How to clean trainers properly (and when not to machine wash them)

Updated 25 July 2026 · 3 min read

What is safe and what is not

Material	Machine?	What happens otherwise
Canvas, plain textile	Yes, 30°C gentle	—
Natural leather	No	Water strips the oils; leather cracks and stiffens
Suede, nubuck	No	The nap mats permanently and stays stained
Fine knit mesh	No	Stretches and permanently loses its shape
Synthetic with glued sole	With caution	Adhesive can weaken under agitation and heat
Running shoes with foam	No	Foam absorbs water, compresses and loses cushioning

The correct procedure

1. Remove laces and insoles. Wash them separately, otherwise areas underneath stay dirty and the insole warps.
2. Brush off dried mud with a soft brush. Wet mud smears and works into the fabric.
3. Put them in a laundry bag or a tied pillowcase. Without one they batter the drum, deform, and can damage the machine.
4. Add 2–3 old towels as cushioning. They reduce noise and impact.
5. 30°C, gentle cycle, minimal or no spin.
6. Liquid detergent, not powder. Powder leaves white residue in the seams.
7. Air dry, stuffed with paper, away from radiators and direct sun.

The three mistakes that ruin trainers

1. The tumble dryer. The most common and the most damaging. The adhesive bonding the sole to the upper softens at dryer temperature. The sole partially separates, and re-gluing never holds the same way.

2. Radiators or direct sun. The same problem, slower: direct heat stiffens materials and fades colour.

3. Hot water. Above 40°C industrial adhesives begin to fail and colours transfer between panels — common on white trainers with coloured inserts.

Specific stains

• Grass — blot with surgical spirit, then wash. Never hot water.
• Oil or grease — starch or talc for 15 minutes, then dish soap. More on stains.
• Yellowed white soles — baking soda paste with a little water and a soft brush. Not chlorine bleach: it reacts with rubber and yellows it further.
• Odour — baking soda left inside overnight, then shaken out. Persistent smell usually comes from the insole, which is cheap to replace.

Suede and nubuck

The rule here is simple: no water. Clean dry, with a suede brush and a nubuck eraser. Lift marks by rubbing gently in the direction of the nap.

If suede trainers get wet, let them dry naturally stuffed with paper, then brush to raise the nap. Never dry them with a heat source.

When professional cleaning is worth it

For leather, suede, technical mesh or expensive models, professional cleaning costs less than a ruined pair. With us, a pair costs 50 RON regardless of material, with free pickup from your door.

Frequently asked questions