How to clean sneakers by material: mesh, canvas, PU leather, and EVA or rubber soles
Cleaning a sneaker is three jobs — the upper, the sole and the drying — and the right method depends on what the upper is made of. Here is the step-by-step for each material we sell, plus what to avoid.
The short answer: brush off dry dirt first, then match the method to the upper: hand-wash textile uppers (mesh, knit, canvas) in lukewarm water with mild soap, wipe coated uppers (PU leather) with a damp cloth, and dry-brush suede. Scrub soles with soap and a soft brush. Always air-dry at room temperature, stuffed with paper, away from radiators and sun — heat is what damages foam soles, coatings and glue. Skip the washing machine.
Before you start
- Remove the laces and insoles and clean them separately — they hold most of the sweat and dirt.
- Brush off dry dirt with a soft brush. Wet mud smears into textiles, so let it dry first.
- Check the care label if the shoe has one; the symbols are standardised and explained in the laundry symbol reference.
- Find the upper and sole materials on the product page: every style at Studio Aurel lists them in its specifications table, using the same names as this guide.
Cleaning by upper material
| Upper | Method | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh | Lukewarm water, mild soap, soft brush; rinse well | Washing machine — heat and tumbling stress the glued overlays |
| Knit | Same as mesh; squeeze, don't wring | Wringing, which distorts the knit |
| Canvas | Dry-brush, then hand-wash; a paste of soap and baking soda for greying | Drying in direct sun, which can yellow white canvas |
| PU leather | Soft, slightly damp cloth; a drop of mild soap for marks | Alcohol, solvents or leather conditioners — they dull or damage the coating |
| Suede | Dry brushing with a suede brush once fully dry | Water and soap on the nap |
Mesh and knit
Textile uppers survive water well; what doesn't survive is heat. Wash by hand in lukewarm water with a little mild soap, working dirt out of the weave with a soft brush, then rinse thoroughly. We advise against the washing machine even for shoes that seem robust: the fabric itself often comes through a cycle, but hot water and tumbling stress the glue lines and overlays that give the shoe its shape. Full details are in our mesh guide.
Canvas
Cotton canvas is the most washable upper we sell, but it absorbs water and dries slowly. Dry-brush first, then hand-wash with lukewarm water and mild soap. For a white pair that has gone grey, a paste of soap and baking soda gently brushed in and rinsed out works well — sodium bicarbonate is a mild abrasive, and a paste of it with a little water is recommended as a gentle scouring powder. Dry away from direct sunlight. See the canvas guide.
PU leather
Coated uppers don't need washing at all: wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and use a drop of mild soap for stubborn marks. Alcohol, solvent cleaners and leather conditioners are the things to avoid — they can dull or damage the polyurethane coating. Dry away from radiators and sun, because heat is what ages the coating fastest. See the PU leather guide.
Suede
Suede is the exception to "add water": clean it dry, with a suede brush, after any damp patch has dried completely. The suede guide covers the details.
Cleaning the soles
- EVA foam (most flip-flops, slippers and running-shoe midsoles): rinse or wipe with lukewarm water and mild soap; a soft brush handles textured surfaces. Keep EVA away from all heat — it can warp or shrink. See the EVA guide.
- Rubber outsoles: soap, water and a stiff brush. For grubby white sidewalls, the same baking soda paste as for canvas works as a gentle abrasive; rinse well. Air-dry at room temperature — radiator heat accelerates ageing and can deform the glue lines where the sole meets the upper. See the rubber sole guide.
Drying and storing
Drying is where most sneakers are ruined. Stuff the shoes with plain paper to hold their shape, and let them dry at room temperature with some airflow. Never put them on a radiator, in a tumble dryer or in direct summer sun: EVA is a thermoplastic that deforms with heat, PU coatings stiffen and crack, and sunlight yellows white canvas.
Damp storage causes the other common problem. Mildew needs an organic food source, ambient humidity of roughly 62–93% and warmth of about 25–31 °C, and it thrives in stagnant air — it grows on clothing and leather, and it produces the musty smell you notice in a closed shoe cupboard. Store shoes fully dry, give the cupboard some ventilation, and keep the silica gel sachets that come in the box: silica gel is a desiccant and helps keep the storage space dry.
Keeping them fresh between washes
Most odour comes from sweat trapped in the lining and insole. Rotating between two pairs so each dries fully between wears helps more than any spray, and so does sock choice: the NHS advises moisture-wicking sports socks during exercise and changing socks frequently if you get sweaty feet. Wash the insoles separately when you clean the shoe.
Sneakers at Studio Aurel
Uppers and soles are listed separately for every style, so you always know which method applies. Mesh and knit dominate in running shoes and athletic shoes; canvas and PU leather in casual shoes and skate shoes. For how each material behaves, start with the shoe materials overview.
FAQ
Can I put sneakers in the washing machine?
We advise against it. Textile uppers often survive a cycle, but hot water and tumbling stress the glue joints, overlays and foam soles that hold the shoe together. Hand-washing in lukewarm water takes ten minutes and carries none of that risk.
How do I clean white rubber soles that have gone grey?
Scrub with soap, water and a stiff brush first. For remaining marks, brush in a paste of baking soda and a little water — it acts as a gentle abrasive — then rinse thoroughly and air-dry.
How do I dry wet sneakers quickly without damaging them?
Remove the insoles and laces, stuff the shoes with plain paper, change the paper once it is damp, and leave them at room temperature with some airflow. Do not use a radiator, dryer or direct sun: heat damages foam soles, coatings and glue.
How often should sneakers be cleaned?
Brush off dirt whenever you see it, and do a full clean when the upper is visibly soiled or the shoe smells. Letting shoes dry fully between wears — ideally by rotating pairs — keeps them fresh for longer than frequent washing.