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What’s This About
Brush off the dry dirt, clean leather, canvas and knit uppers with mild soap and water on a soft brush or cloth, treat suede with a dry brush and a suede cleaner, scrub the rubber soles separately, wash the laces on their own and let everything air-dry away from heat.
This guide answers the questions men ask with a grubby pair of white sneakers in their hands, such as
• How do I clean white leather sneakers without cracking or yellowing them?
• Can canvas, knit or mesh sneakers go in the washing machine?
• Is bleach safe, and on which materials?
• How do I get scuffs and yellowing off the rubber soles?
• How do I dry them, and how do I keep them white for longer?
and many more!
Start with the label inside the tongue or the maker’s care page, because the brands disagree on the washing machine.
Key Points
01Material decides the method: smooth leather gets a damp cloth and very little water, canvas and knit tolerate a proper scrub, and suede gets a dry brush first and, for marks, only a suede and nubuck cleaner.
02The washing machine is a brand question, not a sneaker rule: Nike and Converse say no, Allbirds says most of its shoes can go in on a gentle cold cycle, and Clarks says most fabric sneakers can, but never leather or suede.
03Bleach belongs only on white canvas and laces, diluted; Koio calls bleach on white leather “a firm no”, and Allbirds says not to use it in the machine.
04Air-dry, stuffed with paper, and never in the dryer or next to a heater; every maker in this guide that covers drying warns against the dryer or direct heat.
The rule
Check the care label first, use the gentlest method that works, and keep heat away from your sneakers while they dry.
Before you start: check the material and the label
White sneakers come in four common uppers: smooth leather, canvas, knit or mesh, and suede or nubuck, often mixed on one shoe.
Each one takes a different method, so look at the shoe before you reach for a cleaner, and read the care label or the maker’s care page if there is one.
Then take the same three steps whatever the material.
Take the laces out so you can reach the tongue and the eyelets, and wash them separately (see the laces section below).
Lift out the insoles if they are removable; Allbirds tells owners to “Remove insoles and laces and brush off excess dirt with a towel or soft brush.”
Knock off dried mud and brush the whole shoe while it is dry, because wet mud spreads and soaks into canvas and knit.
For cleaning you need very little: a soft brush or an old toothbrush, a soft cloth or microfibre cloth, a bowl of warm water and a few drops of mild liquid soap or laundry detergent.
Nike’s everyday method for canvas is: “Mix a small amount of mild laundry detergent with warm water”, then “Dip a white cloth or old toothbrush in the soapy water and use it to scrub away stains on the uppers”.
Leather
How to clean white leather sneakers
Smooth white leather is the easiest upper to keep white and the easiest to damage, because it does not like being soaked.
Nike warns that leather “can lose its shape when it gets wet”, and suggests putting a shoe tree inside or stuffing the shoes with newspaper before you start.
Mix a few drops of mild, unscented liquid soap into a bowl of warm water.
Dampen a cloth in it and wring it out well; Koio says to dampen the cloth with the mixture and “never soak it”.
Wipe the upper in small circles, working on the dirtiest areas first: the toe, the creases across the forefoot and the heel.
Use a soft brush for the stitching and the seam where the upper meets the sole.
Wipe off the soap with a second, clean damp cloth so no residue dries on the leather.
Let the shoes dry at room temperature, then apply a leather conditioner if the maker recommends one.
Not every white sneaker needs conditioning: Koio says most of its sneakers have a thin polyurethane finish, “so there’s no need for routine conditioning like you’d see with untreated or vegetable-tanned leather.”
Spot marks on white leather
For a scuff on the toe or the heel, Koio suggests a clean white eraser or a melamine sponge, worked “slowly and gently to avoid removing the finish.”
Nike is more relaxed about the melamine sponge and suggests a Magic Eraser for “the leather upper and the sole of the shoe”.
The two agree on the tool; the difference is how hard you press, so start with a light touch and stop if the surface turns dull.
For ink, Koio says to dab with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, “never rub”, and to test on a hidden area first.
For an oily mark, Koio suggests baking soda left on overnight and brushed off in the morning.
What not to do to white leather
Do not use bleach: Koio’s answer to whether you can clean white leather shoes with bleach is “a firm no”, because it can “strip leather of its natural oils and can cause yellowing.”
Do not soak the leather, put it in the washing machine or scrub hard; Koio lists excess water and rough scrubbing among the mistakes that “can do permanent damage.”
Do not dry it with a hairdryer or on a radiator.
Suede and nubuck
How to clean white suede and nubuck sneakers
Suede and nubuck have a napped surface that marks easily and stains when it soaks up water, so they get a different method from smooth leather.
