How to take care of your sneakers

A handy guide to keeping your kicks looking fresh and new

That feeling when you get your hands on the sneakers you’ve been eyeing for a while now, be it your Air Jordans, New Balances or Chuck Taylors, is possibly beyond compare. What’s painful is when you see the wear and tear take a toll on the pair you love. Depending on where you live, the weather has a significant role to play in this damage, be it constant rainfall in the United Kingdom or the humidity in Mumbai. While you may argue that sneakers look good ‘lived in’ and ‘banged up’ (including Balenciaga’s newest beaten-up Paris sneakers), it goes without saying that taking care of your sneakers will only make them last longer. With a little bit of love and effort, your shoes will look as good as new. Many shoes can be tossed in the washing machine, but that depends on the material they’re made out of—canvas, leather or suede. We suggest you start by reading the wash care instructions before you ruin your sneakers in the machine.

Put on your apron and bring out your brushes

Yes, you do need a good brush to get rid of dry dirt and dust from your shoes. A medium-bristle brush works for different types of materials, such as leather, nubuck or rubber. A soft-bristle brush is recommended for materials like suede, while a hard-bristle one is strictly for the mid-soles and out-soles of the shoes. You can also use a toothbrush if you are a perfectionist and don’t wish to see even a single spot of dirt on your shoes. For spot-cleaning, work up a lather and clean the area in a circular motion with a toothbrush. Next on the list is a microfibre towel that will help wipe off the dirt and dry off the water you clean with. Use soapy water to deep clean your shoes with brushes and towels. Once you wipe them clean, air dry them overnight to prevent any form of molding. Remove your laces and wash them separately to keep them looking as new as your shoes.

An important thing to understand here is that before you start with the cleaning process, it is extremely necessary that you know what material and fabric your shoe is made of. Cleaning processes will vary from material to material. For example with leather, putting too much water and pressure will ruin the fabric, whereas with suede, you need to first dry-brush the dirt off before using soapy water to gently clean the surface.

After wear

If your shoes are not meant for running, then don’t run in them, especially if they’re made from leather, a material that can easily leave creases on its surface. Newspapers are the most inexpensive form of absorbents, so after you take off your sneakers, stuff them with a ball of newspaper, and they will absorb moisture, sweat and odour from the inside. Additionally, newspapers will help maintain the shape of your shoe. You can also use anti-crease shoe protectors; they usually come with a new pair of footwear or you can buy fresh ones online. If you’re buying online, get a wooden pair as they help absorb moisture from the shoes more than plastic.

After every wear, wipe off the soles of your shoes with wet wipes. There are special ones for sneakers, but even make-up wipes with a bit of alcohol content will do the job. Don’t underestimate the power of a repellent spray, come rain or snow.

Ways to store

While not everyone can afford to build a shrine for their shoe collection, storing sneakers in the boxes they come in is a good way to protect them from external forces rather than tossing them on the same shoe rack everyone in your house uses. A clear plastic box will allow you to see the shoes inside. Alternatively, using a shoe rack or bench is another way to prevent damage to sneakers while they aren’t being worn.

Be wary of weather changes around you as humidity can mess up your sneakers by causing the rubber mid-soles to oxidise and turn them yellow. Storing them in plastic or zip-lock bags will help reduce the exposure to humidity. But make sure you air them out often every once in a while.

Recommended brands and websites

While you don’t really need special tools to clean your pair of kicks, there are brands that make specific products and target specific problem areas on your shoes. Here are some brands and websites in India from where you can get a complete sneaker cleaning kit.

Jason Markk: As one of the pioneering brands when it comes to sneaker care, many sneakerheads swear by Jason Markk’s staple products made with biodegradable and all-natural formulas. You can get their sneaker-cleaning kits, brushes, wipes and repellents from VegNonVeg.

Crep Protect: As one of the most popular and recommended sneaker-cleaning brands, Crep Protect offers a wide variety of products to keep your sneakers looking fresh, fom wipes to premium boxes that provide dust-free storage and UV protection panels to prevent discoloration caused by sunlight.

Helios: Helios is your go-to brand for getting brushes that are meant for nubuck and suede or to buy lotions specifically for leather.

Sneakare: Sneakare is your one-stop-shop for everything related to sneaker care. From basic cleaning kits to stain- and water-repellant sprays and shoe shapers, you’ll find it all on their website.

Crepdog Crew: Although they are known as forerunners of sneaker resellers, Crepdog Crew also houses products and brands from Sneaker LAB and Sneakare to care for your hype pairs. They also offer sneaker laundry services and techniques to make your beaten kicks as good as new.

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