How to Clean White Running Shoes and Mesh Sneakers

What do you need to clean white running shoes?

A soft brush, a stiffer brush for the outsole only, microfibre towels, cool to warm water and a mild soap or sneaker foam. Add paper or a dry towel to stuff the shoes while they dry. Mesh and knit are delicate, so the gentle tools matter more than the cleaner you choose.

What you need:

• A soft brush for mesh and knit. Jason Markk uses its softest brush on uppers.
• A stiffer brush for rubber outsoles only. Jason Markk says to keep it off mesh and knit, where it can fuzz the yarn.
• Mild soap. Hoka suggests a small amount of mild soap in cool water; On suggests mild detergent in warm water; New Balance suggests a mild, dye-free detergent.
• Microfibre towels to press out dirt and water.
• Baking soda for outsoles, which On mixes into a paste with water.
• Paper for stuffing.

How do you clean white mesh running shoes by hand?

Remove the laces and insoles, knock off dry dirt, then scrub the whole upper with a soft brush carrying a little soap or foam, using light pressure and small circles. Press the dirt out with a microfibre towel, wipe with a cloth dampened in clean water, stuff with paper and air dry.

Step by step:

1. Take it apart. Remove the laces, insoles and any liners. Hoka says this speeds up the whole job.
2. Let mud dry first. Jason Markk says wet mud smears into mesh, while dry mud knocks off. Hoka starts with a dry paper towel, then a dry toothbrush.
3. Load the brush, not the shoe. Put soap or foam on a soft brush so the mesh doesn’t soak.
4. Scrub lightly in small circles across the whole upper, not just the dirty spot. Jason Markk warns that spot-cleaning one patch leaves a ring.
5. Press out the dirt. Dab and twist a microfibre towel into the mesh to soak up foam and water.
6. Rinse. Wipe off the remaining lather with a cloth dampened in clean water, as Hoka suggests.
7. Dry with paper inside, at room temperature.

On the New Balance 530, clean the synthetic overlays with the same soft brush and wipe them dry; the mesh between them holds dirt longest. New Balance suggests testing your cleaner on a hidden spot first.

How do you clean knit sneakers?

The same way as mesh, with even less pressure. Firm up the shoe first by stuffing the toe with a microfibre towel, then clean with a soft brush and mild soap, press out the water and air dry. Waterproof knits need mild soap only, because harsh detergent can weaken a water-repellent finish.

Tips for knit and soft textile uppers, like the Vessi Weekend’s waterproof knit or the On Cloud 6’s polyester:

• Stuff the toe box with a microfibre towel before scrubbing, a Jason Markk tip that gives the brush something to push against.
• No stiff brushes. They can pull and fuzz knit yarn.
• Mild soap only on waterproof knit. Vessi warns that strong detergent or bleach can weaken a water-repellent finish, and says no bleach.
• Hand washing first. Vessi recommends hand washing as the best routine, even for styles it allows in the machine.

How do you clean foam midsoles?

Scrub them separately with soapy water and a medium brush, wiping toward the outsole so dirty water doesn’t run onto the mesh. Use a stiffer brush or a baking soda paste on the rubber outsole. Foam can scratch or dent, so skip harsh abrasives, and keep it out of heat and direct sun.

What works:

• Soapy water and a brush for most grime. Jason Markk repeats the same foam, scrub and wipe steps on midsoles and outsoles.
• Baking soda paste for dirty outsoles: On mixes baking soda and water, scrubs gently, then rinses.
• Melamine sponges work like very fine sandpaper. Use one only lightly, on a hidden spot first, and not at all on textured or painted foam.

If a clean midsole still looks yellow, that’s usually the foam itself. Polyurethane foams made with aromatic compounds discolour in light, and cleaning can’t fully reverse it. Our guide to whitening yellowed soles explains what can and can’t be fixed. Lab cleaning results for mesh runners will be added here as testing finishes.

Can you wash white running shoes in the washing machine?

Most brands say no. On never recommends the washer or tumble dryer, Hoka says machine washing could damage the materials and void the warranty, and New Balance says many of its materials shouldn’t be submerged or heated. Jason Markk says soaking and tumbling stress the glue, foam and shape of running shoes.

Brand	Machine washing
On	No. Not the washer or the tumble dryer; laces and insoles only if labelled machine-safe
Hoka	No. Could damage materials and void the warranty
New Balance	No. Many materials shouldn’t be submerged or exposed to heat
Vessi (washable styles)	Yes: cold cycle, laundry bag, insoles and laces out, air dry only

On also warns that sustained heat combined with detergent can damage seams and bonding. If your shoe’s care label explicitly allows machine washing, follow it exactly, and never use the dryer. For laces, Hoka suggests stuffing them into a sock and washing them on cold with your regular detergent.

How do you clean white gym shoes and stop them smelling?

Clean the upper the same way as running shoes, then deal with the inside. Take out the insoles and wash them by hand with mild soap, let everything dry fully, and air the shoes out after each workout. Hoka says a light dusting of baking soda helps with odour. Rotating pairs helps too.

A gym shoe routine:

1. After every session, loosen the laces, pull out the insoles and let the shoes air out rather than sealing them in a gym bag.
2. Weekly, wipe the upper with a damp cloth and mild soap, and scrub the outsole where gym-floor scuffs collect.
3. Wash insoles by hand. Veja suggests a toothbrush, lukewarm water and soap or white vinegar; On says to wash insoles separately from the shoe.
4. Dry insoles separately and fully before putting them back.

How do you dry running shoes without heat in winter?

Stuff them with paper, change it when it’s damp, and leave them at room temperature overnight, away from radiators, heat vents and direct sun. Jason Markk says heat can warp foam and weaken adhesives. In winter, give them a full night indoors and rotate pairs rather than reaching for a hair dryer.

Winter specifics:

• Hoka says not to dry shoes outdoors, and to keep them away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Don’t park them on a floor vent or radiator. On warns that heat can warp materials and change their shape.
• Use a fan, not heat. Moving room-temperature air speeds drying without the risks.
• Salt first. If slush left white lines, dab them with diluted vinegar before washing: see our salt stain guide.

Mesh lets slush straight in, so for wet days a waterproof knit or leather pair is a better choice; see our winter guide. For leather, canvas and suede, see our main cleaning guide.