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How to clean white nike basketball shoes


How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps. Nike.com

How to Clean Your Shoes in 6 Easy Steps. Nike.com
Product Care

Periodic cleanings will keep shoes looking (and smelling) their best. Here’s how to clean shoes without damaging them.

Last updated: November 18, 2022

6 min read

Time Required

30 min

Estimated Cost

$20

Supplies
  • Dish Soap
  • Baking Soda
  • Household Cleaning Eraser (Optional)
  • Leather Conditioner (Optional)
  • White Vinegar (Optional)
Tools
  • Shoe Brush
  • Toothbrush
  • Soft Clean Cloth
  • Suede Brush (Optional)

It’s tough to keep shoes pristine without regularly cleaning them. The minute those new sneakers come out of the box, you’ll want to wear them outside — where they’ll pick up dirt, mud, scuffs and stains.

To ensure peak performance of a pair of sneakers over time, it’s important to give them proper care and maintenance, including cleaning. Before getting started, place the shoes in a shoe tree or fill them with crumpled newspapers to help retain their shape during cleaning. Then, get to work.

These tips will help keep any sneakers – including lifestyle, basketball and running shoes — fresh and clean in just a few easy steps.

How to Clean Your Shoes, Step by Step

  1. 1.Use a Dry Brush

    Remove loose dirt from the outsole, midsole and uppers using a dry, soft-bristled shoe brush. No shoe brush? No problem. An clean, spare toothbrush works fine.

  2. 2.Make a Mild Cleaning Solution

    Mix warm water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent or dish soap.

    For white and light-colored shoes, you can also make an effective cleaning paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and water.

    Note: When it comes to using dish soap, it’s important to take caution and dilute the soap with plenty of water. On certain materials, using a high concentration of dish soap can cause discoloration or strip out natural oils in the material.

  3. 3.Hand Wash the Laces

    Remove the shoelaces and apply a small amount of the mild cleaning solution to them. Massage the laces with your hands, rinse, then dab dry with a soft cloth.

    (Related: 3 Easy Ways to Clean Shoelaces)

  4. 4.Wash the Soles

    Apply the mild cleaning solution to a soft-bristled brush, toothbrush or washcloth. Clean the outsole and midsole thoroughly, taking time to clean every part of the soles. Dry with a soft cloth.

    Note: If you need to wash the insoles, remove them first and clean them with the solution, making sure to give them time to dry before putting them back into the shoes.

  5. 5.Wash and Blot the Uppers

    Apply the mild solution to a soft-bristled brush, toothbrush or damp cloth to clean the uppers. Brush gently to avoid damaging the material.

    Once satisfied with the look, use a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to blot and lift as much soapy moisture and dirt from the surface as possible. Repeat if necessary. Try to avoid drying by rubbing as it can wear down the shoe fabric or spread any remaining small bits of dirt.

  6. 6.Air Dry

    Air dry the sneakers at room temperature. Always allow shoes to dry completely before wearing them for your next workout or activity. For many shoes, it can take at least 8 hours to fully dry.

Be sure to brush off loose dirt with a shoe brush or toothbrush before washing the shoe with a cleaning solution.

Special Considerations for Different Materials

Following these basic cleaning steps will help achieve a clean look for a pair of sneakers, but certain fabrics and materials may need a little extra TLC. Here’s what to know about using cleaner for different types of shoes.

  1. How to Clean Leather ShoesLeather shoes can stain easily, so it’s important to clean them regularly. In addition to using a dry brush and mild dish-soap solution, you may want to use a household cleaning eraser or leather conditioner to remove stains. Avoid scrubbing the shoes too hard, or you could damage the leather.
  2. How to Clean Suede ShoesSuede is notoriously difficult to clean. If you notice water marks, scuff marks, dirt or stains, it’s probably time to give your suede shoes a proper cleaning. Use these recommended tricks and special tools to get the job done.

    Use a suede brush or towel to wipe away surface debris, working in the same direction as the material (rather than going against the grain).

