How to clean, protect and store sneakers
Short answer: brush off loose dirt dry, clean with a mild solution and a brush suited to the material, blot instead of rubbing, then air dry at room temperature, away from the dryer. Nike’s care guide says many shoes take at least 8 hours to dry fully (Nike ).
By material:
- Smooth leather: a dry brush and a mild soap solution, with a leather conditioner if you want one. Nike warns that scrubbing too hard can damage the leather (Nike ).
- Suede and nubuck: let mud dry first, then use a suede brush or eraser. Nike advises against washing suede in soap and water because suede absorbs water (Nike ). Its suede guide lists a protectant spray as optional.
- Knit and mesh: mild soapy water and a soft brush worked in the direction of the knit, with no bleach and no dryer (Nike ).
- White and light-colored pairs: the same dry brush and mild solution. Nike also suggests a paste of equal parts baking soda and water, and says to dilute dish soap well because strong soap can discolor some materials (Nike ).
Storage: put pairs away only once they are fully dry. The EPA notes that damp materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually will not grow mold (EPA ).
Three starter kits
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- Jason Markk Essential Kit : a 4 oz Deep Cleaning Solution and a stiff Durables brush. Jason Markk lists the solution for leather, suede, nubuck, canvas, cotton and knits, but not for unsealed or painted leather (Jason Markk ).
- Crep Protect sneaker cleaner kit : the listing names a brush, solution and microfiber cloth.
- Reshoevn8r Essential Kit : a 4 oz solution, soft, medium and stiff brushes, and a microfiber towel (Reshoevn8r ).
Compare them in Crep Protect vs Jason Markk and Reshoevn8r vs Jason Markk . These are desk-research picks from maker pages and listings; nobody at this site has tested them.