Start dry: Converse says to “Brush away dirt with a suede brush, when dry” and, for suede, “DO NOT USE WATER.”
For marks a dry brush will not lift, use a cleaner made for suede and nubuck rather than soap and water.
Clarks’ method is to use a toothbrush to “lightly apply a small amount of suede and nubuck foaming cleaner”, then “Scrub gently with the grain in the direction that the suede naturally sits”.
Wipe off the excess with a cloth and let the shoes dry; Clarks suggests leaving them “to dry for 30 minutes”, and says the cleaner should be dabbed on “without soaking it” to avoid watermarks.
Brush the nap back up once the shoes are dry.
Protection matters more on suede than on any other upper; Nike says it is “a good idea to prevent stains from happening in the first place by applying a suede protectant”, and Clarks recommends a protector spray as the last step.
Never put suede in the washing machine; Clarks says to “Avoid putting leather or suede shoes in the washing machine.”
Canvas
How to clean white canvas sneakers
Canvas takes a firmer scrub than leather, and it stains faster because the cotton weave absorbs dirt.
Brush the dry shoe first, then scrub the canvas with your soapy water and a soft brush or toothbrush in small circles.
Converse keeps its canvas instruction simple: “Using your soap mixture, gently rub the canvas with a damp cloth or soft brush.”
For stains that soap does not shift, Clarks suggests a paste of one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of white vinegar mixed into a cup of warm water, dabbed onto the mark and scrubbed in.
Rinse or wipe away the cleaner with clean water before drying.
Bleach on white canvas
Nike describes bleach as “effective at returning canvas sneakers to their original bright white color”, and gives a dilute mix: “Add one tablespoon of bleach to one quart of water and stir”.
Use that mix only on all-white cotton canvas, never on leather, suede or coloured trims, and wear gloves in a ventilated room.
Scrub it on, then rinse and let the shoes dry completely.
If the label says no bleach, or the shoe is knit, synthetic or wool, leave it out; Allbirds tells owners not to use fabric softener or bleach when machine washing its shoes.
Knit and mesh
How to clean white knit and mesh sneakers
Knit and mesh uppers are open weaves, so they trap dirt inside the fabric but rinse out more easily than canvas.
Clarks suggests brushing out loose dirt with a toothbrush, then scrubbing gently with equal parts baking soda and warm water for tougher stains.
Use a soft brush rather than a stiff one, because a hard bristle can pull loops out of a knit.
Rinse with a clean damp cloth or a little running water, keeping water away from any leather trims.
The washing machine
Can you put white sneakers in the washing machine?
This is the question where the makers in this guide disagree, so the answer depends on whose shoe you own.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
| Maker | What it says about the washing machine |
|---|---|
| Nike | “Nike does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine.” |
| Converse | Canvas and leather: “DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY.” |
| Allbirds | Most of its shoes, “with a few exceptions”, can go in a delicates bag on a gentle cold cycle with mild detergent. |
| Clarks | Safe “for most fabric sneakers on a gentle, delicate wash”, but “Avoid putting leather or suede shoes in the washing machine.” |
If your sneakers are leather or suede, or the label or the maker says no, hand-wash them.
If the maker allows machine washing, follow its steps: Allbirds says to remove the insoles and laces, place the shoes in a delicates bag or a pillowcase, and choose “a gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent.”
Nike’s reason for avoiding the machine applies to every brand: “it’s possible to damage your washing machine” by putting sneakers in it.
Never put sneakers in the tumble dryer; Allbirds says to avoid machine drying, and Nike says dryer heat “can cause damage to your shoes”.
Soles
How to clean white rubber soles and the midsole
The rubber sole and midsole collect the worst of the dirt, and they can take a firmer scrub than any upper.
Brush mud out of the tread with a soft brush, warm water and a little detergent, then rinse.
For scuffs on the midsole, a damp melamine sponge works on rubber; Clarks lists a magic eraser among its methods for white rubber soles.
Plain white toothpaste on a toothbrush is a quick fix for small marks; Koio specifies “plain, non-gel toothpaste” and says it is best for targeted cleaning around the sole.
Keep the brush off the upper while you work on the sole, especially on leather; Koio says to be careful “not to let water seep into the leather upper” during this step.
Yellowed soles
For yellowing, Clarks suggests a paste of baking soda and white vinegar, scrubbed on, left for 15 minutes or more and rinsed, repeated until the yellow starts to fade.
Clarks also suggests a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste “For stubborn stains and signs of yellowing”, left for 30 minutes before rinsing; Nike gives a similar paste of two parts baking soda to one part 3% hydrogen peroxide for stains on soles and uppers.
