The Best White Sneaker Cleaner: Jason Markk, Crep Protect or Dish Soap?

How are we judging white sneaker cleaners?

We haven’t run our cleaner tests yet, so this guide is based on what each product is, how its maker says to use it, which materials it claims to suit, and whether you can buy it in Canada. From November 2026, our Lab will compare Jason Markk, Crep Protect, dish soap and baking soda.

That comparison will clean identical stains on matching materials and measure how white each one gets with a colorimeter, so the results are numbers rather than impressions. We’ll add them to this page with a dated change log.

Until then, the honest answer is that the method matters more than the bottle. Dry-brushing first, using a damp brush rather than a soaked shoe, rinsing off residue and drying away from heat will do more for your white sneakers than switching brands. Our cleaning guide has the full method for each material.

What types of white sneaker cleaner are there?

There are five main types: foaming sneaker cleaner kits, household soap or detergent, mild abrasives like baking soda, melamine sponges for rubber, and protector sprays that make the next clean easier. Most people need a mild cleaner, a soft brush and maybe a protector spray. Specialist sole whiteners and bleach carry more risk.

Type	Examples	Best for	Watch out for
Foaming sneaker cleaner kit	Jason Markk Essential Kit, Crep Protect Cure or Travel Kit	Most uppers; convenient, foams well, comes with a brush	Cost per clean is higher than soap
Mild soap or detergent	Dish soap, gentle laundry detergent, Marseille soap	Everyday dirt on leather, synthetic, canvas	Rinse well; don’t soak leather
Mild abrasive paste	Baking soda with water or 3% hydrogen peroxide	Stains on canvas, rubber soles	Test first; rinse thoroughly
Melamine sponge	Sold as a “magic eraser”	Scuffs on rubber midsoles	Works like fine sandpaper; can scratch soft surfaces
Protector spray	Crep Protect spray, other water and stain repellents	Preventing stains, easier salt clean-up	Repels water; doesn’t waterproof; must be reapplied

Veja, for example, recommends Marseille soap, lukewarm water and a brush for its leather sneakers, followed by a protective balm. Simple soap is a legitimate cleaner, not a compromise.

Jason Markk vs Crep Protect: what’s the difference?

They’re more alike than different. Both sell a foaming cleaning solution with a brush, and both use the same method: dry brush, dip a brush in water with a little solution, scrub in small circles, wipe with a cloth and air dry. The practical differences are product claims, brush options and how easy each is to find in Canada.

Jason Markk sells its Essential Kit as a 4 oz bottle of cleaning solution with a brush, and says it cleans up to 100 pairs. Retail listings describe the solution as 98.3% natural and biodegradable, safe on leather, suede, nubuck, canvas, vinyl and nylon. The brand also says to take extra care with premium leather, suede and knits, and sells a softer brush for delicate materials. It warns against using its solution on unsealed or painted leather, and against soaking leather, machine washing or drying with direct heat.

Crep Protect sells several cleaning kits. Sport Chek lists the Crep Protect Travel Kit, with 100 ml of cleaning solution, a brush, a cloth and a carrying case, and Foot Locker Canada carries the Cure Kit. Crep Protect is better known for its protector spray, covered below.

	Jason Markk	Crep Protect
Format	Solution plus brush kits; separate softer brush	Solution plus brush kits; protector spray
Maker’s claims	98.3% natural, biodegradable; up to 100 pairs per 4 oz	Natural cleaning solution (per Sport Chek listing)
Easy to find in Canada	Specialty sneaker and shoe-care shops, online	Sport Chek, Foot Locker Canada

Whichever you choose, follow the label’s dilution rather than guessing, and test it on a hidden spot first.

Do household cleaners work on white sneakers?

Yes, for most everyday cleaning. A few drops of mild dish soap or gentle detergent in warm water cleans leather, synthetic and canvas uppers when applied with a soft brush and wiped off with a damp cloth. Baking soda handles tougher canvas stains, diluted white vinegar dissolves road salt, and a melamine sponge lifts scuffs from rubber.

Household recipes from brand and specialist sources:

Job	Recipe	Source
Everyday dirt	A few drops of mild detergent in warm water	Nike, On
Canvas stains	2 parts baking soda to 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide, 30 minutes, then rinse	Nike
White leather	1 tbsp baking soda, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 1 cup water; or micellar water	Nike
Salt marks	2 parts water to 1 part white vinegar; 1:1 for heavy marks	Cottage Life
Rubber soles	Soap, a stiff brush, then a damp melamine sponge	Nike

The main reasons to buy a kit are convenience and the brush. A good soft brush matters more than the solution, especially on leather and mesh. For salt, see our dedicated salt stain guide.

Are sneaker protector sprays worth it?

For white sneakers in a Canadian winter, yes, as long as you know what they do. A protector spray leaves a water- and stain-repellent coating, so liquids bead and roll off and dirt wipes away more easily. It doesn’t make a shoe waterproof, it wears off with use, and it only works on clean, dry shoes.

How Crep Protect says to apply its spray:

1. Start with clean, dry shoes. Brush off any loose dirt.
2. Hold the can about 20 cm away and spray in a continuous sweep.
3. Apply two coats, about 10 minutes apart.
4. Reapply about every two weeks with daily wear, and more often in rain, snow or mud. The product page claims protection for up to four weeks; the two-week guidance is the more conservative of the two.

Make sure every trace of road salt is gone before you spray, or you’ll seal it in against the leather. On waterproof knit shoes, Vessi warns that strong detergents and bleach can weaken a water-repellent finish, so use mild soap when you clean them. Our winter guide explains the difference between water-repellent and waterproof.

Which white sneaker cleaners should you avoid?

Avoid bleach on leather, suede and synthetic uppers, harsh solvents the brand doesn’t recommend, and scouring pads. Use melamine sponges only on hard surfaces like rubber, with light pressure. Be wary of anything promising instant whitening: yellowing in foam midsoles is often the material itself discolouring with light and age, which cleaning can’t fully reverse.

The specifics:

• Bleach. Nike’s guide says not to use bleach on leather or suede. Converse recommends mild detergent rather than bleach on Chucks.
• Melamine sponges work like extremely fine sandpaper. That’s why they lift scuffs from rubber, and why they can scratch softer surfaces.
• Heat. Hair dryers, radiators and clothes dryers can crack leather and warp soles. Air dry at room temperature.
• Too much water. Nike notes that wet leather can lose its shape. Use a damp brush, not a bucket.

Test every new cleaner on a hidden spot, such as the inside of the heel, and give it time to dry before judging.

Where can you buy sneaker cleaner in Canada?

Crep Protect is the easiest branded cleaner to find in Canadian stores: Sport Chek lists its Travel Kit, and Foot Locker Canada carries its Cure Kit. Jason Markk is sold through specialty sneaker and shoe-care shops and online. Everything you need for the household method is sold at any grocery store or pharmacy.

• Sporting goods chains. Sport Chek and Foot Locker Canada stock Crep Protect cleaning kits. Check the free-shipping minimum at checkout, or pick up in store.
• Sneaker and shoe-care shops. Independent sneaker stores and online shoe-care retailers carry Jason Markk kits and brushes. Check whether prices are in CAD and whether shipping crosses the border.
• Grocery stores and pharmacies. Dish soap, baking soda, white vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide cost a few dollars each.

If you order cleaning supplies from a US retailer, the same duty and tax rules apply as for sneakers. Our where to buy guide explains them.