How to Clean Cleats: What Brands and Specialists Say
Quick answer: knock off mud straight away, scrub soles and uppers gently by hand, rinse out the soap, and air dry stuffed with paper away from heat. Nike says hand wash the cleats only.
We compare the brands and specialists and show where they disagree.
How to Clean Cleats: Sources Compared
Soccer, football and baseball cleats take mud, grass and moisture, so the first job is getting dirt off before it dries. We read Nike, two adidas pages (football and soccer), Whirlpool, FourFourTwo, SoccerPro, Your Soccer Home and RealSport101. They agree on hand cleaning, air drying and no hair dryer. They differ on the washing machine and on how hard to scrub.
| Source | Machine washing | Cleaning method | Drying and avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nike | Hand wash the cleats only. Laces may go in a mesh bag on cold, delicate. Washing machines and dryers can ruin the upper and foot plate. | Knock soles together, brush soles, wipe uppers with a damp cloth and mild detergent, rinse out all soap. Soft brush for knit, no soaking. | Air dry indoors, stuff with newspaper, away from sun, hair dryers and tumble dryers. No bleach. |
| adidas (football) | Insoles and laces only, in a pillowcase on cold, delicate. | Knock off debris, dry scrub with an old toothbrush, wash stains that night with detergent and water, wipe with a wet washcloth. | Dry indoors at room temperature. No hair dryer or direct sun. Do not store wet. |
| adidas (soccer) | Insoles and laces only, in a pillowcase on cold, delicate. | Stick, screwdriver or putty knife for debris, mild detergent on a washcloth, rinse with warm water until suds are gone. | Air dry indoors, then store in a breathable bag. “DO NOT damage your cleats by using a hair dryer, dryer machine or direct sunlight.” |
| Whirlpool | Generally advises against it, especially for cleats with metal parts. Delicates cycle only if the care tag and washer manual allow. | 2 cups warm water with 1/4 teaspoon mild dish soap and a soft brush. Baking soda paste on white cleats. | Air dry away from sun and high heat. No dryer. Stuff with newspaper or paper towels. |
| FourFourTwo | Laces can go in the machine below 30C. Insoles should not go in a washing machine or dryer. | Trainer cleaner in warm water, hard brush on soleplate, soft brush on leather, magic eraser for black 3G pitch marks. | Air dry, stuff with newspaper. Do not leave mud on, because it can dry out and crack the upper. |
| SoccerPro | Laces and removable soles only, in a pillowcase on warm. | Popsicle stick between studs, bowl of warm water with a few drops of detergent, soft cloth and soft toothbrush. | Shade or ventilated indoor spot with newspaper. Do not submerge. No direct sun. |
| Your Soccer Home | Insoles and laces only. | Toothbrush-firm soft brush in small circles, baking soda paste for sole gaps, rinse with minimal water. | Paper towels or newspaper, swapped every hour, in shade. No hairdryer. Gentle scrubbing only. |
| RealSport101 | Not for synthetic cleats unless the label says so. Insoles may go in a cold cycle in a pillowcase. | Soft brush and diluted shoe cleaner on uppers, baby wipe for residue, old toothbrush around studs. | Room temperature with newspaper. Tumble dryers and direct heat can melt glue and warp shape. No bleach or wire brushes. |
Several of these sources sell sports gear or appliances, so their steps may point to their own range. We have not tested any of these methods.
Can You Machine Wash Cleats?
No source recommends washing the cleats themselves in a machine:
- Nike: hand wash only, because washing machines and dryers can ruin the upper and foot plate.
- Whirlpool: generally advises against it, especially with metal parts, and allows the Delicates cycle only if the care tag and washer manual permit.
- RealSport101: not unless the label says it is safe.
- adidas, SoccerPro and Your Soccer Home: the machine is for laces and insoles or removable soles only.
The sources split on insoles. adidas and RealSport101 put them in a pillowcase on cold, delicate, while FourFourTwo says insoles should not go in a washing machine or dryer. General advice: follow the care label, and hand wash insoles if unsure. Our washing machine guide covers the wider picture.
