Nothing looks better than a fresh pair of white sneakers, and nothing shows dirt faster. The good news: knowing how to clean white sneakers properly takes about 20 minutes of work and a few household supplies. The bad news: the wrong method (bleach, a hot dryer, an aggressive scrub) can yellow, warp, or permanently damage them.

This guide covers a step-by-step method that's safe for most white sneakers, plus specific advice for leather, canvas, mesh, suede, and patent leather, how to whiten laces and yellowed soles, and the mistakes to avoid.

Quick answer: Remove the laces and insoles, dry-brush off loose dirt, then scrub the uppers gently with a soft brush and warm water mixed with a few drops of mild soap. Clean midsoles with a stiffer brush or a melamine sponge, wash laces separately, wipe everything down with a microfiber towel, and let the shoes air-dry at room temperature, stuffed with white paper towels. Avoid bleach, washing machines for leather, and direct heat.

What You'll Need

A soft brush (a soft toothbrush works) for uppers
A medium or stiff brush for midsoles and outsoles
Mild soap: a few drops of gentle dish soap, or a dedicated sneaker cleaner
A bowl of warm water (not hot)
A microfiber towel
A melamine sponge ("magic eraser") for midsole scuffs
Baking soda for odors and tough canvas stains (optional)
White paper towels or shoe trees for drying

For suede or nubuck, you'll also want a suede eraser and a suede brush. Don't use water-based cleaning on those materials (more on that below).

Step-by-Step: How to Clean White Sneakers

1. Remove the Laces and Insoles

Laces and insoles clean better separately, and removing them lets you reach the tongue and eyestays properly.

2. Dry-Brush Off Loose Dirt

Before adding any water, brush off dried mud, dust, and grit with a dry brush. If you skip this, water turns loose dirt into a muddy paste that soaks into the material.

3. Mix Your Cleaning Solution

Add a few drops of mild soap or sneaker cleaner to a bowl of warm water. You want a light lather, not a bubble bath. Too much soap leaves residue.

4. Clean the Uppers

Dip the soft brush in the solution, tap off the excess, and scrub the uppers in small circles. Work section by section, and wipe away the foam with your microfiber towel as you go. Don't soak the shoe. Damp is plenty.

5. Clean the Midsoles

Midsoles take the most abuse and can handle more pressure. Scrub them with a medium or stiff brush. For stubborn scuffs on rubber or foam midsoles, gently use a damp melamine sponge, testing it on a small hidden area first, because it's mildly abrasive and can dull glossy or painted finishes.

6. Clean the Outsoles

Scrub the bottoms with a stiff brush to remove ground-in dirt from the tread. This doesn't change how the shoe looks much, but it stops dirt from transferring back onto the midsoles.

7. Wipe Everything Down

Go over the whole shoe with a clean, damp microfiber towel to remove soap residue, then pat dry.

8. Wash the Laces

Soak white laces in warm soapy water for 20–30 minutes, rub them together between your hands, rinse, and hang to dry. You can also put them in a mesh laundry bag and wash them on a gentle cycle. If laces are permanently grey or frayed, replacing them is the cheapest upgrade a pair can get.

9. Refresh the Insoles

Wipe the insoles with a cloth dampened in the soap solution, then let them air-dry completely. To fight odor, sprinkle baking soda on the dry insoles, leave it overnight, and shake it out in the morning.

10. Dry Them the Right Way

Stuff the shoes with white paper towels (newspaper ink can transfer onto white materials) or insert shoe trees to hold the shape. Let them air-dry at room temperature, away from radiators, heaters, and direct sunlight. Depending on the material and how damp they got, drying takes several hours to a full day.

How to Clean White Sneakers by Material

Leather (Air Force 1s, Jordan 1s, Dunks, New Balance 550s)

Smooth leather is the easiest material to clean. Use the standard method with minimal water and a soft brush. On smooth, uncoated leather, a little leather conditioner every so often helps prevent cracking. White AF1s respond especially well to regular wipe-downs. If you're buying a pair secondhand, check out our guide on how to tell if Air Force 1s are fake first.

Canvas (Converse, Vans)

Canvas can handle a bit more scrubbing. For tough stains, make a paste of baking soda and a little water (or mild soap), work it in with a soft brush, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse and wipe.

Some people machine-wash canvas sneakers, but heat and tumbling can weaken glue and distort the shape. If you do it, use cold water, a gentle cycle, and a pillowcase or mesh bag, then always air-dry. Hand-washing is safer.

