Tips to Clean Sneakers Depending on the Type of Material

Want to give those well worn sneakers a makeover and look like they have just come out of the newly ordered box instead of a muddy ground? Follow these simple washing tips and tricks on how to clean shoes for an instant overhaul.

While the cleaning method for different materials doesn’t differ much, there are a few specific techniques that give better results when applied to the particular material. 

Let’s learn about them in detail here.

Leather sneakers

Mix some mild detergent in lukewarm water and dip a cloth in it, then clean out the debris & dirty particles on the shoes. Scrub the mucky area gently with a brush for a few seconds, ensuring not to get the material too wet. Wipe off any remaining detergent and let it air dry. 

Mesh Sneakers

Mesh is an ideal fabric for runners since it is a breathable material. But the net design catches all the dust and dirt you kick up while working out. Use a dry brush to evacuate any excess dust, then mix 1:1 ratio of baking soda and vinegar and let the mixture sit on the spot for about 20 minutes. 

Gently rub for a couple of minutes and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. Leave the shoe to air dry. 

Knitted Sneakers

Be most gentle with the knitted sneakers as they are pliable and soft. The soft fabric makes it more fragile as compared to the other materials. Hence avoid using a brush on these types of women's designer sneakers as it can be quite rough on them. For knitted sneakers, we highly recommend using a mushy cloth. 

It will take a little extra effort to get rid of the stains however, it is quite effective. Use a mild soap instead of a laundry detergent as the chemicals in it can be too harsh on the fabric. Once the stains disappear, wipe clean any existing soap with a damp cloth and let it air dry.

Canvas Sneakers

Canvas shoes are durable however, they catch dust very easily. Take equal parts of warm water and baking soda and apply the resulting mixture on the canvas sneakers with a toothbrush and rub until it’s clean. Let the mixture dry for a few minutes and then wipe off the shoes with a wet cloth. 

While it’s always good to hand wash shoes, canvas sneakers are sturdier then several other fabrics and can resist a gentle spin through the washing machine. However, ensure you run the washing machine on delicate mode and use cold water only and less amount of mild detergent. Once your sneakers are washed, let them air dry.

And remember to clean the insides too.

Now that you have learned how to clean the dust out of your sneakers made from different fabric and have removed the stains successfully, it is also very important to remove the sweat-born bacteria inside your footwear. 

Simply soak a brush in a mixture of mild detergent and warm water and rub the insides of your shoes until clean. Then wipe it off gently with a wet cloth and let it air dry.

Here is a good tip for you

If the inner part of your shoes gets damp post an intense exercise session or a walk in the rain, remove the insoles and wad your shoes with paper napkins to soak up excess dampness prior to the cleaning process. 

If the insides of your shoes are excessively wet, just remember that it will take more time to dry.