Guides / Prices and choosing a cleaner
How much does sneaker cleaning cost?
Professional sneaker cleaning isn't priced like dry cleaning, where every shirt costs about the same. The price depends on the material, how dirty the pair is, whether anything needs fixing, and whether you have to get the shoes to the shop yourself. Here's how to read a price list, and what we charge.
Check your zipWhat a standard clean usually covers
Most cleaners have a standard or basic tier for everyday sneakers in leather, mesh, and canvas. That normally means the uppers, midsoles, light outsole grime, and laces. Specialist shops tend to price a basic clean somewhere between the cost of a takeout lunch and a nice dinner, and designer or delicate pairs higher.
A cheap headline price can grow fast. Read what's included: some shops charge separately for laces, insoles, deodorizing, or a protective spray, and others include them.
What pushes the price up
Four things change the price more than anything else.
- Material: suede, nubuck, and specialty fabrics need different products and more time, so they cost more.
- Condition: mold, deep stains, and set-in mud take longer than a pair that's just dusty.
- Restoration: sole whitening, repainting, and repairs are a different job from cleaning, often priced per task.
- Logistics: driving to a shop twice costs time and gas. Pickup services either charge a delivery fee or build it into the price.
Pickup versus dropping off
Drop-off shops can be cheaper per pair on paper, but you pay with two trips and your own time. That's fine if the shop is on your way. In much of North Miami-Dade and South Broward it isn't, and the closest specialist may be across the county.
Pickup services come to your door, so the comparison to make is the total cost, not the clean alone. Check whether delivery is included, whether there's a minimum order, and how long you'll be without the shoes.
What Pair Society charges
We keep it simple, and pickup and return are always included. A one-time clean is $35 a pair, up to 10 pairs per pickup. If you clean shoes regularly, Fresh 2 is $40 a month for 2 cleans and Fresh 4 is $60 a month for 4, each with one pickup and return a month. Members pay $25 (Fresh 2) or $20 (Fresh 4) for each extra pair.
Your first standard clean is free during a 14-day trial. Suede, specialty materials, and restoration are quoted separately after we see the pair.
If something isn't right, tell us within 48 hours of the return and we'll clean it again for free. If we damage a pair, we pay to repair or replace it, up to $200 a pair.
Questions to ask before you book
Whoever you choose, a few questions tell you what you're really paying for.
- Is pickup and return included, or charged per trip?
- Are laces and insoles cleaned, or extra?
- What happens if a stain doesn't come out, or a pair is damaged?
- How long will you be without the shoes?
When to do it yourself
For a pair of canvas sneakers with light dirt, a soft brush and dish soap will do the job, and it's the cheapest option by far. It's worth paying for a clean when the pair is expensive or hard to replace, when it's suede or a delicate knit, when it's moldy or badly stained, or when your time is worth more than an hour at the sink.
Related
Common questions
Is sneaker cleaning cheaper with a subscription?
Usually, if you clean more than one pair a month. With Fresh 4, each of the 4 included cleans works out to less than a one-time clean, and pickup is included either way.
Do you charge for pickup?
No. Pickup and return are included in every plan and one-time clean.