How to Clean Sandals by Material
Quick answer: Match the method to the material. Rubber and foam tolerate soap and water, leather needs a barely damp cloth and conditioner, and cork should not be soaked. Baking soda handles footbeds and odor. Air dry in the shade, away from heat.
We compare Chaco, Birkenstock, Havaianas and others and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Sandals: Sources Compared
Sandals are not one material. Rubber and foam are water safe, leather and cork are not, and sport sandals have webbing straps. The sources agree on air drying and keeping heat away. They disagree sharply on the washing machine, on soaking and on sun.
| Source | Machine washing | Footbed and odor | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaco | Sport sandals: gentle cycle, mild detergent or baking soda, cold water. | Baking soda and water with a firm brush. A sandal wash such as Nikwax for tougher cases. | Air dry. No dryer or heat, which can weaken the outsole adhesive or crack leather. |
| Birkenstock | Not covered. Most styles should not be submerged. | Cork sealer if the cork looks dry. Cleaner and Refresher spray, then wipe. | Dry slowly in the air, away from heat, radiators and closed hot cars. |
| Teva (via SneakERASERS) | Do not machine wash. Heat and agitation can separate straps from the sole and warp the foam. | Baking soda overnight, or a full soak with a sandal cleaner. | Flat, in shade, 4 to 8 hours or overnight. Do not store damp. |
| Havaianas | Avoid the washing machine and dryer. | Remove insoles and scrub with soap and water. | Dry completely in an airy room, away from direct sunlight. |
| Vionic | Only plain rubber sandals, delicate cycle, cold water. Hand washing is recommended. | Rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball for footbeds. Baking soda on rubber flip-flops. | Almost every method says air dry. |
| Cleanipedia (Unilever) | Birkenstocks: avoid washing machines and dryers. | Birkenstock cleaner, or a teabag overnight. Equal parts water and white vinegar for mold. | Air dry thoroughly. |
| The Manual | Not covered. | Baking soda, dish detergent and warm water, scrubbed with a toothbrush. | Footbeds sit a few minutes, then wipe with a damp towel. |
| Bustle | Quotes a source that puts rubber flip-flops in the machine with regular detergent and warm water. | Baking soda paste on Birkenstock footbeds overnight, rinsed gently. | Air dry, in sunlight for Birkenstocks. |
Chaco, Birkenstock, Havaianas, Vionic and SneakERASERS sell sandals or cleaning products, and Cleanipedia is run by Unilever. None of the pages gives lab test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Step by Step: Cleaning Sandals
A general routine, with who says what:
- Shake or rinse off loose dirt. SneakERASERS rinses off sand under cool water and brushes grit out of the stitching. Vionic says a bristle brush removes loose dirt but does not disinfect.
- Clean straps by material. Webbing with mild dish soap and a soft brush working with the weave (SneakERASERS). Leather with a barely damp cloth and mild soap (SneakERASERS) or saddle soap on a damp rag (The Manual).
- Scrub the footbed. Baking soda and water with a brush (Chaco, The Manual, Vionic).
- Rinse or wipe off residue. Cool water for rubber and webbing, a damp towel for leather and cork (The Manual).
- Air dry flat in shade. SneakERASERS, Chaco and Havaianas.
- Condition leather afterward. The Manual and SneakERASERS.
See our shoe sole guide and leather shoe guide for more.
Cleaning by Sandal Material
- Rubber, foam, neoprene and plastic: Vionic soaks in warm water for about 15 minutes, scrubs gently, adds a few drops of mild detergent and soaks 15 minutes more, then rinses.
- Rubber flip-flops: Havaianas hand washes with mild soap and a soft brush. Vionic rinses in warm water, sprinkles baking soda, waits about 10 minutes, scrubs the soles and rinses.
- Sport sandals with webbing: Chaco floss-cleans the straps by wetting them, adding fabric softener to each strap slot and working them back and forth to clear grit. SneakERASERS says to avoid wringing, which stresses the stitching.
- Leather: Equal parts white vinegar and water on a damp cloth (Vionic). Chaco blots with a damp cloth and uses a leather cleaner or conditioner.
- Cork footbeds: Birkenstock sprays Cleaner and Refresher and wipes. Cleanipedia says do not scrub hard.
- Suede and nubuck: Birkenstock brushes to restore the nap. Vionic and Bustle rub suede footbeds with sandpaper in small circles. See our nubuck and suede guide.
For Birkenstock-specific steps see our guides on white Birkenstocks and Birkenstock footbeds.
Sandal Odor and Mold
- Baking soda overnight. SneakERASERS sprinkles it on the footbed and taps it out in the morning. Bustle leaves a paste on Birkenstock footbeds overnight.
- Rubbing alcohol. Vionic wipes footbeds with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, then a damp cloth.
