remove It
Dirt, scuffs, oil, salt, water lines, ink and mould each need a different fix on leather, and some marks are damage, not stains. A stain-by-stain guide, with the limits stated. Read more...
How to Clean ASICS: GEL-Nimbus, Kayano, GEL-1130 and Novablast
ASICS says a shoe cleaner and a soft brush, or cold water and mild detergent, no soaking, no washer, no dryer. The method for running and GEL lifestyle pairs, and where ASICS contradicts itself. Read more...
How to Clean Sperry Shoes: Leather Top-Siders, Laces and Soles
Sperry says to keep water off its leather. How to clean leather Top-Siders its way, what to do with the rawhide laces and soles, where suede pairs differ, and why not the washer. Read more...
Does Water Ruin Suede? What Rain, Snow and Spills Really Do
Water marks suede and can stiffen it, but it rarely ruins it on its own. What rain, snow and spills actually do, what to do the moment suede gets wet, and whether you can clean it with water. Read more...