How to Clean Athletic Shoes

Athletic or tennis shoes can get really smelly, if you are not careful, and you should not be afraid to give your smelly shoes a bath every once in a while. But before you jump the gun and throw your dirty sneakers in the washing machine, follow these simple instructions. You will find that washing your tennis shoes this way will clean your sneakers without ruining the shoes (or your washing machine).

Start by removing the laces and the shoes’ inserts. Each section of the shoe (the shoe’s main body, laces and insert) will need to be cleaned separately and in a different way. Go ahead and throw the laces in the washing machine. This is the only part of your athletic shoes that can be cleaned by machine and not by hand. (Some people will throw old sneakers or Keds into the washing machine with a load of towels, but this is not recommended for new or expensive athletic shoes.) You may want to soak white laces in bleach to restore them to their original pristine state.

To clean the body of the athletic shoes you will need water, soap, a bucket and a scrub brush. Fill the bucket with warm soapy water. You will want to use a neutral, basic cleaner such as dish washing detergent or Simple Green. Feel free to soak your shoes in the water for a while to loosen any tough stains. You should not be afraid to get the shoes sopping wet. Take the scrub brush and get to work. You should wash your athletic shoes inside and out. Be careful not to scrub too hard or you could ruin the fabric on the uppers. You should use a soft brush and moderate force.
Once you have finished scrubbing the shoes, rinse them thoroughly and leave them to air dry. It helps to stuff damp tennis shoes with paper in order to draw the moisture out and speed up the drying process. Stuffing paper in your athletic shoes while they dry will also help them to retain their proper shape. Never stick athletic shoes in the dryer. The heat could cause the shoes to change shape!

The insoles of your athletic shoes should not be washed with water. Simply air the inserts out. If they smell, apply baking soda. This will help to eliminate odor and moisture trapped in the inserts.

Once all three parts of the shoe are thoroughly dry, you can reassemble your athletic shoes. They should be as good (and clean) as new!