How to Clean Sneakers: The Complete Guide
Last updated June 2026. Written by the SNKRR BAR lab in Memphis, TN, where our team has cleaned and restored over 31,000 pairs.
The fastest way to clean sneakers: dry-brush off loose dirt, mix a sneaker-safe cleaner with lukewarm water, work it in with a soft brush in small circles, wipe with a microfiber towel, and air dry away from heat. Match the cleaner to the material: an all-purpose solution for leather, mesh, and canvas, and a dedicated suede cleaner for suede and nubuck.
How to clean sneakers step by step
- Dry brush first. Knock off loose dirt with a dry brush so you are not grinding grit into the material.
- Remove the laces. Clean them separately so you can reach the tongue and eyelets.
- Mix your solution. Add a small amount of sneaker cleaner to lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, which can loosen glue.
- Work in small circles. Dip a soft brush and clean in gentle circular motions, section by section.
- Wipe and repeat. Lift lather and dirt with a microfiber towel, and repeat on stubborn spots.
- Air dry. Stuff with paper to hold the shape and dry at room temperature, away from direct heat or sunlight.
How to fix yellowed soles
Yellowed soles are caused by oxidation, the same reaction that browns a sliced apple. Regular cleaning will not reverse it. You need an oxidation-reversal treatment plus UV light: apply it to clean, dry soles, wrap them, and expose them to UV (sunlight or a UV lamp) so the reaction reverses and the rubber returns toward white.
This is exactly what our Bounce Back Sauce is built for. Prefer not to DIY? Our mail-in restoration service handles sole whitening for you.
How to clean suede and nubuck sneakers
Never soak suede in water. Use a dry-application suede cleaner and a suede brush. Brush in one direction to lift dirt, treat stains with the dedicated solution, and let the nap dry fully before brushing it back up. Water-based all-purpose cleaners can stain and matt suede, so always use a suede-specific product like Swade Cleaner.
How often should you clean your sneakers?
For daily wearers, a light clean every one to two weeks keeps grime from setting in. Spot-clean spills immediately, do a deeper clean monthly, and treat yellowing as soon as it appears, because oxidation gets harder to reverse the longer it sets.
Common sneaker-cleaning mistakes to avoid
- Putting sneakers in the washing machine, which can break down glue and warp the shape.
- Using hot water or harsh household cleaners that discolor materials.
- Cleaning suede with water-based products.
- Drying with direct heat, which can crack and yellow materials.
- Scrubbing too hard instead of letting the solution do the work.
When to use a professional sneaker cleaning service
Some jobs are worth handing to a pro: deep yellowing, set-in stains, grails you do not want to risk, or a backlog of pairs. SNKRR BAR offers a mail-in cleaning and restoration service from our Memphis lab, so you can ship your kicks from anywhere in the US and get them back box-fresh. See the service and pricing.
What products do you need?
A complete kit covers three jobs: an all-purpose cleaner for everyday materials, a suede cleaner for napped materials, and an oxidation-reversal sauce for yellowed soles. The Bounce Back Bundle packages all three Solutions, and tools like a brush duo start at $9.99.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to clean white sneakers?
Dry-brush first, then clean with an all-purpose sneaker solution and lukewarm water using a soft brush in small circles. Wipe with a microfiber towel and air dry. For yellowed white soles, use an oxidation-reversal treatment with UV light, not just soap.
Can you really reverse yellowed soles?
Yes. Yellowing is oxidation, and it can be reversed with a UV-activated oxidation-reversal product applied to clean, dry soles. Standard cleaning will not do it. Our Bounce Back Sauce is formulated specifically for this.
Is it safe to put sneakers in the washing machine?
It is risky. Machine washing can dissolve glue, warp the shape, and damage materials. Hand cleaning with a sneaker-safe solution and a soft brush is safer and gives better results.
How do you clean suede sneakers without ruining them?
Keep them dry. Use a dry-application suede cleaner and a suede brush, work in one direction, and avoid water-based cleaners, which stain and matt the nap.
Where can I get my sneakers professionally cleaned?
SNKRR BAR runs a mail-in cleaning and restoration service from Memphis. Ship your sneakers from anywhere in the US and we clean, restore, and return them.