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We subject our running shoes to a lot: miles of gravelly pavement; rocky off-road terrain; dusty dirt trails; and sloppy puddles of mud or undefined urban liquids. Oof.
And we pay a lot for these shoes, sometimes burning through multiple pairs in one training cycle. Our shoes are part of our identities. They are our most loyal and reliable running companions, and thus they’re an investment worth taking care of—especially if you want to max out the miles you can get out of some models these days.
To really care for your pair, you might just need to use a little elbow grease to bring them back to life. Here’s how to clean shoes to keep them looking so fresh and so clean.
Can I just toss them in the washer and dryer?
Seems like a good idea, but not so fast when it comes to the process of cleaning shoes. “The constant tumbling could damage and/or jeopardize the integrity of the shoes,” says Jason Angsuvarn, the founder of Jason Markk, a premium shoe care brand. (You can, however, toss those dirty laces in with the rest of your laundry.)
The washing machine actually affects the structure of the foams in providing consistent cushioning or responsive feel, adds Victor Ornelas, director of brand management at Fleet Feet. “Midsoles constructed out of the traditional EVA foam—such as the Asics Flytefoam Midsole or Hoka’s midsole, which uses a proprietary EVA combination—are more sensitive to water,” he says. Midsoles constructed out of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)—such as the Adidas Boost or Saucony Everun technology—are more resilient, he says, but it’s still not worth the risk.
Extreme temperatures can also do some serious damage, which is why the dryer is a no-go, too, says Angsuvarn. “There’s a good chance that the heat and constant tumbling will damage the foam along with causing misshaping,” he says. Opt for air drying by removing the insoles and setting the shoes outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
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How to clean road scuffs
Road scuffs pretty much come with the territory, but knowing how to clean your shoes from the scuffs can be tricky. “We recommend using our cleaning solution with a soft bristle brush on more delicate materials, like a mesh upper, or a stiff bristle brush on dense areas, like the midsoles and outsoles,” Angsuvarn says.
To get rid of a scuff on the upper, dip a brush into a shoe cleaning solution or a mixture of soap and water and then brush off the stain, says Raheem Rademaker, the founder of Brooklyn-based sneaker cleaning service Weekend Ritual. “Don’t use anything with harsh chemicals, dyes, or fragrances, which can be damaging; go with a cleanser that’s as natural as possible, like Seventh Generation detergent,” he says. Once the scuff is gone, blot the area with a microfiber towel and let them air dry.
FYI: If you have white running shoes—or stains on a white midsole or outsole—you can use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe away the dirty spots, says Ornelas. “The cleaning pad is made out of melamine foam, which is gentle yet effective on destroying stains,” he explains. “All you need to do is wet the melamine pad and start wiping the dirty areas of the shoe.” But only use this product on white materials to avoid any chance of bleaching.
How to clean grass stains
Grass stains are tough because they come from chlorophyll, the green pigment in the plant’s juices, and that natural compound can bind to fibers of a fabric. To get them out, “mix one part vinegar and two parts water in a bucket for create a natural cleaning solution,” Rademaker says. “Dab a towel into the mixture and blot the stain; then, clean the whole area with a cleaning solution like you’d use for the road scuffs.” If that doesn’t work right away, keep repeating until it the stain is gone.
When you’re blotting, don’t just use any old cloth. “Use a microfiber towel with a bit of pressure to absorb and lift any stubborn stains,” Markk says. “Microfiber towels are super absorbent to help dry the shoes fast, and the microscopic hooks in the towel help to lift any remaining dirt.”
How to clean trail dirt and dust
Mesh and knit uppers are great for runners because they’re breathable fabric, but the netting catches all the dirt and dust you kick up when you’re running outside. To clean, first “use a soft bristle brush to dry brush the entire shoe to remove as much of the top layer of dirt/dust before wetting the shoe,” Markk says. “Dry brushing before wetting the shoe is important, otherwise it will be 10 times more work!”
Then it’s time to soak the dirt away. “Mix together one part baking soda and one part vinegar in a bowl, dab it on the dirty area, and leave for about 15 minutes,” Ornelas says. “This acid-based mixture eats through stubborn stains without affecting the fabric.” Try to keep the mixture right on top of the dirty area so it doesn’t turn straight-up muddy and spread. Finally, use your cleaning solution to clean the shoe, then blot and let air dry.
How to clean coffee and other external stains
If you’ve got some kind of external stain on your kicks (looking at you, coffee drinkers), you need to treat it ASAP so the stain isn’t absorbed into the material. “You can make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda,” Rademaker says. “Let that paste sit on the stain for five to 10 minutes—the vinegar will break it down and the baking soda will soak up the excess moisture—then brush over the area with your cleaning solution.
Check the urge to go totally HAM on that stain if your shoes are knit, though. This is a common shoe cleaning mistake. “Knits are soft and pliable, which makes them more fragile than the other fabrics,” Ornelas says. “Be as gentle to these shoes as you are to your clothes”—i.e. don’t pull at or distort the shoe in your rush to get the stain out. Brush it gently with your cleaning solution, then let air dry.
How to clean water marks
No one wants to see a water line on their shoe reminding them of the time they totally misjudged the weather, the distance between the curb and dry pavement, or both. Fortunately, this how to clean shoes issue is one of the easier stains to remove. “You don’t need any mixture or solution, you just want to re-wet the entire shoe,” Rademaker says. “Don’t drench it or dunk it, but wet a brush and wipe around the whole shoe, like the brush is a sponge or wet cloth, to get the sneaker evenly wet and really lathered up.”
That helps prevent you from staring at a soggy pair of shoes for the next week, as does “using a microfiber towel with a bit of pressure to dab and twist the entire upper of the shoe,” Markk says. “This will help for the shoe to dry and unify the color.”
How to clean mud from your shoes
Don’t rush on this one. “This may come as a surprise, but if you allow the mud to dry before attempting to clean, it may be easier to clean,” Markk says. “Once the mud has dried, dry brush the shoe with a soft bristle brush. If it’s a ton of mud, you may need to use a stiffer bristle brush and a little more elbow grease.” Brushing away the top layer will clear the way to dig in on any actual mud stains below.
Again, you don’t need a special solution here—just your average cleaning solution. “Brush the muddy spot with the cleaning solution, then let it air dry and see how much is left,” Rademaker says. “You might need two to three rounds of treatment, so just repeat until it’s gone.”