Yellowing that has set deep into old rubber does not always come out completely, so treat these as improvements rather than a promise of new-shoe white.
Laces
How to clean white shoelaces
Laces are the cheapest fix on the shoe: if they are grey and frayed, a new pair often does more than any cleaning.
To clean them, soak them in warm water with a few drops of mild detergent; Clarks suggests 30 minutes or more, then a scrub with a toothbrush and a rinse in cold water.
Nike says you can also wash them in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle, then let them air-dry, “since heat can deform the plastic tips.”
For stubborn grey laces, both Nike and Clarks give a short bleach soak: Clarks uses one part bleach to five parts water for 5 to 10 minutes, and warns “Don’t leave it any longer; otherwise, you may damage your shoelaces”.
Drying
How to dry white sneakers
Stuff the shoes with paper towels or plain paper to hold their shape and absorb water; Converse says to change the paper “occasionally throughout the drying process.”
Leave them at room temperature with air moving around them; Allbirds suggests “outside, in front of a window, or under a fan.”
Keep them away from radiators, heaters and hairdryers; Converse puts it in capitals: “DO NOT APPLY DIRECT HEAT.”
Sunlight is another point where the guides differ: Nike suggests drying some cleaning pastes in the sun, while Clarks says to dry sneakers “in a cool, shaded area to prevent fading or yellowing”.
For leather in particular, the shaded option is the safer choice; Koio says to avoid direct sunlight while white leather dries.
How to keep white sneakers white for longer
A protector spray applied to clean, dry shoes makes the next clean easier; Koio, Clarks and Vagabond all recommend one, and Vagabond says to “Reapply on occasion”.
Wipe off marks on the day they happen, before they set; Nike’s advice is to “Clean your shoes regularly to avoid tough messes later on”.
Use cedar shoe trees between wears for leather pairs; Vagabond says they help “absorb moisture and maintain the shoe’s shape over time.”
Rotate pairs so each one dries out fully between wears, and keep the whitest pair for dry days.
For whether white leather trainers suit a business casual office, see our business casual shoes guide.
Common questions
Q. Can I use bleach on white leather sneakers?
No.
Koio says bleach “can strip natural oils, discolor the leather, and permanently damage the material”; keep bleach for white cotton canvas and laces, diluted.
Q. Is a magic eraser safe on white sneakers?
On rubber soles and midsoles, yes, used damp.
On leather it works for scuffs, but press lightly, because hard rubbing can wear through the finish.
Q. Can I put white sneakers in the dryer?
No.
Every maker in this guide that covers drying says to air-dry, away from the dryer and direct heat.
Q. How often should I clean white sneakers?
Wipe off fresh marks the same day and give them a full clean when the white turns grey or a stain will not wipe off.
Little and often is easier than a deep clean on a badly stained pair.
Q. When is it time to replace them?
When the uppers are cracked or torn, the soles are worn through or the cushioning has gone flat, no cleaning will bring them back.
Sources checked for this article (5 October 2026)
Nike, How to clean white shoes: https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-clean-white-shoes
Nike, Can you put sneakers in the washer?: https://www.nike.com/a/can-you-put-shoes-in-the-washer
Converse, How to clean your Converse shoes: https://www.converse.com/c/how-to-clean-converse-shoes
Allbirds, How to care for your shoes: https://www.allbirds.com/pages/shoe-care
Koio, How to clean white leather shoes without damaging them: https://www.koio.co/blogs/editorial/how-to-clean-white-leather-shoes
Clarks, How to clean white shoes, sneakers and boots: https://www.clarks.com/en-us/editorial/how-to-clean-white-sneakers-and-shoes
Vagabond, Care for your white sneakers: https://www.vagabond.com/us/about-us/the-care/white-sneakers/
Mandy Meyer’s focus at The VOU is men’s body-shape styling, garment fit and outfit proportions. Her coverage addresses the practical questions behind a wardrobe choice: how a jacket sits across the shoulders, how trousers fall and how different cuts change the silhouette a wearer wants to create.
Her subject areas include the triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle, oval, trapezoid, hourglass and diamond labels used in body-shape styling. These provide starting references for comparing visible proportions; they do not capture every body or prescribe one correct way to dress. The focus connects those observations with garment shape, construction, length and the relationship between the upper and lower parts of an outfit.
Mandy’s editorial coverage combines visual comparisons with fit checks for comfort and movement. Readers can consider whether a cut gives them the room they need, where clothing pulls or gathers and which changes might support their preferred look. The aim is to make menswear choices more understandable while keeping personal preferences and the wearer’s own styling goals central.
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