How To Clean White Sneakers (Without Ruining Them!)

White sneakers can look so fresh and so clean — until you step in a puddle or spill coffee on them. The key is gentle, thorough cleaning without harsh scrubbing or chemicals. Always start by brushing off dry dirt (even tapping your shoes together outside to knock off clumps). It helps to have the right tools: for example, use soft-bristle brushes on canvas, mesh or suede and stiffer brushes only on rubber soles. Some sneaker experts even carry sneaker-cleaning wipes (almost like baby wipes) for quick daily touch-ups; wiping leather or canvas soon after each wear keeps stains from setting in. With a little preparation, you can tackle any material – canvas, leather, mesh, or suede – safely.

Canvas Sneakers

Canvas (and cotton-knit) shoes, like Vans or Converse, are the easiest to clean thoroughly. Here’s a step-by-step method:

Remove laces and dry-brush: Untie your sneakers and take out the laces. Outside or over a trash can, knock the shoes together to shake off caked-on dirt. Then use a dry toothbrush or soft shoe brush to brush away remaining loose dirt around the uppers and midsoles.
Make a baking soda paste: Mix about 3 tablespoons baking soda with 1 tablespoon white vinegar (or water) to form a thick paste. (It will fizz a bit.) Dip your brush into the paste and scrub it into the canvas in small circles. This paste is a gentle abrasive/bleaching combo that lifts stains.
Let it sit and dry: Leave the paste on until it hardens (the canvas will turn chalky white). Once dry, brush off the crust and wipe the shoe with a damp microfiber cloth to remove residue. Rinse your cloth as needed in warm water while wiping.
Spot-treat stubborn stains: For really tough spots (grass, blood, etc.), carefully use a diluted bleach treatment. For example, a bleach pen dabbed on a stain for a few minutes can help (then wash it off). BHG notes that a very dilute bleach solution (about 1 part bleach to 4–5 parts water) can brighten whites, but caution is needed – too much bleach can yellow fabric. Don’t soak the whole shoe if any part isn’t white.
Clean the soles: Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (wet and wrung out) to scrub the rubber midsoles and outsoles. It works wonders on scuffs and embedded dirt. Alternatively, a toothbrush and baking soda paste or an old non-gel white toothpaste also work on yellowed rubber.
Air dry: After cleaning, stuff the shoes with white paper towels to preserve their shape and leave them to air-dry completely (at room temperature). Never machine-dry canvas – heat can cause shrinkage or yellowing. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can dry out fabrics and fade whites.

Leather Sneakers

Leather (or faux-leather) white sneakers require a gentler touch than fabric. Treat them more like your jackets and furniture:

Brush off dirt: Lightly brush or wipe the upper with a dry cloth to remove surface dust.
Soap and water: Mix a few drops of mild dish soap or laundry detergent with warm water. Wet a soft cloth or a soft toothbrush in this soapy mix and gently wipe the leather all over. You’re not soaking the shoe, just moistened cleaning – this lifts everyday stains without harming the finish.
White bar soap trick: Alternatively, Real Simple suggests rubbing a white bar of soap on a damp cloth to create suds and scrubbing with that. (Using white soap avoids any dye transferring to the shoe.)
Magic Eraser for scuffs: After soapy cleaning, use a damp Magic Eraser sponge on any remaining scuffs (on both leather and rubber parts). Just wet and wring the melamine sponge, then rub gently. It’s very effective at wiping off stubborn marks.
Wipe and dry: Once clean, wipe away all soap with a clean damp cloth, then buff dry with a microfiber towel. Stuff the shoes with paper towels and let them air-dry completely before wearing.
Condition (optional): If the leather feels a bit stiff after drying, apply a small amount of leather conditioner to keep it supple.
Precautions: Don’t oversaturate leather shoes or submerge them – too much water can warp or crack the leather. Never use harsh solvents (acetone) or bleach on leather, and avoid drying near heaters or in the sun, which can dry out and yellow the leather.

Mesh or Knit Sneakers

Modern athletic shoes often have fabric mesh or knit uppers (like Nike Flyknit or Adidas mesh). Treat these like canvas but even more gently:

Brush off debris: Use a soft-bristle dry toothbrush to gently sweep away loose dirt from the mesh. Go softly along the knit pattern so you don’t snag the fibers.
Mild detergent wash: In a bowl, mix a small amount of liquid laundry detergent (or mild soap) with warm water. Dip a soft cloth into the soapy water and wipe the mesh in small circular motions. You can use the toothbrush again for stubborn spots, but go easy.
Rinse with cloth: Instead of soaking, take a fresh damp cloth and wipe down the shoe to “rinse” out soap suds. Avoid throwing the shoes in a tub or machine unless the manufacturer explicitly says it’s safe. (Brands like Nike specifically don’t recommend machine washing, to preserve shoe integrity.)
Bleach pen for spots: Like with canvas, if you have a white mesh shoe and a tough stain, dot a bleach pen on the stain, wait a couple minutes, and then wipe off with a wet cloth. Remember bleach can weaken fabric if overused.
Dry properly: Stuff the shoes with paper or a shoe tree, then let them air dry out of direct heat. Never toss mesh shoes in the dryer – the hot tumbling can melt adhesives or shrink the fabric.

