How To
How to Clean Trainers: A Complete Guide
Your trainers go through a lot. Commutes, coffee runs, nights out, unexpected rain, questionable festival fields – the full schedule. A few marks are proof they’re being worn properly, but when your box-fresh pair starts looking more grey than great, it might be time for a refresh.
The good news? Cleaning trainers at home is easier than you think. The key is checking the material first, using as little water as possible, and skipping any harsh shortcuts that could damage the shape, colour, or glue. Here’s exactly how to clean trainers properly – plus specific tips for leather, suede, canvas, mesh, and some of your favourite brands.
The Best Way to Clean Trainers: Step-By-Step
Before you start, check the care instructions supplied with your trainers. Different materials need different treatment, and decorative finishes, metallic panels, or delicate trims may require extra care.
What You’ll Need
Once you know what you’re working with, grab:
- A dry, soft-bristled shoe brush (an old toothbrush also works)
- Two clean cloths or sponges
- A bowl of lukewarm water
- A small amount of mild washing-up liquid or trainer cleaner
- Paper towels or plain paper
- A specialist product for suede, nubuck, or leather (where needed)
How to Clean Trainers
- Remove the laces and insoles
Take out the laces and removable insoles before cleaning the rest of the shoe. This helps you reach hidden dirt around the tongue and eyelets, while allowing every part to dry more evenly.
Wash fabric laces separately in lukewarm, soapy water, then rinse and leave them to air dry. Insoles should usually be gently wiped rather than soaked, especially when they contain foam or glued layers. - Brush away dry dirt
Resist the urge to put muddy trainers straight under the tap. Once the dirt has dried, knock the soles together outside, then use a dry brush to loosen mud from the upper, stitching, outsole grooves, and edges.
A wooden cocktail stick can help remove trapped stones from the tread. Keep the pressure light around mesh, suede, and fine stitching – this is a sweep, not a full upper-body workout. - Clean the uppers gently
Mix a small amount of mild washing-up liquid or suitable trainer cleaner with lukewarm water. Dip your cloth or brush into the mixture, remove the excess water, and work across the upper using small, gentle motions.
Clean one section at a time, paying extra attention to creases, the tongue, and the heel. Avoid soaking the shoe – too much water can affect dyes, soften adhesives, and leave some materials looking misshapen.
Use a second damp cloth to lift away any remaining cleaner. - Refresh the midsoles & outsoles
The midsole is usually where that everyday dirt becomes most obvious. Use a damp cloth or soft brush with your cleaning mixture, working around the sides without scrubbing aggressively.
You can use a slightly firmer brush on durable rubber outsoles, but avoid spreading dirty water back onto the upper – instead, wipe the area clean as you go. For white leather details, a suitable whitener may help cover minor marks (just be sure to keep it away from suede and nubuck). - Air dry at room temperature
Stuff the trainers lightly with plain paper or paper towels to absorb moisture and help them keep their shape. Replace the paper when it becomes damp, then leave the shoes in a cool, ventilated room.
PSA: never dry trainers on a radiator, with a hairdryer, in a tumble dryer, or in strong direct sunlight – high heat can warp foam, weaken glue, shrink fabrics, and cause colours to fade. Your trainers deserve better than being cooked.
Once every part is completely dry, replace the insoles and laces – and voilà, clean trainers are officially back in the chat.
How to Clean Different Trainer Materials & Brands
One cleaning method definitely does not fit every trainer – so before you reach for the brush, work out what the upper is made from and adjust your technique accordingly.
How to Clean Leather Trainers
Smooth leather is pretty low maintenance. Wipe away surface dirt with a soft, damp cloth, then use a cleaner designed for leather if a deeper refresh is needed. Avoid heavy scrubbing, household bleach, and products containing strong solvents.
Once dry, a suitable leather conditioner can help prevent the material from becoming stiff – check out our shoe care collection for specialist leather cleaning products alongside brushes, wipes, and protectors.