- Mouthwash soak. SneakERASERS soaks in 1 cup mouthwash to 2 cups water for 15 minutes, then brushes and rinses.
- Teabag. Cleanipedia leaves a teabag in each Birkenstock for 24 hours.
- Mold. Cleanipedia brushes, wipes with equal parts water and white vinegar, then rinses with a warm damp cloth.
See our shoe deodorizer guide for more odor options.
Can You Machine Wash Sandals?
The sources split. Chaco allows sport sandals on a gentle cold cycle. Vionic allows plain rubber ones on a delicate cold cycle but recommends hand washing. SneakERASERS says never for Tevas, Havaianas says avoid, and Cleanipedia says avoid for Birkenstocks.
General advice: hand wash unless the maker names a machine method for your exact pair. See our Birkenstock washing machine guide.
Drying Sandals
- Air dry. Every source.
- Heat: Birkenstock says cork footbeds and EVA soles can be damaged by concentrated heat, and lists direct sun for long periods, closed cars, campfires and radiators. Chaco says heat can weaken outsole adhesive on sport sandals and crack leather.
- Sun: Havaianas says no direct sunlight. SneakERASERS says shade. Bustle air dries Birkenstocks in sunlight.
- Time: SneakERASERS gives 4 to 8 hours or overnight for Tevas. Birkenstock says dry slowly.
- Fully dry before wearing. Havaianas.
See our drying Birkenstocks guide.
Where the Sources Disagree
Machine washing. Chaco and Vionic allow it for some pairs. SneakERASERS (Teva), Havaianas and Cleanipedia say no.
Soaking. Vionic soaks water-safe rubber, and SneakERASERS soaks Tevas. Birkenstock says most of its styles should not be submerged.
Sun. Havaianas and SneakERASERS say avoid it. Bustle dries in sunlight. Birkenstock warns against long direct sun.
Bleach. Chaco and SneakERASERS both say avoid it.
Questions About Cleaning Sandals, Answered
“Can you wash sandals in the washing machine?”
Only some. Chaco allows sport sandals on a gentle cold cycle. Teva, Havaianas and Birkenstock sources say no.
“How do you clean leather sandals?”
A barely damp cloth with mild soap or saddle soap, then conditioner (SneakERASERS, The Manual).
“How do you clean sandal footbeds?”
Baking soda and water with a brush (Chaco, The Manual, Vionic).
“How do you get the smell out of sandals?”
Baking soda overnight, rubbing alcohol on the footbed, or a mouthwash soak.
“How do you clean rubber flip-flops?”
Mild soap, soft brush and rinse (Havaianas), or baking soda for odor (Vionic).
“Can you use bleach?”
No. Chaco and SneakERASERS say avoid it.
“How do you dry sandals?”
Flat in shade or an airy room, away from heat.
“How do you clean cork footbeds?”
A cleaner spray and a wipe, without hard scrubbing (Birkenstock, Cleanipedia).
Mistakes to Avoid
- Dryers, radiators and hot cars. Chaco, Birkenstock.
- Bleach and corrosive cleaners. Chaco, SneakERASERS.
- Soaking cork or leather. Birkenstock.
- Wringing webbing sandals. SneakERASERS.
- Hard scrubbing cork footbeds. Cleanipedia.
- Wearing them damp. Havaianas.
How we checked this
- Steps come from Chaco, Birkenstock, Havaianas, Vionic, SneakERASERS (Teva), Cleanipedia, The Manual and Bustle. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on machine washing, soaking and sun, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell sandals or cleaning products. None gives lab test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Sandal Cleaning Helpers
A footwear cleaner, a soft brush kit and a suede brush set cover what the sources below describe for straps, footbeds and suede. These are listed on Amazon.
Nikwax Footwear Refresh Cleaner for Active Footwear
A cleaner made for active footwear such as sport sandals.
Check it on Amazon
Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit
A soft brush and gentle cleaner for straps, soles and footbeds.
Check it on Amazon
Jason Markk Suede Essentials Kit
A brush and eraser set for suede and nubuck footbeds and straps.
Check it on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Can you machine wash sandals?
Only some pairs. Chaco allows sport sandals, while Teva, Havaianas and Birkenstock sources say no.
How do you clean leather sandals?
A barely damp cloth with mild soap, then conditioner.
How do you clean footbeds?
Baking soda and water with a brush.
How do you remove sandal odor?
Baking soda overnight, rubbing alcohol, or a mouthwash soak.
Can you use bleach?
No. Chaco and SneakERASERS say avoid it.
How do you dry them?
Flat in shade or an airy room, away from heat.
Can you soak sandals?
Rubber, yes. Birkenstock says most of its styles should not be submerged.
How do you clean cork footbeds?
A cleaner spray and a wipe, without hard scrubbing.
The Short Version
Identify the material first, use baking soda on footbeds, keep leather and cork from soaking and let sandals air dry away from heat.