Suede or Nubuck Sneakers

Suede and nubuck are very delicate (they’re basically unfinished leather), so they require special care:

Air-dry first: If your suede shoes got wet or muddy, pause. Let them dry completely at room temperature before you attempt cleaning. Do not apply heat or sun.
Brush off dirt: Once dry, use a suede brush or a very soft toothbrush/nail brush to gently brush the surface. Brush with the grain of the suede (the direction it naturally lays). This loosens and lifts dirt.
Rub out marks: For remaining spots or scuffs, try a suede eraser (a special rubber block) or even a clean pencil eraser. Gently rub the stained area; it can often buff stains right out. Don’t rub so hard that you rough up the suede, though.
Vinegar or alcohol for stains: Dampen a clean cloth with white vinegar or isopropyl alcohol, then lightly blot the stained area. Both solvents are okay for suede and will dry clear. You may see the suede darken at first, but it should return to normal color as it dries. Blot lightly and avoid soaking the suede.
Grease stains: For oily marks (cooking oil, butter), sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the spot and let it sit overnight. The powder absorbs the grease. Brush off the powder the next day and repeat if needed.
Restore the nap: After cleaning, use the suede brush to fluff up the fibers again (brushing in different directions).
Protect afterward: Once clean and dry, apply a suede/nubuck protector spray. A good waterproofing spray (like Kiwi or a sneaker specialist brand) can help keep future stains from setting.
No water baths: Never dunk suede in water or use shoe polish. Keep it as dry as possible throughout the process.

Cleaning Laces

Shoelaces take a beating and get dingy fast, but they’re easy to clean:

Remove laces: Always take laces out of shoes before cleaning anything.
Soak in detergent or OxiClean: Fill a bowl with warm water and a little detergent or a scoop of OxiClean. Toss in the laces and let them soak for 10–30 minutes, even overnight for really grimy laces.
Scrub and rinse: Rub the laces between your fingers or brush them with a toothbrush in the soapy water. Rinse under clean water. If they’re still dirty, repeat.
Bleach whites: For plain white laces, you can use a diluted bleach soak (wear gloves). BHG recommends about 3 tablespoons bleach per gallon of water. Soak for just a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. (Be very careful not to do this with colored or patterned laces.)
Machine laundry: Another trick is to knot laces together, toss them in a lingerie bag or pillowcase, and throw them in the washing machine (gentle cycle). Air-dry afterwards – hot dryer heat can weaken the lace fibers.
Replace if needed: Sometimes old laces just won’t come back to bright white. New laces (often easy to find cheap online or in shoestores) are an instant refresh if cleaning isn’t enough.

Cleaning Soles and Midsoles

The white rubber or foam soles (and midsoles) of your sneakers often yellow or scuff. Here’s how to clean them:

Brush off loose dirt: Start by brushing or knocking dirt off the treads.
Baking soda or toothpaste paste: Mix baking soda with water (or a little bit of vinegar) to make a paste, or squeeze some non-gel white toothpaste onto a cloth/brush. Scrub the rubber areas with your paste or toothpaste. These act as mild abrasives that scrub away grime.
Magic Eraser: A melamine sponge is magic on soles. Wet and squeeze out a Magic Eraser and rub it along the rubber edges – it lifts stains and yellowness very effectively.
Damp cloth rinse: Wipe or rinse off any cleaning residue. Some people use a little isopropyl alcohol on a cloth to wipe away tough dirt.
Bleach caution: For really stubborn yellowing, you can carefully apply a weak bleach solution (like 1 part bleach to 5 parts water). Brush it on, let it sit a minute, then rinse thoroughly. But be cautious – excess bleach can actually yellow white rubber if left too long.
Dry: Wipe dry and let air. For deep cleans, you can remove insoles and use the cleaning mix on them, too (although insoles often need separate odor treatments).

Sneaker Kits and Tools (Pro Tip)

A good sneaker-cleaning kit can make life easier. Kits usually include a gentle cleaner formula plus specialty brushes and cloths. For example, many kits have soft brushes suited for mesh/knit and firmer brushes for soles, along with a non-greasy cleaning solution. Brands like Jason Markk or Reshoevn8r offer well-regarded kits. Even a plain soft-bristle toothbrush and microfiber towels are great tools to have on hand. Soft brushes are your go-to for uppers (canvas, mesh, suede) so you don’t snag fibers, while stiffer bristles work only on durable parts. A high-quality microfiber cloth is also handy for wiping down sneakers without leaving lint. Lastly, we can’t forget protective sprays: after a good clean, spray on a fabric protector (for canvas/mesh) or suede protector to help repel dirt and stains in the future.

Bonus Hacks and Tips

Wipe after wear: Use sneaker wipes or even baby wipes to quickly wipe down leather or canvas after each wear. Pro cleaner Rocco suggests this keeps dirt from building up – “They’re almost like baby wipes, but for sneakers,” he says. A quick wipe can save you time later.
Paper towels for shape: Always stuff damp shoes with white paper towels or a dry cloth while drying. This absorbs moisture inside and helps the shoe hold its form.
Rotate shoes: Don’t wear the same white shoes every day. Giving them 24–48 hours between wears lets them air out (and any moisture or odor dissipate).
Sunlight caution: Avoid drying or storing whites in direct sunlight. Prolonged sun can yellow canvas and fade materials.
Odor control: Sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes and let it sit overnight (then shake out) to absorb odors. Freezing shoes (in a sealed bag) also kills odor-causing bacteria.
Test first: Before any cleaner (especially bleach or alcohol), test it on a hidden seam or small area. You want to make sure it won’t discolor or damage the material.
Protect up front: As a preventive measure, use a sneaker protector spray on new white shoes before you ever wear them. This adds a stain-resistant coating that can keep them cleaner longer.

With these methods and a little patience, your white sneakers will stay looking crisp. Just remember: gentle cleaning is the key. Too much scrubbing or harsh chemicals can wear materials out faster. Keep to the materials’ rules (canvas can be a bit tougher, suede needs babying, etc.), and your kicks will reward you with a fresh, clean look — step after step!