How to Clean Suede and Nubuck Trainers
Suede and nubuck need a much lighter touch. Let any mud dry completely and lift it away with a specialist suede brush, before brushing the upper in one direction to restore the texture. Grab a suede eraser or suitable cleaner if you’re faced with some more stubborn marks.
Keep water to a minimum, as it can leave tide marks or flatten the finish. Want the full lowdown on cleaning your favourite suede pair? Check out our guide to cleaning suede shoes.
How to Clean Canvas Trainers
Canvas trainers can usually be cleaned using a soft brush, lukewarm water, and a little mild detergent. Work gently across the fabric, then use a damp cloth to remove any leftover soap.
Do not use bleach on white or coloured canvas (unless the manufacturer specifically recommends it): bleach can weaken fabric and may create yellow patches rather than the crisp finish you were hoping for. Working with an iconic pair? Our guide to cleaning Converse trainers has you covered.
How to Clean Mesh and Running Trainers
Mesh is breathable, flexible, and (unfortunately) very good at holding onto dust. Start with a dry, soft brush, then dab the upper with a lightly damp cloth and diluted cleaner – avoid pressing too hard, as rough brushing may catch or stretch the fibres.
Running shoes also contain technical foam, bonded panels, and support structures, so never soak them. Our step-by-step running-shoe cleaning guide goes deeper into refreshing your race-day and everyday pairs.
How to Clean New Balance, Nike, adidas, & Vans Trainers
Brand alone does not determine the correct cleaning method – the materials do. A suede New Balance trainer needs different care from a leather one, while a mesh Nike running shoe should not be treated like a smooth leather pair.
Check the material info first, then follow the relevant method above. Owners of the OG dad shoe can head straight to our guide on how to clean New Balance trainers, while our Vans Old Skool cleaning guide covers that instantly recognisable skate-coded silhouette.
Trainer Cleaning FAQs
We generally recommend hand cleaning trainers unless the manufacturer’s care instructions explicitly say that machine washing is safe. A washing machine can affect glued construction, cushioning, colour, and shape – trust us, the spin cycle is not your trainers’ friend.
No – tumble-dryer heat can warp soles, damage foam, shrink fabrics, and weaken adhesives. Stuff trainers with paper, then let them air dry naturally at room temperature.
That depends on how often you wear them and where they’ve been. Brush off light dirt after messy wears, wipe away fresh marks before they settle, and give trainers a deeper clean whenever grime or odour starts building up. Regular, gentle care is better than one aggressive rescue mission.
Use the method recommended for the material rather than treating every white trainer in the same way. Smooth leather can usually be wiped clean, canvas needs gentle brushing, and suede should be cleaned mostly when dry. Avoid bleach unless the official care instructions approve it.
Remove the insoles, let the trainers air between wears, and avoid putting them away while damp. Wipe removable insoles carefully, wear fresh socks, and use a suitable shoe deodoriser when needed. Persistent odour may mean the insoles need replacing.
A tiny amount of mild washing-up liquid diluted in lukewarm water can work on many durable materials, but it isn’t suitable for every finish. Always check the care instructions and test the solution somewhere discreet first. Specialist suede, nubuck, leather, and technical-footwear products are the safer move for those materials.
We’d avoid this. Toothpaste is often suggested as a DIY fix, but whitening ingredients and abrasives can leave marks or damage certain finishes. A proper trainer cleaner gives you more control and is less likely to create a whole new problem.
Keep Your Trainers Looking Fresh
When it comes to keeping your favourite trainers looking fresh, a little maintenance goes a long way. Brush off dirt before it settles, deal with spills quickly, rotate your pairs so they can dry fully between wears, and use a protector suited to the material.
Ready to give your rotation a glow-up? Check out our full range of trainer-cleaning products and shoe care, or find your next favourite pair in our women’s trainers, men’s trainers, and kids’ trainers collections. Clean pair? Check. Fresh rotation? Sorted.