Shoe Cleaning Hacks: What Brands and Cleaning Sites Say

Shoe Cleaning Hacks Compared by Material

Every shoe cleaning hack comes with a catch: what works on white canvas can ruin leather, suede or knit. We read Arm and Hammer, Nike (two guides), Wardrobe Oxygen, e-cloth, thredUP, Reviewed and Branch Basics. They agree on spot testing and keeping shoes out of the dryer. They split on bleach, sunlight and magic erasers.

Several of these sources sell shoes or cleaning products, so their picks may point to their own range. None gives lab test data for these hacks. We have not tested them.

Baking Soda, Peroxide and Vinegar

Baking soda paste. Arm and Hammer mixes 1 tablespoon baking soda, 0.5 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide and 0.5 tablespoon warm water, scrubs it in, leaves it at least 30 minutes, then rinses. Without peroxide it uses 1 tablespoon of water. Nike (white) uses two parts baking soda to one part peroxide for 30 minutes.

Baking soda and vinegar. The ratios differ. Arm and Hammer uses 1 tablespoon each of baking soda, white vinegar and hot water. Nike (white) uses 1 tablespoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons vinegar and a cup of water. e-cloth uses about 1 tablespoon baking soda and 2 tablespoons vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes. thredUP uses 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Sun or no sun. Arm and Hammer sets shoes in bright sunlight for 3 to 4 hours. e-cloth says to keep shoes out of direct sunlight and heat, and that the paste may not remove embedded dirt or odors. General advice: if you are unsure of the dye, dry indoors.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is the most argued-about hack. Arm and Hammer says non-gel white, preferably whitening, 10 to 15 minutes. e-cloth says plain white with no gels, colors or whitening types, and to rinse thoroughly because leftover paste can attract dirt or leave a sticky surface. thredUP and Reviewed prefer a baking soda toothpaste. Wardrobe Oxygen warns not to saturate leather because it can shrink and stiffen. Reviewed says toothpaste is a mild abrasive.

Dish Soap, Magic Erasers and Micellar Water

• Dish soap: Nike says to dilute it with plenty of water because concentrated soap can discolor some materials or strip natural oils. Wardrobe Oxygen says to remove excess moisture so leather stays supple.
• Magic eraser: Wardrobe Oxygen says to use it on soles and whitewalls and not on leather or suede, because it is too rough. Nike (white) uses a damp eraser on leather uppers and soles. thredUP and Reviewed say to go gently on fabric. General advice: keep it to rubber soles unless the maker says otherwise.
• Micellar water: Wardrobe Oxygen uses it on leather, fabric, suede and rubber. e-cloth says to lightly dampen a pad and avoid soaking suede or delicate leather. Reviewed spot tests it.
• Cornstarch or talc: Wardrobe Oxygen puts it on oil stains for a few hours and brushes it off.

Bleach and Oxygen Cleaners

This is where the sources part ways most.

• Nike (white): 1 tablespoon bleach in a quart of water for canvas. Not on leather or suede.
• Nike (clean): avoid bleach and harsh products on knit, Flyknit and mesh.
• thredUP: 1 tablespoon bleach to 4 tablespoons water, with gloves and a spot test. Stop if fabric turns yellow or off-white.
• Wardrobe Oxygen: the author would not bleach the shoes, only the laces, and works in a ventilated area.
• Branch Basics: avoids bleach and warns that mixing it with other chemicals or organic matter can produce chloramine gas and chloroform.
• Oxygen bleach: Wardrobe Oxygen uses OxiClean paste on white canvas for up to 3 hours.

General advice: if you try bleach on anything, never mix it with other cleaners, wear gloves, ventilate and keep it off leather, suede and knit.

Odor Hacks

• Baking soda in the shoe: Arm and Hammer says 1 to 2 tablespoons per shoe, overnight or up to 24 hours for very smelly pairs, up to once a week, once a month for leather.
• Sachet: Branch Basics puts baking soda in a porous bag such as an unbleached coffee filter.
• Vodka spray: Branch Basics suggests spraying unflavored vodka inside. No other source does.

The Washing Machine Hack

This is a hack many people try, and the makers disagree. Nike says it does not recommend washing shoes in the washing machine. Arm and Hammer says not to put canvas shoes in the washer or dryer, since it can fray them or separate the sole. thredUP says a gentle cold cycle in a mesh bag with liquid detergent works, and to skip the dryer. Reviewed quotes Whirlpool’s Shawn Ashby saying canvas and nylon, cotton or polyester athletic shoes can be machine washed, after checking the care label. See our washing machine guide for the maker-by-maker detail.

