How to Wash Trainers

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Check the upper material first. Canvas and mesh can be machine washed cold. Leather and suede cannot. Never tumble dry any trainers — heat destroys the glue.

The material of the upper determines the cleaning method completely. Machine washing leather trainers will ruin them permanently, while canvas trainers can handle the machine with no damage if done correctly.

What Type of Trainers Do You Have?

Canvas

Machine washable

Converse All Star, Vans Old Skool, most flat canvas shoes

Can machine wash on a cold, gentle/delicates cycle. Remove laces and insoles first. Use a mesh laundry bag. No spin cycle (or lowest speed). Air dry only.

Mesh / knit upper

Machine washable

Nike Air Max, Adidas Ultraboost, Nike Free — most modern running and walking shoes

Can machine wash cold, gentle cycle in a mesh bag. Mesh dries quickly when air dried. Stuff with paper to hold shape. Never tumble dry.

Leather

Hand clean only

Air Force 1, Stan Smith, most formal trainers

Do not machine wash. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Use a dedicated leather cleaner for deeper cleaning. Condition after cleaning with a leather conditioner. Scuffs: use a magic eraser very gently on rubber and a leather cream for the upper.

Suede and nubuck

Hand clean only

Adidas Gazelle, Puma Suede, most lifestyle trainers with suede panels

Never wet suede — water causes permanent tide marks and changes the texture. Use a dedicated suede brush to lift dry dirt. Suede erasers for marks. A light spray of suede protector prevents future staining. Once wet-stained, suede is very difficult to restore.

Synthetic / PU leather

Hand clean only

Many modern budget trainers, faux leather panels

Wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. PU leather can crack if submerged or washed aggressively. Do not machine wash.

Machine Washing Canvas and Mesh Trainers

1
Remove laces and insoles
Laces can be washed separately in a pillowcase or mesh bag — or by hand in a bowl with a little detergent. Insoles should be brushed clean and left to air dry separately. Insoles left inside during washing take much longer to dry and can develop mould.
2
Brush off loose dirt first
Use an old toothbrush or soft brush to remove dried mud and debris from the upper, sole, and midsole before washing. Loose dirt going into the machine drum clogs the filter and may not wash out cleanly.
3
Place in a mesh laundry bag
A mesh bag protects the shoes from hitting the drum at speed, reduces noise, and prevents lace loops from catching. If you do not have a mesh bag, a pillowcase tied at the top works. Add two or three old towels to the machine to cushion the drum and reduce impact noise.
4
Cold wash on gentle or delicates cycle
Cold water (30°C or cool) only. Even mesh and canvas trainers contain adhesive bonding the sole to the upper — heat weakens this glue over time and can cause delamination (sole peeling away). Use a gentle or delicates cycle. A small amount of liquid detergent is sufficient.
5
No spin cycle (or minimum speed)
High-speed spinning can knock trainer inserts out of alignment and stresses the machine drum. If your machine lets you skip the spin cycle, do so. Otherwise, select the lowest available spin speed.
6
Air dry — never tumble dry
Stuff the trainers with newspaper or paper towels to absorb moisture and hold the shape while drying. Replace the paper once it is saturated. Place them in a warm, well-ventilated area but not in direct sunlight (which can yellow white soles and fade coloured uppers). Never put trainers in the tumble dryer — the heat degrades adhesive, warps the midsole, and can cause sole separation.

Hand Cleaning (All Trainer Types)

1
Brush off dry dirt
Use an old toothbrush or soft bristle brush to remove loose mud and debris. Work from the sole upward.
2
Clean the rubber sole and midsole
Apply a small amount of dish soap or baking soda paste (baking soda + water) to the rubber sole and midsole. Scrub with an old toothbrush. The rubber is the most durable part and can be cleaned aggressively. Magic eraser sponges are very effective on white rubber soles.
3
Clean the upper
Dampen a cloth with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Wipe the upper in circular motions. For white canvas: a small amount of white toothpaste (not gel) on a toothbrush is surprisingly effective. Rinse with a damp cloth. Do not saturate the upper — use minimal water.
4
Rinse and air dry
Wipe away soap with a clean damp cloth. Stuff with paper and leave to air dry. Do not apply heat.

Cleaning White Trainers

Baking soda paste (baking soda + water + a few drops of dish soap) applied to the rubber sole and scrubbed with a toothbrush is one of the best methods for white rubber and canvas.

White toothpaste (non-gel) on a soft toothbrush is effective for white canvas uppers and rubber foxing tape. The mild abrasive in toothpaste lifts surface scuffs without damaging the fabric.

Hydrogen peroxide (3%) mixed with baking soda to form a paste can be applied to white canvas uppers and left in the sun for 30 minutes — the UV activates the bleaching reaction and brightens yellowed white fabric.

Magic eraser sponges remove scuffs from rubber soles and midsoles very effectively. Dampen the eraser and rub gently — it works by light abrasion and does not require any cleaning product.

Bleach should only be used on white rubber and white canvas — never on coloured areas or mesh, as it destroys colour and can weaken the fabric.

FAQ

Can you put trainers in the washing machine?

Canvas and mesh trainers can be machine washed on a cold, gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag. Leather, suede, and PU leather trainers cannot — the machine will damage the material. Remove laces and insoles first, add old towels to cushion the drum, and always air dry. Never tumble dry any trainers — the heat degrades the adhesive that bonds the sole to the upper.

How do you clean white trainers?

For white canvas and rubber: make a paste of baking soda, water, and a drop of dish soap, apply with an old toothbrush to the rubber sole and canvas upper, scrub, and rinse with a damp cloth. For rubber scuffs: use a magic eraser sponge. For yellowed white fabric: a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, left in the sun for 30 minutes, brightens white canvas. Never use bleach on anything except pure white rubber and white canvas — it destroys colour and weakens mesh.

Why should you never tumble dry trainers?

Trainers are held together by adhesive (shoe glue) that bonds the sole to the upper and layers of the midsole together. Tumble dryer heat degrades this glue, causing the sole to start peeling away from the upper — a process called delamination. Heat also warps the midsole foam and can melt certain synthetic materials. Always air dry trainers — they dry within 6–12 hours if stuffed with newspaper in a warm area.

Can you wash suede trainers?

No — water permanently damages suede. Getting suede wet causes tide marks, flattens the nap, and can cause irreversible texture changes. Clean suede trainers dry: use a suede brush to lift dirt and restore the nap, a suede eraser for specific marks, and a suede protector spray to prevent future staining. If suede trainers get wet in rain, stuff with paper and let them dry naturally away from heat, then brush the nap back into place once dry.

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