Tools: An old toothbrush, a soft white rubber, damp cloth
A good run in the forest or a coffee accident can leave a mark on your shoes.
We got some general recommendations on how to clean your favorite kicks.
It might sound obvious but, don‘t let your shoes get too dirty! Brush grass or mud away every time after you wear them as it is easier than trying to remove an accumulation of dirt. This is particularly true for white shoes, give them a quick wipe after every wear.
Different materials need different care. Please look at the care instructions labels, here is a table which can help you if you are not familiar with the symbols. These are general recommendations depending on the shoes’ upper material:
- Leather: Do not wash your shoes, try regular polish products, or bring them to the specialist.
- Suede: Do not wash your shoes. Try spot-cleaning with a soft white eraser or gently rub with an old toothbrush. Do not scrub. If it doesn’t work, bring them to the specialist.
- Synthetic-leather: Wipe with a plain water damped cloth.
- Textile uppers: Shoes are not made for washing machines and washing machines are not made for shoes. However, for shoes with uppers made of textile materials (e.g. polyester), before you end up throwing them away because of odors or dirt, you can give it a try with washing. Make sure you use a laundry net, wash at low temperature and a delicate program.
- And to add some spice, some shoe uppers are made of different materials, so you’ll have to be careful with cleaning each material with the right solution.
You can wash the laces and clean the soles to make your shoes look fresh in a quick way. White soles can be cleaned with a melamine sponge. Make sure you do not use the sponge on leather parts of the shoe.
