Sneaker care

Keep them box fresh.

Leather, suede, knit, canvas and midsoles each take a different touch. Clean little and often, dry away from heat and store pairs out of the sun.

In this guide

01

By material

02

Suede and nubuck

03

Laces and drying

04

Storing

05

Do and avoid

A sneaker care kit with a brush, a foam bottle and a cloth beside a white leather sneaker

01 Before you start

Dry first, then clean small.

Most marks come off with less than you think. Start with a dry brush, test anything wet on a hidden patch and keep the water away from the inside of the shoe.

Brush off the loose dirt

A dry brush or cloth takes off grit before it turns into mud on a wet cloth.

Test the product

Try any cleaner or protector on a hidden patch and let it dry before you use it on the whole shoe.

Work a small area

Clean a patch at a time and wipe the soap away rather than soaking the upper.

Shop laces and care

02 By material

Five surfaces, five methods.

Match the cleaner to the material. A method that suits canvas can mark suede, and a suede brush has nothing to grip on leather.

01

Leather

Wipe with a barely damp cloth and a little mild soap, then buff dry. Keep water off the seams and condition sparingly when the leather looks dry.

02

Suede and nubuck

Brush dry in one direction. Use an eraser on marks and a protector before the first wear. Never soak the material or dry it on a radiator.

03

Knit and mesh

Use a soft brush and a small amount of foam, working with the weave. Rinse the cloth, not the shoe, and blot rather than rub.

04

Canvas

Brush off dry dirt, then clean small areas with mild soap and water. Rinse the cloth and wipe the soap away. Let the pair air dry.

05

Midsoles

Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap. A soft brush lifts scuffs from rubber; avoid harsh solvents that dull the finish.

03 A closer look

Suede and nubuck.

Suede is the inside of the hide turned out, and nubuck is a light sanding of the outside. Both need a dry brush and patience, not water. Treat marks while they are dry and brush the nap back into line afterwards.

Brush one way

Use a suede brush in one direction to lift the nap and take out dry dust.

Lift marks with an eraser

Rub a suede eraser over dry marks, then brush the nap back into line.

Protect before the first wear

A suede protector helps keep water and dirt from settling into the nap. Test it on a hidden patch first.

A suede brush cleaning an unbranded tan suede sneaker, close up

04 Laces and drying

Loosen, wash, air dry.

A clean lace and a dry shoe finish the job. Neither needs a machine.

Laces

Wash by hand, not in the machine.

Unlace first

Take the laces out so the upper can open and the lace can be washed on its own.

Hand wash

Wash with mild soap in warm water, rinse well and squeeze out the excess. Do not wring.

Hang to dry

Hang the laces straight to dry. Once dry, lace them loosely so the upper keeps its shape.

Drying

Air, not heat.

Stuff the shoe

Use newspaper or a dry cloth to hold the shape and draw moisture away from the lining.

Change the paper

Change it when it feels damp. Wet paper left inside can mark the lining.

Air, not heat

Dry at room temperature, away from radiators, direct sun and a tumble dryer.

05 Storing

Shape, shade and a dry box.

A pair lasts longer when it keeps its shape and dries fully between wears. Give it a tree, a shaded spot and a dry box, and save the next wear for a day when it is ready.

Shoe trees

Cedar or plain shoe trees hold the shape between wears and help the upper dry evenly.

Out of the sun

Keep pairs out of direct sun and away from radiators, which dry leather and suede too fast.

Back in the box

Store dry pairs in a dry place, ideally back in the box with a little tissue.

Box fresh

Dry, shaded, in the box

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06 Do and avoid

A short list.

Do

Brush after every wear

A dry brush takes off grit before it works into the weave or the seams.

Clean a patch at a time

Work small areas and wipe the soap away with a clean, damp cloth.

Stuff while drying

Newspaper or a dry cloth holds the shape and draws moisture out of the lining.

Store dry and shaded

Let the pair dry fully, then keep it out of direct sun and away from heat.

Avoid

The washing machine

The drum and the heat can distort the upper, the midsole and the glue.

Radiators and direct sun

Strong heat dries leather and suede too fast and can crack or stain them.

Soaking leather or suede

Water into the seams and the nap leaves marks that are hard to lift.

Bleach and harsh solvents

They can strip colour and finish from the upper and the midsole.

Ready when you are

A clean pair lasts longer.

Shop laces, brushes and foam, or ask us about a material before you treat it.

Shop laces and care

Ask us

Keep them box fresh.

Dry first, then clean small.

Five surfaces, five methods.

Leather

Suede and nubuck

Knit and mesh

Canvas

Midsoles

Suede and nubuck.

Loosen, wash, air dry.

Wash by hand, not in the machine.

Air, not heat.

Shape, shade and a dry box.

A short list.

A clean pair lasts longer.

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Dry first, then clean small.

Five surfaces, five methods.

Leather

Suede and nubuck

Knit and mesh

Canvas

Midsoles

Suede and nubuck.

Loosen, wash, air dry.

Wash by hand, not in the machine.

Air, not heat.

Shape, shade and a dry box.

A short list.

A clean pair lasts longer.