Guides / Cleaning how-tos
How to clean white sneakers (and keep them white)
White sneakers look best for about a week. After that it's scuffs on the toe, grey on the midsole, and a brown line where the upper meets the sole. The good news: most of it comes off with soap, water, and patience. The bad news: the fastest-looking shortcuts are the ones that turn white shoes yellow.
Check your zipWhat you need
Nothing special. A bowl of warm water, a small squeeze of mild dish soap or a sneaker cleaner, a soft brush (an old soft toothbrush works for small areas), a medium brush for the soles, a microfiber cloth, and plain white paper or paper towels for drying.
Step by step
Work on one shoe at a time so the cleaner doesn't dry on the surface.
- Take out the laces and insoles. Soak the laces in warm soapy water while you work.
- Knock off loose dirt and brush the dry shoe all over, especially the seams.
- Dip the soft brush in soapy water, shake off the excess, and scrub the upper in small circles. Use very little water on mesh, which soaks it up.
- Wipe away the foam with a damp cloth before it dries.
- Scrub the midsole and outsole with the medium brush. This is where most of the grey lives.
- Rinse and squeeze the laces, and wipe the insoles with the same soapy cloth.
- Stuff the shoes with white paper and let them dry in shade, with air moving, for a full day.
Why white soles turn yellow
Most yellowing isn't dirt. It's the sole itself changing. Rubber and the foams used in modern midsoles slowly react with oxygen, and UV light and heat speed that reaction up. White soles show it first because they have no pigment to hide it.
That's why the classic tips backfire. Drying shoes in the sun, on a hot car dashboard, or in a dryer adds exactly the heat and UV that cause yellowing. Leaving soap or bleach residue on the shoe can stain it as it dries, too.
Once a sole has truly oxidized, scrubbing won't bring it back. Retail sole whiteners exist, but they're a restoration job and easy to get wrong. If the yellow is on the surface and comes off on a white cloth, it's dirt, and cleaning will help.
Material by material
Smooth white leather is the easiest: it wipes clean and dries fast. A light leather conditioner every few cleans keeps it from creasing and cracking.
Mesh and knit uppers trap dirt in the weave. Use less water and more brushing, and blot rather than rub. Never twist or wring a knit upper.
Canvas can take more water and a firmer brush, but rinse it well: leftover soap dries into yellow-brown water marks.
Suede and nubuck are different. Water stains them, so they need a dry brush, an eraser, and a dedicated cleaner. If you aren't sure, leave suede alone.
Keep them white longer
Wipe the midsoles after any day out; a damp cloth takes ten seconds and stops grime from settling in. Store white pairs in shade and in the air-conditioned part of your home, not in a hot car or a sunny window. A water and stain repellent spray on new leather or canvas makes the next clean easier.
If you'd rather skip the brushing, we clean every pair by hand and return it to your door in 3–5 business days. A one-time clean is $35 a pair, and Fresh 2 covers 2 cleans a month for $40.
Related
Common questions
Can I use bleach on white sneakers?
We don't recommend it. Bleach can weaken fabric and glue, and the residue often dries yellow, which is the opposite of what you want.
Can I put white sneakers in the washing machine?
Some canvas pairs survive a cold, gentle wash in a bag, but leather and glued soles can warp or separate. Hand cleaning is safer, and never use the dryer.