Step by Step: Cleaning Cleats
The shared method, with who says what:
- Knock off mud straight away. Nike and adidas say to knock the soles together right after play. adidas and SoccerPro use a stick, screwdriver or putty knife for the gaps between studs.
- Take out laces and insoles. Nike and adidas wash them separately. Laces: hand wash or mesh bag on cold, delicate (Nike), or below 30C (FourFourTwo).
- Mix a mild solution. Whirlpool gives 2 cups warm water with 1/4 teaspoon mild dish soap. SoccerPro says a few drops of detergent in warm water.
- Scrub the soleplate, then the upper. FourFourTwo says to use a hard brush on the soleplate and on non-leather, and a soft brush on leather. Nike says a soft brush for knit.
- Rinse out the soap. Nike and adidas wipe with a damp warm cloth until suds are gone. Your Soccer Home says to use as little water as possible.
- Dry. See the drying section.
Frequency: Nike says to clean after every match or practice. FourFourTwo says to clean mud off after every use at the very least.
Studs and Soleplates
Studs and soleplates are where the sources say the most, and where care differs by surface:
- Between studs: a popsicle stick (SoccerPro), a stick, screwdriver or putty knife (adidas) or a blunt tool such as a spoon (Your Soccer Home). RealSport101 uses an old toothbrush around the studs.
- Removable metal studs: RealSport101 says to remove them and clean them separately, then reattach once fully dry.
- Sole gap paste: Your Soccer Home suggests equal parts baking soda and water.
- Black marks from 3G pitches: FourFourTwo uses a magic eraser.
- Hard surfaces: adidas says sidewalks, pavement and concrete “destroy cleats”, and Nike says artificial-grass cleats on pavement wear studs faster and degrade the foot plate. Both say to carry cleats in a bag and wear slides off the pitch.
For other soles see our shoe sole guide.
By Material: Knit, Synthetic, Leather
Knit (Flyknit, Primeknit). Nike says to use a soft brush and not soak the upper. RealSport101 says use slightly less water and avoid harsh soaps, which can wear away coatings, and that knit takes longer to dry. See our knit shoe guide.
Synthetic. Nike says it can take a slightly firmer scrub than knit and should be lightly stuffed with newspaper while drying, because the material molds to the foot over time.
Leather. FourFourTwo says use the soft brush and reserve the hard brush for stains. RealSport101 says leather can take firmer pressure on stains but avoid hard or wire brushes, and polish or oil is optional. Whirlpool says to use a leather cleaner and conditioner as the maker directs. Your Soccer Home warns that mud left on leather can draw moisture out and cause cracking. See our leather shoe guide.
White cleats. Whirlpool uses a baking soda and water paste on stains. See our white shoes guide.
Grass stains. Whirlpool says to apply an enzyme detergent, then rinse thoroughly with hot water. Nike says nothing on this, so treat it as a single-source tip.
How to Dry Cleats
Every source says air dry and keep heat away:
- Nike: air dry indoors and stuff with newspaper to hold shape. Fully dry before wearing or storing.
- Your Soccer Home: wipe off excess water, stuff with paper towels or newspaper, set in shade and replace the stuffing every hour until dry. Indoors, use a ventilated room with a fan.
- Whirlpool: remove laces and insoles, stuff with newspaper, paper towels or a dry cloth, ventilated area.
- RealSport101: room temperature only. Tumble dryers and direct heat can melt glue and warp shape.
- SoccerPro: shady or indoor spot. Dry everything fully before reassembling.
None of the sources gives a drying time. Nike and Whirlpool both say to store cleats in a bag only once fully dry and not in a closed gym bag, since damp storage encourages bacteria and odor.
Where the Sources Disagree
Sun. Your Soccer Home says to dry in shade outdoors. adidas, Nike and SoccerPro say no direct sunlight. All agree on avoiding strong sun.
Brush firmness. FourFourTwo uses a hard brush on soleplates and non-leather uppers. Nike, Whirlpool and Your Soccer Home say soft or toothbrush-firm brushes and gentle scrubbing. General advice: hard brush on rubber soleplates only.