    Use suede rubber or a pencil eraser to rub away any marks on the surface of the shoe.

    For stubborn stains, use a cloth dipped in white vinegar to scrub the fabric in alternating directions.

  3. How to Clean Knit ShoesNike Flyknit shoes provide flexible support and breathability in many different types of footwear. To properly clean Nike Flyknit or other knit or mesh shoes, create a mild, soapy water solution with soap that doesn’t contain chemicals. It’s best not to use bleach or other harsh cleaning products, since they can damage the material.

    Use a shoe brush or clean toothbrush to rub the solution in the same direction as the knit. Wipe off the soap with a clean cloth and repeat as necessary. Let them air dry and avoid the dryer since excess heat can damage the shoes.

Shoe-Cleaning FAQs

Can I Wash My Shoes in a Washing Machine?

Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. Properly hand washing shoes is the best way to ensure they won’t be accidentally harmed in the process. Delicate shoe materials can be damaged in the washer, and the heat from the dryer can deform a pair of shoes. Plus, it’s possible to damage your washing machine by washing bulky items like sneakers

(Related: Can You Put Sneakers in the Washer? Here’s the Best Way to Wash Your Nikes)

How Do I Clean My Insoles to Reduce Shoe Odor?

From time to time, it may be necessary to clean your insoles. To do so, remove the insoles and use the same cleaning steps for the outside of your shoes. Be sure to air dry them completely before putting them back in your shoes. If odor persists, you may want to replace the insoles. Replacement insoles are available at many sporting goods and shoe stores.

What If My Shoes Are Still Dirty After Cleaning?

If shoes still look dirty after following and repeating the recommended cleaning steps, it might be time for a new pair of sneakers. Running shoes, for example, should be replaced every 300 to 500 miles.

How Often Should I Clean My Shoes?

Your cleaning schedule depends on how often you wear the shoes and where your feet take you. To keep them in top shape, aim to clean your shoes every two weeks or whenever they start to look dirty. Regular maintenance can help reduce cleaning time.

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How to Clean White Basketball Shoes

If you would like to know how to clean your white basketball shoes, then you are in the right place. Are you having difficulties removing dirt and stains from your white basketball shoes or basketball shoes in general? This is a problem that almost every basketball player has at one point in time or another.

We understand how important it is to keep your basketball shoes clean. It is vital that your shoes remain clean, not only from a cleanliness perspective but also for the shoe’s life expectancy. Your shoes will last longer if you are able to keep them at least moderately clean.

There are so many life hacks to do so many different things, so surely there are a few hacks, that can help us keep our basketball shoes pristine.  In our article today, we will review detailed ways in which you can keep your basketball shoes clean, even the white ones.

How Do You Clean Your Basketball Shoes?

There are a variety of ways, and the times that you can clean your basketball shoes. The method chosen to clean your basketball shoes should be dependent on the type of shoe you have, meaning the shoe’s materials and the amount of dirt or stains that you are trying to remove from the shoe.

It would be best if you tried to clean your basketball shoe as often as you can so that it does not require one big wash after extended use. The more you wash your basketball shoe, the more susceptible it becomes to damage.

If you make an effort to clean your basketball shoe at least after every other session, then this will significantly reduce the need for you to wash it. Here are a few ways that you can do light cleanings regularly:

Wipe with Mild Detergent

After you have used your basketball shoe, use a brush, toothpick, or any object that can remove debris from the shoe’s sole. Constant maintenance of the sole of your shoe will prevent it from getting easily punctured and worn down.

You can also try to avoid walking in your basketball shoe outside of the basketball court, and this should reduce the number of things that get stuck underneath. If you just used your basketball shoe and are doing a light cleaning, you can mix a mild detergent solution and use the solution to wipe off the shoe. Gentle detergent solutions are useful for removing dust and light stains from the shoe.

Doing this regularly will prevent you from needing to wash the shoe, at least for a long time. After you have made the water detergent solution, use a cloth or sponge to apply to the shoe and wipe away the dust.