Mesh and Knit (Running Shoes, Flyknit, Primeknit)

Knit and mesh trap dirt in their open weave and stretch when they're wet. Use a soft brush with light pressure and dab rather than scrub hard. Foam-style sneaker cleaners work well here because they don't soak the material.

Suede and Nubuck

Don't soak suede or nubuck. Water can stain, stiffen, and discolor them. Instead:

Brush off dry dirt with a suede brush, moving in one direction
Rub out marks with a suede eraser
Brush the nap back up to restore the texture
For stubborn stains, use a cleaner made specifically for suede

Once clean, a suede protector spray helps repel future stains.

Patent Leather (Jordan 11s)

Wipe patent leather with a soft, damp cloth and dry it immediately. Avoid abrasive tools, which can scratch the glossy finish.

How to Whiten Yellowed Soles

Cleaning removes dirt, but it can't fix yellowing. Yellowing is oxidation, a chemical change in the sole material caused by exposure to light, oxygen, and time. It's especially common on icy (translucent) soles and white midsoles.

Collectors restore yellowed soles with hydrogen peroxide–based "sole sauce" treatments. The common approach is to apply a peroxide cream to the sole, wrap it in clear plastic film, and expose it to UV light or sunlight for several hours, repeating as needed. If you try this:

Wear gloves and protect the uppers, since peroxide can discolor fabrics and leathers
Test on a small area first
Be patient. It may take several rounds, and results vary by material and how far the yellowing has gone.

Prevention is much easier than restoration. Our guide on how to store sneakers covers how to keep soles from yellowing in the first place.

Mistakes That Ruin White Sneakers

Using bleach. Chlorine bleach can actually yellow many synthetic materials, weaken fabrics, and break down glues.
Machine-washing leather or suede. Water and tumbling can crack leather, ruin suede, and loosen soles.
Drying with heat. Dryers, hair dryers, and radiators can warp shoes, weaken adhesives, and speed up yellowing.
Soaking the shoes. Excess water seeps into the insole and padding and takes forever to dry.
Scrubbing too hard. Aggressive brushing can fuzz up leather, tear mesh, and rub off printed details.
Using magic erasers everywhere. They're mildly abrasive and can dull painted or glossy finishes.
Stuffing with newspaper. Ink can transfer onto white materials.
Skipping the spot test. Always try a new product on a small, hidden area first.

How Often Should You Clean White Sneakers?

After every few wears: A quick wipe of the midsoles and any marks
Every few weeks (or whenever they look dull): A full clean using the method above
Immediately: Spot-clean stains like coffee, grass, or mud before they set

Small, frequent cleanings are easier than rescuing a neglected pair.

How to Keep White Sneakers White Longer

Apply a protector spray to new pairs to repel water and stains (reapply periodically)
Rotate your pairs so no single pair takes all the wear
Skip white pairs on rainy or muddy days
Store them away from sunlight to slow yellowing
Use shoe trees to hold the shape and reduce creasing

Cleaning Sneakers Before You Sell

A thorough clean is the highest-return thing you can do before listing a pair. Clean sneakers photograph better, earn better condition grades, and sell faster. Our guide on how much your sneakers are worth covers how condition affects price.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning White Sneakers

Can I put white sneakers in the washing machine?

Canvas sneakers can sometimes survive a cold, gentle cycle in a mesh bag, but it's risky for glue and shape. Never machine-wash leather, suede, or premium sneakers. Hand-cleaning is safer for everything.

What household items clean white shoes?

Warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap handles most cleaning. Baking soda helps with canvas stains and odors, and a melamine sponge removes midsole scuffs.

Does toothpaste clean white shoes?

White, non-gel toothpaste is mildly abrasive and can lift scuffs from rubber midsoles. Mild soap or a dedicated sneaker cleaner is gentler and safer for uppers.

How do I make yellowed white sneakers white again?

Cleaning won't remove oxidation. Yellowed soles can often be improved with a hydrogen peroxide–based sole restoration treatment and UV exposure. Wear gloves, protect the uppers, and test first.

How do I clean white Air Force 1s?

Use the standard method: remove the laces, dry-brush, scrub the leather with a soft brush and mild soapy water, clean the midsoles with a stiffer brush or melamine sponge, wipe down, and air-dry with paper towels inside.

How long do sneakers take to dry after cleaning?

Anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the material and how wet they got. Stuff them with paper towels, change the towels if they become soaked, and keep them away from direct heat.

Clean white sneakers come down to gentle methods, the right tools, and patience while they dry. Do it regularly, avoid heat and bleach, and your whites will look fresh for years.

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How to Clean White Sneakers Without Ruining Them