Laces in the machine. Nike and adidas allow a mesh bag or pillowcase on cold, delicate. FourFourTwo allows below 30C and says air dry. SoccerPro says warm. General advice: cold is the common ground.
Insoles. adidas and RealSport101 allow a cold cycle in a pillowcase. FourFourTwo says no machine or dryer for insoles.
Newspaper. Nike, Whirlpool and RealSport101 stuff with newspaper. Paper towels (Whirlpool, Your Soccer Home) avoid ink transfer onto pale linings.
Questions Players Ask, Answered
“Can you put cleats in the washing machine?”
Nike says hand wash only. Whirlpool generally advises against it, with Delicates only if the care tag and manual allow. Laces and insoles are the usual exception.
“How do you clean mud out of soccer cleats?”
Knock the soles together right after play, then use a stick or putty knife between the studs (adidas, SoccerPro).
“How do you clean white cleats?”
Whirlpool uses a baking soda and water paste on stains.
“How do you dry wet cleats fast?”
Stuff with paper towels or newspaper and swap it every hour in shade (Your Soccer Home). No hair dryer or tumble dryer.
“How do you get the smell out of cleats?”
Wash the insoles and dry fully. Nike suggests a sock mix of baking soda, baking powder and cornstarch overnight. Whirlpool suggests baking soda, dryer sheets or bar soap.
“How often should you clean cleats?”
After every match or practice (Nike).
“Can you wear cleats on pavement?”
adidas and Nike say no, because hard surfaces wear studs and damage the foot plate.
“How do you clean cleats with metal studs?”
RealSport101 says to remove metal studs, clean them separately and reattach once dry.
Mistakes to Avoid
- The washing machine and tumble dryer. Nike warns they can ruin the upper and foot plate.
- Hair dryers and direct heat. RealSport101 says they can melt glue and warp shape.
- Bleach, abrasive cleaners and wire brushes. Nike and RealSport101 warn.
- Soaking or submerging. Nike and SoccerPro warn.
- Leaving mud on. FourFourTwo and Your Soccer Home say it can dry out and crack uppers.
- Storing wet or in a closed bag. Whirlpool and Nike warn about odor and bacteria.
- Walking on pavement in cleats. adidas and Nike warn.
How we checked this
- Steps come from Nike, adidas (football and soccer), Whirlpool, FourFourTwo, SoccerPro, Your Soccer Home and RealSport101. We name who says each thing.
- The sources differ on insoles, brush firmness and machine washing, so we show each side. Our own reading is labelled general advice.
- Several sources sell sports gear or appliances. None gives test data. We have not tested any of these methods.
Cleat Care Helpers
A shoe cleaner kit with brushes, mesh wash bags for laces and insoles, and microfiber cloths for wiping off soap cover the steps the sources describe. These are listed on Amazon.
Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit
A shoe cleaner with a brush and microfiber towel.
Check it on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean cleats?
Knock off mud, scrub soles and uppers gently with mild detergent, rinse out soap and air dry (Nike, adidas).
Can you wash cleats in the washing machine?
Nike says hand wash only. Laces and insoles are the usual machine exception.
How do you clean mud from between studs?
A stick, screwdriver or putty knife (adidas, SoccerPro), then a toothbrush.
How do you clean white cleats?
A baking soda and water paste on stains (Whirlpool).
How do you dry cleats?
Stuff with paper and air dry in shade or a ventilated room, away from heat (Your Soccer Home, Nike).
How often should you clean cleats?
After every match or practice (Nike).
Can you wear cleats on pavement?
adidas and Nike say no, since it wears studs and damages the foot plate.
How do you remove odor?
Wash insoles, dry fully and use baking soda (Nike, Whirlpool).
The Short Version
Knock off mud early, wash by hand, keep heat and sun away, and store cleats dry.
Keep Reading
Sources
- Nike: How to clean soccer cleats
- adidas US: How to clean football cleats
- adidas US: How to clean soccer cleats
- Whirlpool: How to wash cleats
- FourFourTwo: How to clean football boots
- SoccerPro: How to wash soccer cleats
- Your Soccer Home: How to clean and dry your cleats
- RealSport101: How to clean football cleats