Soap + Brush

Another light way to regularly maintain your shoe is to brush it with a soap solution. If you have tough stains that can’t be removed with a cloth or a sponge, you can use a brush with soft bristles that won’t damage your shoe’s material.

First, make a solution from eco-friendly detergent and then use the soft bristle brush to apply it to the shoe and while doing this and brush any hard to remove stains. After you have done this, your shoe may be soapy, so use a damp cloth to remove the excess soap.

Dry Brush

If your basketball shoe has accumulated some dust that does not need to be washed or wiped, you may not need to use a detergent-based solution. In cases like these were the basketball shoe only has dust on it, you can use a dry soft bristle brush to remove the dust.

If you have a white basketball shoe, it may be best if you use a damp cloth instead of a dry brush to avoid the shoe getting discolored. If you try to remove the dust with a soft bristle brush and there is still dust residue on the shoe, you can try to use the vacuum to remove them.

Now that we have covered the light ways to clean your basketball shoe let’s look at the more extensive cleaning method. Sometimes you don’t have the opportunity to regularly clean your basketball shoe, and dirt accumulates over time. This method will help you to get rid of the unwanted dirt.

Wash

Washing of the shoe can take various forms. The extent of the dirt or stain on the shoe should determine what type of wash you go for. When washing your shoe, regardless of the color, try not to use bleach or strong non-eco-friendly detergents.

Using these products on your shoe, even once, can significantly reduce the lifespan of the shoe as they weaken the materials. To wash your shoe, create a solution of water and mild soap. Remember to remove the laces and insoles from the shoe before washing it. Doing this will allow you to reach all areas of the shoe easily.

The same solution that you created with the detergent should be used to wash the laces and the insoles. You can wash the laces and use a soft brush to brush the insoles with the solution. If your insoles are sweaty and smelly, you can soak them in the solution before you start washing your shoe and then after you finished washing the shoe, you can then wash the insoles.

To wash your basketball shoe, make sure you only apply just enough water to clean the shoe. If it is a case where the shoe is really messy or smelly, and you need to wash everywhere on the shoe, it is perfectly fine to soak the shoe in the water and wash it with the soft brush. Doing this repeatedly may weaken the shoe, so try to clean the shoe regularly, so you do not have to do this thorough wash numerous times.

After you have finished washing your shoe, use a dry cloth to blot away excess water if you only washed the outside. If the inside of your shoe did not get wet, air-dry your shoe in a warm place. If you washed the entire shoe and the inside is also wet, you should put the shoe in sunlight until it is dry.

There is nothing wrong with drying the shoe in the sun, just as long as you don’t do it too often. If you do not dry the shoe in the sunlight, and it dries slowly, it could end up smelling even worse than before.

Remember to always wear clean socks in your basketball shoes. You can also add shoe deodorant from time to time to minimize the odor coming from the shoe. If you get sweaty feet when you play basketball, try to wear thicker socks or double your socks, so that sweat cannot seep into your basketball shoes. This will significantly reduce the need for you to wash the shoe regularly.

3 Ways to Clean White Basketball Shoes

If you have white basketball shoes, they may be a little more difficult to clean than other colors because White is easily soiled and chose the darts I lost more. There are a few ways that you can maintain your white basketball shoes.

Wipe with toothpaste

Similarly to all other basketball shoes, we highly recommend that you clean the white ones as often as you can to prevent the need for washing. After you have worn your white basketball shoes, you can create a solution with toothpaste, detergent and water to wipe down the shoe.

Wipe the shoe with a piece of cloth or sponge so that it can maintain the white color. If you have a shoe that this primarily made of cloth or has hard to remove stains, you can apply the detergent toothpaste mixture we mentioned using a soft bristle brush. If the stains are difficult to remove, try to increase the ratio of detergent and toothpaste to water so that the solution will be stronger.

Cleaning White Shoes with OxiClean

Another hack to cleaning a white shoe is cleaning white shoes with the OxiClean, a detergent solution. OxiClean is a detergent that uses oxygen to fight hard to remove stains. Add some OxiClean to water and soak your shoe in the mixture.

