Sneaker Care 101: Tips To Keep Your Sneakers Fresh

If you’re a sneakerhead, you’ll do anything for a pair of the latest and greatest kicks. Getting your hands on sneakers is one thing. But keeping them from getting scuffed and stained is a whole other battle. If you want to keep your colors popping without resigning your shoes to a life displayed on the shelf, check out our guide on sneaker care 101. Here, you’ll find tips to keep your sneakers fresh.

Know How To Clean Them

When we wear our favorite shoes, we’re always on the lookout for anything that might mess them up, from a dropped Frappuccino to your friend’s two left feet on the dance floor. But the trick isn’t stopping life from happening. You just need to know how to clean up afterward. And cleaning your sneakers isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Machine Washing

Most sneakers are machine washable, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. Here’s how to wash your shoes right:

• Take the laces off the shoes, put them in a pillowcase, and throw them in the wash separately.
• Knock the dirt off the soles of the shoes and spot clean stains with a stain remover.
• Put the shoes in a washbag, then add them to the machine with towels to balance the load.
• Use cold water.
• Use laundry detergent, but not too much.

Whatever you do, don’t put your sneakers in the dryer. The heat will warp your shoes. Instead, let them air dry with the tongue hanging out for airflow and a balled-up towel in the toe to soak up extra water.

Skipping the Machine

If you’re the sort of person who would rather sell a kidney than let their OG Air Jordans near a washing machine, there are options for you too. You just have to get your hands on a shoe cleaning kit. Then, follow these steps to keep your shoes fresh.

• Take the laces off the shoes.
• Wipe excess dirt off your shoes with a damp towel.
• Use a shoe cleaning detergent and a scrub brush to scrub the outside of the shoes gently.
• Use a damp, microfiber towel to rinse off the suds.
• Repeat as necessary.

Just like with the machine washing, make sure to let your kicks air dry.

Have a Collection

Shoes wear down faster if you wear them all the time. The best way to give them a break is to have a couple of pairs you can swap between. That’s right, sneakerheads: we’re giving you permission to level up your collection. When you’re getting new shoes, look for ones that coordinate with all your favorite outfits. And if you’re looking for bomb outfit ideas, our streetwear fashion for men has you covered.

Store Them Well

People wouldn’t store the Mona Lisa on a shelf in the garage because the erratic temps and humidity would wreck it. Your kicks are works of art too. So, when you store your shoes, look for a place that’s dark, cool, and dry, such as a bedroom closet, to keep the colors fresh as the day you bought them. And if you have a dog, make sure the door to that closet stays closed.