One-Source Hacks

Two hacks appear in only one source each. Nike (white) layers water-soaked toilet paper over canvas shoes for 12 hours and peels it away. Wardrobe Oxygen lists cornstarch or talc for oil. None gives test data, so treat them as one-source claims. Nike also says to replace shoes every 300 to 500 miles, and that if whitening fails the shoes may be past saving.

See our white shoes guide, leather guide and shoe cleaning mistakes for material-specific advice.

Where the Sources Disagree

Sunlight. Arm and Hammer and Nike (white) use it. e-cloth says avoid it.

Magic erasers on leather. Nike uses them. Wardrobe Oxygen says do not.

Bleach. Nike and thredUP give ratios. Wardrobe Oxygen limits it to laces. Branch Basics says avoid.

Whitening toothpaste. Arm and Hammer prefers it. e-cloth says avoid it.

Machine washing. Nike and Arm and Hammer advise against. thredUP and Whirlpool (via Reviewed) allow it for certain materials.

Questions About Hacks, Answered

“Does toothpaste really clean white shoes?”

Several sources use it as a mild abrasive for rubber and leather (Reviewed, Arm and Hammer). None shows test data.

“Is baking soda safe on leather shoes?”

Arm and Hammer says it works, but limit deodorizing leather to once a month because it can absorb oils.

“Can you use vinegar on suede?”

Nike (clean) uses white vinegar on stubborn suede stains and Branch Basics recommends it for white suede.

“Is bleach safe on white shoes?”

Sources split. See the bleach section.

“Is hydrogen peroxide safe?”

Branch Basics says not for leather or suede because it can dry or discolor them.

“Can you use Dawn dish soap on shoes?”

Wardrobe Oxygen, thredUP and Reviewed do. Nike says dilute it.

“What should I never put shoes in?”

The dryer. Nike, Arm and Hammer, thredUP and e-cloth all warn about heat.

“How do you clean white soles?”

Wardrobe Oxygen and thredUP use a damp magic eraser. Branch Basics uses baking soda and warm water.

Mistakes to Avoid

• The dryer and direct heat. Nike, thredUP, e-cloth.
• Mixing bleach with other chemicals. Branch Basics.
• Bleach on leather, suede or knit. Nike.
• Gel toothpaste. Arm and Hammer, e-cloth, thredUP.
• Leaving residue behind. e-cloth.
• Soaking shoes. e-cloth, Wardrobe Oxygen.
• Skipping the spot test. Branch Basics, e-cloth, thredUP, Reviewed.
• Over-deodorizing leather. Arm and Hammer.

If You Would Rather Skip the Kitchen Experiments

A purpose-made shoe cleaning kit, a cleaner made for shoes and soft cloths cover the same jobs the hacks try to do. These are listed on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which shoe cleaning hack is safest?

Mild diluted soap, and baking soda for white or light shoes, have the widest support (Nike, Arm and Hammer).

Does toothpaste clean shoes?

Several sources use non-gel white toothpaste as a mild abrasive. None shows test data.

Is bleach safe for shoes?

Sources split. Nike says not on leather, suede or knit. Branch Basics avoids it.

Can I use a magic eraser on shoes?

Wardrobe Oxygen says soles only. Nike uses it on leather.

Is baking soda safe on leather?

Arm and Hammer says limit deodorizing leather to once a month.

Can I put shoes in the dryer?

No source recommends it.

Should I dry shoes in the sun?

Sources split. Arm and Hammer yes, e-cloth no.

When should I replace shoes?

Nike says it is generally a good idea every 300 to 500 miles.

The Short Version

Start with mild soap or baking soda, match the hack to the material, spot test, and keep shoes out of the dryer.

Keep Reading

Sources

• Arm and Hammer: How to clean shoes with baking soda
• Nike: How to clean your shoes
• Nike: How to clean white shoes
• Wardrobe Oxygen: Keep white sneakers clean
• e-cloth: DIY shoe cleaning methods
• thredUP: How to clean white sneakers
• Reviewed: How to clean white sneakers
• Branch Basics: How to clean white shoes without bleach