After you have removed the shoe, use the soft bristle brush to wash it and this should remove almost any stain on your white basketball shoe. This method is not recommended to be used regularly because soaking your shoe a lot will weaken it.

Clean shoes with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Here’s how to clean shoes with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains and restore the white color. You would need to make a solution of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and water. The amount of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda you use should depend on the size of the shoe or the area you want to clean.

Usually, you can use anywhere from 1 to 2 tablespoons of each ingredient. The ratio of the mixture should be 1part water to 1part hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts baking soda. The more of the mixture you make, you may have to increase the baking soda to effectively form a paste.

After you’ve combined these ingredients into a paste, use a soft bristle brush to apply the paste to your shoe or the area that you want to clean. Allow the paste to dry and then you can wash it off with a wet sponge. Drying time is usually between 2 to 3 hours.

Remember to air-dry your shoe if the inside isn’t wet and sun dry if the inside is wet. For a faster drying time, use a dry cloth or sponge to blot away the excess water.

Can You Machine Wash White Basketball Shoes?

Technically you can put your shoes in the washing machine to be washed; however, you should not. If you put your shoes in the washing machine, the machine could wash them, but at the same time, it will damage them.

When you put your shoe in the washing machine it may not necessarily get out all the stains. Our advice would be not to use a washing machine to wash your basketball shoes regardless of the color.

Dos and Dont’s of Cleaning White Basketball Shoes

Do not practice washing them with bleach.
Do not practice washing them with a strong detergent.
Do not use the washing machine to wash them.
Do not use a stiff bristle brush.
Do not practice soaking them in water solutions very often.

Do use a mild detergent.
Do light cleans as often as possible.
Do use leather or suede friendly cleaners for suede and leather shoes.
Do use a cloth and soft bristles when possible.
Do air dry for mild cleans but sun dry when intensely washed.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Clean White Basketball Shoes

To clean your white basketball shoes, you should clean them at least every other time you use them with like detergents. If you have tough stains to remove, you can add toothpaste to your detergent solution.

You can use OxiClean or a solution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda as homemade cleaning agents to remove stains from your white basketball shoes.

Did you find this helpful? Then also check out other basketball FAQ articles here.

> How to Clean a Basketball

> How to Wash a Swingman Basketball Jersey

> How to Wash a Basketball Jersey

> How to Add Grip to Basketball Shoes

How to clean white sneakers | Ideal Sport Blog

December 20, 2020

Actually, there are many very simple ways to answer the question; How to clean white sneakers.

The first of which is the most basic; soap, water.

All you need is regular dish soap - the same as you use to wash dishes - and mix it with a little warm water. You can also use white vinegar to replace dishwashing detergent.

Apply the cleaning solution to the cleaning sponge and you're done. This method is best for leather shoes, but can work with a variety of materials such as rubber or plastic. It is best to wipe the affected areas with short back and forth movements, as well as especially unpleasant scuffs and stains. Your best bet is to switch to a hard-bristled toothbrush (obviously you don't want to use one). When you're happy with the result, wipe off excess liquid with paper towels and let the sneakers dry. This method, while time consuming, is very good for cleaning small, specific areas and can be tailored to your needs depending on how thoroughly you clean. A word of warning, however, if you scrub too much, you can damage your shoes, so don't overdo it!

Bleach, toothpaste and baking soda

No, not all at the same time, but if you're looking for an option that's a little more, well, chemical, I have three alternatives. For bleach, simply dilute 1 part bleach to 5 parts water and then follow the instructions in the previous method. Be careful with bleach, make sure you do it in a well ventilated area, and under no circumstances overdo it with bleach. Too much bleach can make your lovely white sneakers look undesirable with a yellowish tint. Similarly, the bleaching method is not suitable for colored sneakers as it tends to fade.

