Increase the lifespan of your athleisure shoes and sneakers with our tried and tested tips and tricks on how to keep them stain-free without the damage and discoloration of the material.

Your shoes will suffer if you run. The outsoles of trail runners become caked with mud, which reduces traction. The dirt, grime, and mud penetrate into the surface and reduce its performance and durability. In addition, these muddy particles grind away at your foot like sandpaper and irritate your feet. which is why it is crucial to clean your sneakers regularly to avoid these issues.

Understanding how to clean your running shoes is essential to prevent any cleaning disaster. Proper cleaning will keep your shoes smelling fresh and extend their longevity.

Due to busy schedules, it's difficult to take care of athletic shoes on a daily basis. Moreover, keeping your shoes pristine without regular cleaning is more challenging. You'll want to wear those brand-new sneakers outside as soon as you take them out of the packaging. This is where your running shoes attract dirt, mud, and stains.

When it comes to cleaning best sneakers for men, it is highly recommended to place the shoe tree or fill them with crumpled newspapers to help retain their shape during cleaning. Then get to work.

In this article, we are going to provide you with some useful tips that will help keep any jogger—including lifestyle, basketball, and running shoes—odor-free and clean in just a few easy steps. But before digging into the cleaning instructions, here are a few tools and cleaning products that are required for making your athleisure shoes look like new:

Supplies

• Dish soap or mild detergent
• Baking Soda
• Jogger Cleaner
• Jogger Sole Cleaner (Optional)
• White Vinegar (Optional)

Tools

• Shoe Brush
• Toothbrush
• Soft Cloth

Cleaning Instructions

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your sneakers:

Step 1: Use a brush

First and foremost, you need to dust off the upper, outsole, and midsole of your joggers with a soft-bristled brush. If you don’t have a clean, soft-bristled brush, a spare toothbrush would also do the trick.

Step 2: Prepare a Mild Cleaning Solution

In a bowl, add lukewarm water and dissolve a mild laundry detergent or dish soap in it. For light-colored sneakers, you can prepare a cleaning paste by mixing water and baking soda in the same proportion.  

Tip: Highly concentrated dish soaps can cause discoloration or remove natural oils from some materials. That’s why it is suggested to be cautious when using dish soaps and dilute them with plenty of water.

Step 3: Handwash the Jogger Laces

Apply a small amount of the mild cleaning solution to the shoelaces after removing them. The laces should be gently rubbed with your hands, rinsed, and dried with a soft cloth.

Step 4: Wash the Outsoles

Use a washcloth or a soft-bristled brush to apply the gentle cleaning solution to the outsoles. Thoroughly clean the outsole and midsole, paying attention to every area of the soles. Use a gentle cloth to dry. If the joggers have high-cleats, use a soft-bristled tooth brush to remove the cakey dirt inside the cleats.

Step 5: Wash the Athleisure In-socks

Remove the in-socks and clean them with a mild cleaning solution and a soft-bristled shoe brush or a toothbrush. Let them air dry before putting them back into the joggers.

Note: In-socks are made with different materials such as memory foam, gel, bamboo, and more. Don’t forget to read the brand's instructions on how to clean them.

Also Read: How to Clean and Protect Leather Shoes Like A Pro

Step 6: Clean the Jogger Uppers

When it comes to cleaning the uppers of the athleisure shoes, you need to figure out the material of the shoes first. Sneakers are constructed with different materials such as leather, fly-knitted mesh, sandwich mesh, suede, etc.

• You can use a jogger cleaner for cleaning your shoes that are made with fly-knitted or sandwich mesh materials.
• Leather sneakers can be cleaned by using a mild detergent.
• Use an effective suede cleaner to clean your suede joggers or sneakers.

Step 7: Let Your Joggers Air Dry

Once you end up cleaning your sneakers, it is recommended to let them air dry at room temperature. Never wear shoes to your next workout or activity until they are completely dry. Some pairs of men’s sneakers may require at least 8 hours to fully dry.

Recommended Cleaning Products

Glanz Jogger Sole Cleaner

Glanz jogger sole cleaner is specially formulated with effective ingredients to instantly remove pesky scuff marks and dirt stains from jogger soles. This high-quality jogger cleaner also restores the texture of the outsoles and instantly boosts their shine, making them look like new.

Glanz Jogger Cleaner  

Glanz Jogger cleaner is suitable for athleisure shoe surfaces including canvas, nylon, rubber, vinyl, and nylon mesh. This effective cleaner is specially formulated to effortlessly remove stubborn stains, grime, and cakey mud from the jogger uppers while keeping the shoes smelling fresh and pristine.