Sneakerhead & Stuck At Home? Now Is A Great Time To Clean Your Shoe Collection

With a majority of the population right now being instructed to go about their daily lives while working from home, some of us are having a hard time dealing with the restrictions that have been imposed upon us. Of course, they are for good measure, however being confined within the four walls of your home can be tiresome and boring, especially after spending days on end cooped up inside. Unless you wear shoes in the house (which is odd, by the way), you probably won’t be wearing your sneakers much during this isolation period, which means it’s the perfect time to take your time and clean your collection. Come on, you know you said you would do it months ago but you haven’t gotten around to it… If not now then when?

You have more than enough time to do a thorough job of cleaning your sneaker collection, especially if you won’t be wearing them out the house any time soon, so they will stay pristine for a longer period of time (one pro of quarantine). Cleaning up your sneakers is a great idea if you’re wanting to breathe fresh life into your old shoes or liven up your outfits. Let’s face it, an outfit looks far better with a fresh, clean pair of sneakers than a dirty, dusty pair.

The task of cleaning your sneakers may seem fairly simple until you have to sit down and do it. There are various factors to consider, such as the materials your shoes are made of. This will influence the cleaning products you require and how you should use them in order to not damage the sneaker. Particular fabrics like mesh and suede often need special attention, however, the following is a guide to cleaning more versatile textiles such as canvas or leather.

What you will need

• Towel
• Brush (nail brush or sneaker brush which you can find at most shoe stores)
• Sneaker cleaning solution (you can also find this at most shoe retailers)
• Old toothbrush (for areas the larger brush can’t reach)
• Whitening Toothpaste
• Waterproofing spray
• A spare set of laces
• Magic sponge (to remove tough scuffs)
• Microfiber towel
• Wipes
• A bucket with hot water
• A pair of dirty sneakers

How to clean your sneakers:

1. Remove laces from your sneakers and set up everything you need within reach.
2. Knock the soles of the shoes together to remove any excess dirt. Would recommend doing this outside or over a trash can.
3. Use a soft brush or damp towel to wipe off remaining dirt.
4. To spot clean, use a wipe, which should get most scuffs and marks off your shoe. Use a dab and twist motion to help lift the stain.
5. If your shoe needs it, perform a deep clean on them. Dip your brush into hot water and add cleaning solution. Gently scrub back and forth, lathering and creating bubbles. You can use a toothbrush for hard to reach places.
6. Whitening toothpaste can be used on white canvas to finish off really clean.
7. Remove excess soap with a microfiber towel.
8. Clean the midsoles using the same process with the hot water and cleaning solution. A magic sponge can help remove dirt and stains from the midsole if it doesn’t need to be deep cleaned.
9. You can clean laces in the washing machine or by scrubbing with a toothbrush and cleaning solution.
10. Once you’re done cleaning your sneakers, let them dry overnight.
11. When they are dry and you have re-laced them, spray some weather-proofing onto the uppers and soles. Follow the instructions on the bottle.

Now sit back and watch your fresh, clean kicks hang out in your wardrobe until quarantine is over. Or wear then around your house (still odd).