Moving on to toothpaste, you can use the old toothbrush I mentioned earlier, even better by applying some Colgate to your white sneakers. Be sure to wet your shoes before applying the toothpaste so that it lathers up. This works best with fabric and mesh sneakers, so it's perfect for runners. As for the type of toothpaste you can use, it should be white non-gel toothpaste. None of the red, white, and blue you see in TV commercials. All of this can stain white sneakers that you try too hard to keep white.

Finally, in the top three - the baking soda method. Reminiscent of a chemistry class, it requires you to mix baking soda, vinegar, and hot water in a bowl until a thick paste forms. When the vinegar and baking soda combine, it will start to sizzle (which is a good sign). Once you're happy with the mixture, apply it to the sneakers in the affected areas and let it dry on the shoes for about 3-4 hours. It's best to leave your shoes in natural sunlight until you scrape off the dried paste with your fingernail. At this point, tap your shoes to remove dust and use a dry brush if necessary.

In the washing machine

If your shoes are especially dirty, smelly and usually in need of serious repairs, you can always use a reliable washing machine. It is less labor intensive and very effective when deployed correctly. Are you asking how to clean white sneakers in the washing machine? It's really very simple. Everything is being prepared. To avoid damaging your washing machine, make sure you remove any surface debris, such as dry dirt, with a damp cloth. After that, remove the laces and the insole from the white shoes (wash them separately if necessary).

Finally, place the shoes in a pillowcase in a mesh bag or my favorite pillowcase along with something to wipe off the remnants of the washing machine drum towels so the shoes don't hit inside and deform. The most important aspect of this method is setting up the washing machine. Make sure you use the low spin or no spin setting, using the extra rinse feature if available, to remove any soap residue from your shoes.

Here is a pair that is also not worth considering; do not use a hot wash as this may damage the adhesive around some panels or between the upper and midsole of your shoes, and do not use fabric softener as the colors may stain your shoes. I would recommend washing only canvas and leather shoes in the washing machine, try not to wash genuine leather shoes in the washing machine.

Ways to prevent the need for cleaning

If you're one of those people who doesn't even want to think about how to clean white sneakers, here are some preventative steps you can take to make this knowledge a little less necessary for your white sneakers. . You may or may not already know that there are many products on the market that protect your shoes from all kinds of dirt and rot. For the most part, they usually work through some kind of spray that creates an invisible film on the surface of your sneakers, protecting them from dirt, stains, and liquids. About the same way we wear a raincoat so that our skin does not get wet. It's certainly not a one-time fix and needs to be reapplied regularly, but it's definitely a great barrier against a lot of dirt, dust, and general grime that can damage your white sneakers.

The last piece of advice I'm going to give you, besides shoe protection, is about storage. Where you store your shoes is paramount to ensuring how well they store overall. Outside of duty, sneakers are usually stored in bags and shoe boxes, which, in case you didn't already know, aren't ideal in terms of their (pardon the pun) expiration date. Microscopic dust and dirt floats everywhere, especially in confined spaces like restrooms, over time shoe materials - especially knits, suede and mesh - collect these dust particles which ultimately affect the overall look of your running shoes. So it's best to keep your white sneakers in the more open environment provided to them - breathing space.

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How to clean sneakers at home?

June 11, 2019

Cleaning sneakers is not a very difficult task, but only if you know how to do it well: if you do everything right, then after cleaning they will look like they were just bought, and if you do it wrong, you can damage them.

Caring for sneakers

You can find a lot of shoe cleaners in stores, and those that are designed to clean leather shoes, jackets, or car seats can also be used to clean leather sneakers. These shoes are very comfortable for sports or daily jogging.

Today, the choice of sneakers is very wide, a variety of materials, styles, colors are available - you can buy sneakers that stand out with something, however, atypical solutions are sometimes needed to clean them. And the universal sneakers that are used every day are not always so easy to clean, because they wear out, they may have stains that need to be removed. Therefore, further we will analyze simple ways to make your shoes look like new.

How to clean running shoes at home?

