In this guide
Everyday cleaning
How to hand-clean everyday sneakers
Brush off loose dirt. Clean the sole, then the fabric upper. Use a dry cloth to lift away moisture, and let the shoes air-dry.
This method follows Nike’s general advice for intact textile sneakers. Use your model’s instructions if they differ. Converse canvas has its own example below.
Leather, suede or an unidentified trim panel? Keep the wet cloth off that area and check the material first.
Put these beside the shoe
- Soft brush or clean spare toothbrush
- Warm water and mild laundry detergent or dish soap
- Soft cloth for cleaning; a separate dry cloth for blotting
- A separate brush or cloth for the dirty sole
Use the cleaner named in your shoe’s instructions when one is specified. Do not put concentrated soap straight onto the shoe; Nike calls for a small amount diluted in water, without a fixed mixing ratio.
Know the two areas
Check the product listing, order record or tongue label for the material. A fuzzy overlay may need different care from the fabric beside it. Color does not identify a material.
Clean in 5 steps
Brush off dry, loose dirt
Brush the sole and upper gently with a dry, soft brush. Take out the laces so you can reach the tongue and the area around the eyelets.
Prepare a mild solution
Mix a small amount of mild cleaner into warm water. Use a soft brush or cloth to apply it; keep the bottle away from the shoe.
Clean the sole first
Work on the bottom and side of the sole with its own brush or cloth. Wipe with a soft cloth, then set that dirty tool aside.
Before moving up: switch to the clean tool for the upper.
Clean the fabric, then blot
Gently work on the compatible upper with a damp cloth or soft brush. Next, touch a dry cloth to the surface and lift it away. Use a dry part of the cloth as it picks up moisture.
Touch down. Put a dry, soft cloth against the damp upper. Lift away. Move to a dry part of the cloth and repeat. Do not scrub back and forth to dry the fabric. Still a mark? More pressure is not the next step. Finish the gentle clean and reassess the stain separately.
Leave the shoes to air-dry
Let them dry at room temperature before wearing. Open the laces and keep removable insoles separate if they are damp. See the drying setup if the inside is wet.
If something goes wrong
Color comes off, fibers lift or a seam loosens: stop cleaning. Set the cleaner aside and record the product used and the shoe’s style code before contacting the maker.
You only want clean laces: take them out and use the fabric-lace method; the whole shoe does not need washing.
Have Converse canvas instead?
Converse gives a separate method: a little mild dish soap in lukewarm water, first tried on a hidden area such as the tongue edge. Clean the canvas gently with a damp cloth or soft brush. Air-dry at room temperature without direct heat; do not machine wash or tumble-dry.
Leave glued insoles attached. For a different canvas model, use its instructions rather than assuming this Converse method applies; the model-check example shows why.
Sources & how this guide was made
- Nike: How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps (November 18, 2022): basic sequence, mild solution, blotting and air-drying.
- Converse: How to Clean Your Converse Shoes: canvas example and hidden-area check.
Reviewed November 2, 2026. AI-assisted research and original teaching illustrations; no hands-on test or reader trial. Tool separation and troubleshooting checkpoints are editorial aids. This guide covers ordinary dirt, not mold, chemical spills or repairs.