The lifetime of sneakers is limited. And this is not always due to the workmanship or quality of the material, but often due to poor care. When was the last time you gave your favorite strutters a thorough care and cleaning treatment? Even more important than the “how often” is the “how” – because with well-intentioned but incorrect care, you can ruin a brand-new pair of sneakers pretty quickly. We dispel myths and half-truths about cleaning, drying and caring for sneakers. And with our practical do’s and don’ts, sneaker care becomes a breeze!

A tempting thought to simply pack the dirty sneakers to the dirty laundry in the washing machine. However, major sneaker manufacturers like Nike and Adidas generally advise against this. No wonder, because cleaning by hand is much gentler and ensures that your favorites last longer. But if you do have to do it quickly, you should at least follow these tips so that your shoes survive the wash cycle undamaged:

Do’s:

• Before washing, remove coarse dirt and stones, but also loose parts such as insoles and laces. You can put the latter together with your sneakers in a laundry bag or old pillowcase. This way you prevent the laundry drum from being damaged by metal parts (like eyelets etc.).
• Wash your sneakers together with some towels or bed sheets – this way the washing drum is well padded and your shoes are optimally protected.
• Use a gentle delicate wash cycle or, if available, a special wash cycle for shoes.

Don’ts:

• In contrast to sneakers made of textile and mesh, leather sneakers should never be put in the washing machine! Also sneakers with jewelry applications should be cleaned by hand.
• Never use fabric softener – it can corrode the materials and dissolve the glue in the sole.
• Temperatures above 30 degrees are taboo! At higher temperatures, some textiles may shrink, causing the shoes to deform.
• You should not spin the sneakers – the fast rotations can damage the damping of your shoes.

When choosing a cleaning and care product, make sure that it matches the upper material of your shoes. If in doubt, you will find a small sticker on the insole with the material specifications.

For cleaning, you should ideally have a special cleaning foam (sneaker cleaner) that is suitable for all common materials. If necessary, you can also clean sneakers made of fabric and mesh with detergent, shampoo or soap. Leather sneakers can be cleaned with leather soap. For sneakers made of synthetic or imitation leather, you should only use oil and grease-free products. Grease-rich care products, such as those used for leather sneakers, cannot be absorbed into the artificial material and form a greasy film on the surface. But what if the sneaker is made of many, different materials? Again, a universal sneaker cleaner is the best choice, or you clean each part individually with the appropriate agent.

How often should you actually clean and care for sneakers? That depends largely on how often and in what weather you wear your shoes. No matter what material – for superficial dirt like street dust, dry cleaning is enough. Just go over the surface with a soft brush and your sneakers are street-ready again. Against stubborn dirt, however, only a thorough wet cleaning helps!

1. You will need: a shoe brush, a bowl of lukewarm water, a suitable cleaning agent (e.g. cleaning foam/sneaker cleaner, leather soap) and a lint-free, moistened cloth.
2. Remove the laces and free the sneaker from the coarsest dirt with a soft brush.
3. Put some cleaning foam or leather soap on the shoe brush (never directly on the shoes!) and wet the brush briefly. If you use detergent, shampoo or soap (only for textile and mesh sneakers), dissolve a small amount of it in lukewarm water and dip the brush briefly.
4. Clean the sneaker with circular movements so that a thin layer of foam forms on the upper. For hard-to-reach areas, you can use an old toothbrush.
5. Remove the dirty foam with the damp cloth and gently pat the shoes dry. Fabric and mesh sneakers can also be rinsed with water.

Done! The sneakers are finally clean again. But how do you get them dry again as quickly and gently as possible?

Do’s:

• Remove the insole before drying – it stores a lot of moisture and should dry separately.
• Stuff your sneakers with newspaper or kitchen paper. This will quickly absorb the moisture and prevent your favorites from deforming as they dry. Don’t forget to change the paper regularly when it gets soaked! Alternatively, you can use a shoe tree.
• Put your shoes in a well-ventilated place to dry.
• Spray your sneakers with waterproofing spray before wearing them again. This will protect them from wind and weather – and you won’t have to clean as often!

Don’ts:

• Drying in the tumble dryer is an absolute no-go! The intense heat can deform and damage the material.
• You should also not put your shoes directly on the heater or in the blazing sun – this applies especially to models made of leather.
• Hair dryer, oven and microwave are also taboo if you want to enjoy your sneakers for a long time.