How to Clean White Sneakers: A Step-by-Step Kit Guide

White sneakers have a short window where they look incredible and a long afterlife where they look tired. The difference between the two is usually one proper cleaning, because most people either never clean them or clean them wrong (hot water, harsh bleach, and the washing machine all do more harm than good).

What you need

A proper sneaker cleaning kit has four things: a cleaning solution, brushes in different stiffnesses, a microfiber cloth, and optionally a protectant spray for after. The Jason Markk Starter Box covers the essentials in one purchase and is the easiest entry point. If you want the full setup, the Sneaker Cleaning Kit: Clean and Revive Bundle for White Shoes is built specifically for bringing white shoes back.

The method, step by step

1. Prep. Remove the laces and knock off loose dirt outside. Stuff the shoes with a towel or shoe trees so they hold their shape.

2. Dry brush first. Use a soft brush to sweep off surface dust before any liquid touches the shoe. This prevents grinding dirt deeper into the material.

3. Clean in sections. Dip the brush in the cleaning solution (a small bowl of water with a few drops of solution works), and work in small circles, one panel at a time. Use the soft brush on knit and mesh, the stiffer brush on midsoles and outsoles. Wipe each section with the microfiber cloth as you go so dirty solution does not resettle.

4. Laces separately. Soak laces in the solution for fifteen minutes, agitate, rinse, and air dry. Clean laces alone make old shoes look dramatically newer.

5. Air dry only. Never use heat or direct sun; both can yellow white materials and warp glue. Stuff with paper towels and let them dry at room temperature.

Material-specific notes

Leather: clean as above, then condition. Jason Markk Premium Leather Balm keeps white leather from cracking and yellowing after cleaning.

Knit and mesh: always the soft brush, light pressure. These materials show brush marks if you get aggressive.

Suede and nubuck: use a dry brush or suede eraser only, no liquid solution. Water stains suede.

Maintenance between deep cleans

This is where most people can save themselves the quarterly rescue mission. Jason Markk Quick Shoe Cleaning Wipes (3-pack) live in your bag or car for scuffs the day they happen. A Jason Markk Repel and Refresh Bundle adds a protectant spray that makes dirt and water bead off instead of soaking in; apply it to clean, dry shoes and reapply every few weeks. Wiping a scuff the day it happens takes thirty seconds; fixing it three months later takes thirty minutes.

What not to do

Do not machine wash sneakers unless the manufacturer explicitly says you can; the agitation breaks down glue and warps shape. Do not use chlorine bleach on white shoes; it yellows most materials over time. Do not put them in the dryer or on a radiator. And do not "clean" suede with water, ever.

Keep reading

Shop the full Jason Markk line for everything you need to keep white sneakers looking new.