External cleaning

Pour water into a plate or other container, add a little detergent or laundry detergent to it, stir. Dip a toothbrush in the resulting solution and rub the sneakers - with the help of a cleaning agent, it will be much easier to remove the dirt. If you come across a particularly difficult stain, you can use undiluted dishwashing detergent or powder instead of a solution - pour it on a brush and rub the stain.

When the entire surface of the shoe has been treated in this way, you need to wipe the sneakers with a damp cloth and remove the remnants of the cleaning agent. Important: try to use less water on the leather parts of the shoes.

Items related to

  • Tarrago Shoe Cleaner Sneakers Set, CLEAN & PROTECT
  • Tarrago Shoe Whitener, SOLE RESTORER, 125ml.
  • Solemate Basic Kit in tube 1 320 rubles

Sole and toe cleaning

A screwdriver can be used to remove stubborn dirt. To make the sole completely clean, you need to soak it in water and rub it with a brush.

After that, slightly moisten an eraser in water and walk it along the sole - this way you can remove the dirt deeply embedded in it.


Finally, rub the sole with your finger with a damp cloth wrapped around it to set the effect. Then it remains only to carefully wipe it with a clean, damp cloth so that there are no stains left, if they dry out, then it will also not be easy to completely clean them off.

During cleaning, pay special attention to the sock - water should not accumulate there. Also, place paper towels inside your shoes to keep water out.

Cleaning the insole

The main task is to remove the smell, and baking soda is used to solve it. You just need to pour it a little inside the shoes and leave it for a couple of hours, then shake it out and wipe the insole with a clean cloth.

What to do with laces?

Instead of buying new laces, you can often just clean the old ones. To do this, when you wash your bedding, just put them in a pillowcase. It is important to set the mode of the most gentle wash.

Tongue cleaning

It needs to be soaked, then squeezed. To prevent water from getting inside the sneaker, you can wrinkle it with a paper or regular towel. After that, you need to rub it with your fingers or a soft cloth, with powder or dishwashing detergent applied to them. You do not need to use a brush, as the material on the inside of the tongue is delicate and can be damaged. Finally, rinse it to remove the cleaning agent.

How to dry sneakers?

First, squeeze the water out of the tongue - do not press hard on it. After that, put the sneakers in front of the fan on - so they dry quickly under the air flow. But you should not use a hair dryer: because of the hot air, there is a risk of damaging the glue.



Suede sneakers - how to clean them:

General cleaning

For suede, the above method is not suitable; you need to use a special eraser designed specifically for this material. For dirty sneakers or removing stains, you will need a suede brush - its rubber bristles are soft on one side and hard on the other.

You need to remove water stains with water: first fill the sneakers with paper, then spray water on the suede surface and wipe it with a brush. After the surface dries, apply a suede cleaner to it.

Removal of fresh stains

If the stain is just there, use a paper towel to remove the excess, but do not press on the stain itself, much less rub it into the suede. If the stain is dry, wipe it with a wet cloth, then wait until it dries again and use an eraser or a suede brush to remove it.


If the instruction was attached to the sneakers, you should follow it and buy the recommended products. Depending on the manufacturer, the material may have its own characteristics, due to which one agent may be more effective, and another may damage it.

You need to wet the suede carefully, without touching it with water and applying the minimum sufficient amount to get rid of dirt. Always pick up any remaining moisture and cleaning agent with a damp cloth. And, of course, you can’t just throw sneakers into the washing machine - after this, their shape or fabric can be severely damaged, and even if this does not happen, they will completely get wet and lose their protective layer.

Items related to

  • Tarrago Shoe Cleaner Sneakers Set, CLEAN & PROTECT
  • Tarrago Shoe Whitener, SOLE RESTORER, 125ml.
  • Solemate Basic Kit in tube 1 320 rubles

How to clean white sneakers?

After regular cleaning, white sneakers may remain more gray than the original shade. This problem can be solved both with the help of ready-made bleaching agents, and with folk methods.


Of the latter, it is worth highlighting: