How to Clean Brooks Shoes: What Brooks Recommends
Quick answer: Brooks says never machine wash or dry. Brush the soles, remove laces and insoles, clean the uppers by hand with a damp cloth or soft brush, rinse lightly, stuff with newspaper and air dry away from heat.
We compare Brooks and independent sources and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Brooks Shoes: Sources Compared
Brooks says plainly not to machine wash its shoes, and the retailers and reviewers we read mostly agree. Brooks gives slightly different details across its blog and three support pages, so we show each. We read the Brooks blog, Brooks support (US, Australia and EMEA), Fleet Feet, Running Warehouse, the San Francisco Marathon blog and runABC. They agree on no washer, no dryer and air drying with paper inside. They differ on water temperature, soap and soaking.
| Source | Machine | Hand washing | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks blog | Do not machine wash or dry. A spin cycle can degrade the material and damage the machine. Not even on a hand-wash setting. | Brush soles, remove laces, damp cloth or brush on uppers, rinse with warm water. Mild detergent. Clean insoles separately. | Stuff with newspaper to keep shape and cut drying time. |
| Brooks support (US) | Do not machine wash or dry. Soaking and heat can warp fabric or foam. | Damp cloth or soft brush, warm water, mild soap. Do not submerge or soak. | Dry washcloth or paper towels inside, air dry. Reinsert dry insoles. |
| Brooks support (Australia) | Avoid washing machines, which can stretch or warp the shoe. | Remove the liner, warm water and mild soap. Do not submerge or soak. | Plain newsprint, air dry. No dryer, baseboard heater or sunlight. If soaked, a warm place overnight. |
| Brooks support (EMEA) | Do not use a washer or dryer. | Soft brush and cold water on the upper. No soap for general cleaning. Dish soap only for suede. | Newsprint, cool room away from light and heat. May take a couple of days. |
| Fleet Feet | Does not recommend it. Laces can go in a mesh bag. | Dish soap or biodegradable soap, or equal parts baking soda and vinegar. May soak a few hours or overnight. | Newspaper or rags, replaced when soaked. Brief sun only. |
| Running Warehouse | Best to avoid. | Mild dish soap or detergent in lukewarm water. Avoid soaking and long running water. | Room temperature, paper towels, optional fan or no-heat dryer. |
| San Francisco Marathon blog | A last resort, for sturdy mesh without membranes or fragile overlays. | Dry brush first, cold to lukewarm water, a few drops of mild soap. | Air dry. Do not wring. |
| runABC | Never in the washing machine. The writer’s shoes shrank. | Warm water, mild detergent, small brush or cloth. | Newspaper or paper towels, air dry. |
Brooks sells these shoes, and Fleet Feet and Running Warehouse are retailers, so their advice reflects what they sell. None of the sources gives lab test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Step by Step: Hand Washing Brooks
The Brooks blog method, with where its support pages and the others add to it:
- Brush the soles to remove mud and dirt (Brooks blog). The EMEA page says to brush out the lugs.
- Remove the laces and insoles. Brooks says to clean and dry the insoles separately.
- Clean the uppers gently with a damp cloth or soft brush (Brooks blog, US and Australia support).
- Rinse lightly with warm water (Brooks blog and US support). Brooks support says not to submerge or soak.
- Stuff with newspaper or paper towels (Brooks blog, US support).
- Air dry and reinsert the insoles once everything is dry.
For other running brands see our running shoe guide, ASICS, Hoka and New Balance.
How Often and When to Replace
- No fixed schedule. The Brooks blog says clean when you notice a change in how the shoes feel, mud outweighs the shoe or they start to smell.
- Trail runners: Brooks says clean regularly because mud can reduce traction. Fleet Feet says the same.
- Road runners: Brooks says mostly to deal with odor.
- Odor: Brooks says cleaning helps remove bacteria that cause odors. The San Francisco Marathon blog sprinkles baking soda in a dry shoe overnight, or wipes the inside with diluted white vinegar.
- Worn out: The Brooks blog says no amount of cleaning revives a worn-out shoe. If legs and feet feel unusually tired, it may be time to replace them.
Suede, Laces, Insoles and Soles
- Suede: Brooks EMEA says wipe with a wet rag and a very small amount of dish soap without submerging. Fleet Feet says no soap and water on suede accents. Brush dry, then a dry melamine sponge, and only if needed a little white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. These conflict, so general advice: test a hidden spot first. See our nubuck and suede guide.
- Laces: Fleet Feet says laces can go in the machine in a mesh bag. The San Francisco Marathon blog soaks them in warm soapy water for 15 to 30 minutes. See our shoelace guide.
- Insoles: Brooks says clean and dry separately. The San Francisco Marathon blog says do not machine wash them.
- Midsoles and outsoles: Brooks EMEA says more water is acceptable on the outsole and a toothbrush works on small midsole crevices. See our shoe sole guide.
The Brooks pages we read do not cover GORE-TEX or leather. Check the label on your pair.
Drying Brooks
- Stuffing: Plain newsprint (Brooks Australia and EMEA), newspaper (Brooks blog), washcloth or paper towels (Brooks US), replaced when soaked (Fleet Feet, Running Warehouse).
- Where: Cool room away from light and heat (Brooks EMEA). Near a fan or no-heat dryer (Running Warehouse). Near a floor vent (Fleet Feet).
- If soaked: Brooks Australia says newspaper and a warm place overnight.
- Time: Brooks EMEA says a couple of days. Running Warehouse says overnight to a day or longer.
- Heat and sun: Brooks Australia says no dryer, baseboard heater or sunlight. Fleet Feet allows brief sun.
Where the Sources Disagree
Soap. Brooks blog and US and Australia support say mild soap. Brooks EMEA says no soap for general cleaning. General advice: a tiny amount of mild soap is the shared middle ground, and rinse it out.
Water temperature. Warm (Brooks blog, US and Australia), cold (Brooks EMEA, San Francisco Marathon blog), lukewarm (Running Warehouse).
Soaking. Brooks support says do not soak. Fleet Feet says a few hours or overnight for a deeper clean.
Sun. Brooks Australia says no sunlight. Fleet Feet says brief periods are fine.
Machine. Brooks says never. The San Francisco Marathon blog calls it a last resort for sturdy mesh. Follow Brooks.
Questions About Cleaning Brooks, Answered
“Can you wash Brooks in the washing machine?”
Brooks says no, even on a hand-wash setting.
“Can Brooks go in the dryer?”
No. Brooks Australia says no heat of any kind, including sunlight.
“What soap should I use for Brooks?”
Mild detergent or soap (Brooks blog, US and Australia support). Brooks EMEA says none for general cleaning.
“How do you clean Brooks Ghost?”
The Brooks pages we read are written for running shoes in general and do not name a model line, so the steps above apply.
“How often should you clean them?”
When they feel different, are muddy or smell (Brooks blog).
“How do you dry Brooks?”
Stuff with newsprint and air dry, away from heat.
“How do you clean white midsoles?”
Brooks EMEA says use a toothbrush in small crevices.
“Why do my shoes smell?”
Bacteria. Cleaning helps (Brooks blog).
Mistakes to Avoid
- The washer and dryer. Brooks.
- Soaking or submerging. Brooks US and Australia support.
- Heaters, dryers and sunlight. Brooks Australia.
- Strong cleaning products and heavy scrubbing. Running Warehouse.
- Wringing the shoes. San Francisco Marathon blog.
- Wearing them before fully dry. Brooks EMEA says reinsert the liner only once completely dry.
How we checked this
- Steps come from the Brooks blog, Brooks support (US, Australia and EMEA), Fleet Feet, Running Warehouse, the San Francisco Marathon blog and runABC. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on soap, water temperature and soaking, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Brooks sells these shoes. Two sources are retailers. None gives lab test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Brooks Cleaning Helpers
A soft brush kit, microfiber cloths and a melamine sponge cover what Brooks and the other sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.
Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit
A soft brush and gentle cleaner for uppers and soles.
Check it on Amazon
MR.SIGA microfiber cleaning cloths
Soft cloths for the damp-cloth step Brooks describes.
Check it on Amazon
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
The melamine sponge Fleet Feet suggests, used dry, on suede accents.
Check it on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Can you machine wash Brooks?
No. Brooks says even a hand-wash setting is too much.
Can Brooks go in the dryer?
No. Brooks Australia says no heat of any kind.
What soap should I use?
Mild soap (Brooks blog). Brooks EMEA says none for general cleaning.
How do you dry them?
Stuff with newsprint and air dry.
How often should you clean them?
When they feel different, are muddy or smell (Brooks).
How do you clean the insoles?
Separately, then dry fully (Brooks).
Can you soak them?
Brooks support says no. Fleet Feet allows it for a deeper clean.
Why do they smell?
Bacteria. Cleaning helps (Brooks).
The Short Version
Hand wash lightly, keep the washer, dryer and sun away and let them air dry with paper inside.
Keep Reading
Sources
- Brooks: How to clean running shoes
- Brooks support: What is the best way to clean my shoes
- Brooks Australia support: Care instructions
- Brooks EMEA support: How do I clean my shoes
- Fleet Feet: How to clean your running shoes
- Running Warehouse: How to clean your running shoes
- The San Francisco Marathon: How to wash your running shoes
- runABC: How to clean running shoes by Brooks
