How To Clean Dirty White Sneakers (Leather, Mesh Canvas, & Suede)

With the warmer seasons starting to creep up, we have a feeling that most sneakerheads are getting ready to bust out their white sneakers and shine! Since the weather is getting nicer, those crisp sneakers might (eventually) get dirty. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered!

If you need to clean your white sneakers, whether they be leather, mesh, canvas, or suede, make sure to peep our step-by-step guide, below.

1. How To Clean Dirty White Leather Sneakers 

Let’s start off with your favorite pair of leather sneakers. If you find that your Air Force 1s, or any other leather sneakers, end up dirty after a night out, follow these steps:

1. First, wipe the excess mud and dirt off of the shoe using a soft rag or brush. You can also try to tap your sneakers together to get the excess off.
2. Next, remove and clean the laces. You can do so by throwing them in the washing machine or soaking them in a mixture of warm water and laundry detergent.
3. As for the rest of the shoe, make sure you rub a damp towel over it to get rid of the initial dirt and grime. Tip: Use non-gel whitening toothpaste to rub into the tougher stains and scuffs.
4. Next, scrub the stains with a toothbrush all throughout the shoe, wipe the toothpaste away with a damp towel, and dry it. 
5. If that doesn’t work, find a good leather cleaning solution to get the job done. With this, you will (first) need to soak your brush in hot water, and pour some of the solution on it. Next, gently scrub back and forth, creating a bubbly lather. Take a moment to look over the shoe and use a towel to remove the soap and suds. Tip: To keep the leather on your sneaker moist, treat it with a conditioner.
6. As a final step, weatherproofing is not a bad idea! Once your shoe is dry, find a good spray to add an additional layer of protection.

2. How To Clean Dirty White Mesh Sneakers

If you have white mesh sneakers, we feel your pain! Mesh has the ability to “soak up” almost anything it comes in contact with. Have no fear, the cleaning process is not much harder:

1. First, clean the excess dirt off with a soft brush. Tapping might not be enough! If you have a ton of mesh sneakers, we suggest investing in one or two soft-bristled shoe brushes. If you can’t, a soft-bristled toothbrush will do the trick.
2. Now, make sure to hold the brush perpendicular to the sneaker and use short as well as light motions. Tip: Use less pressure than you would with a heavier material.
3. After removing the excess dirt, mix warm water with a small amount of laundry detergent until it is slightly soapy. Tip: Avoid using bleach and other discoloring materials.
4. Next, use the solution to clean the shoe with a soft towel and make sure to keep a bowl of warm water to rinse the shoe throughout. Use a circular motion and apply light pressure. Tip: If certain parts require more scrubbing, it’s okay to soak the brush in the solution and scrub.
5. Now you are ready to rinse your towel and clean the exterior of the shoe again. This will help to remove any soapy residue. Tip: Use some disinfectant cleaning wipes to clean the midsoles (never on the surface!).
6. Finally, you can set your shoes aside to air-dry in a cool place for about 24 hours. Tip: If you want, you can improve airflow by placing a fan in front of your shoes.

 3.How To Clean Dirty White Canvas Sneakers

Canvas is one of the tougher materials to clean. If you own a pair of Vans, you know just how hard it is to get tough stains out! Try these steps on your durable and versatile shoes:

1. First, clean the dry dirt off by tapping the shoes together to clean the treads and scrape the rest off with a scrub brush.
2. Before continuing, remove the laces and soak them in a mix of warm water and (mild) laundry detergent. While the laces are soaking, mix water and baking soda to create a solution and use it to clean the soles.
3. After cleaning the soles, mix laundry detergent and cool/warm water. Tip: It’s okay to add chlorine bleach (if your shoes are white) — this will help them to pop.
4. Next, clean the canvas using the mix and a toothbrush, soft-bristled brush, or sponge.
5. After cleaning the dirt and stains out of the sneaker, use a towel with fresh water to wipe it down. Tip: This will help the drying process to speed up.

4.How To Clean Dirty White Suede Sneakers

If you didn’t know, suede is one of the more complicated materials to clean. The material is also very vulnerable to “wear-and-tear,” so make sure to memorize these steps:

1. First, you want to dab the shoes with a soft towel in order to get rid of any moisture.
2. After making sure there is no moisture, rub at the stains with a pink eraser. If there are any moist stains, use a dry paper towel and apply pressure to them. Tip: Use a soft towel with vinegar to get rid of any other stains.
3. Once you get rid of all of the stains, let the shoes air dry. Tip: Rub them with a suede brush in order to restore the definition. 
4. Finally, spray a coat of suede protector to help combat future stains and scuffs.

No matter which one you happen to own, following these steps will help to get your favorite white shoes crispy again! If you have any more cleaning methods that you think would be helpful, leave them in the comment section. If you want to keep up with sneaker and streetwear news, make sure to check out our Instagram @audiblwav. We keep your feed fresh with sneaker shots, outfit pictures, news on upcoming drops, and more! Do not miss out, tap the link above.