Shoe Polish and Care Products for Shoes, Sneakers and Leather Goods
Your order will be shipped within 24 business hours
Payment in 3x 4x by credit card from 50 €
Free Shipping from 50 €

Learn how to clean your canvas shoes

MasterClass Sneakers

How to clean your canvas sneakers and shoes and prevent them from getting dirty.

Once a month

Reading time: 8 minutes read . 7 steps

See the products used Return - Guides & advices

Summary

Key mistakes to avoid Before you begin Dust removal Soles cleaning Cleaning the upper fabric and insoles Rinsing & drying Cleaning and drying the laces Apply water repellent Final result Products used

Key mistakes to avoid

Before you start cleaning, it is essential to avoid certain common mistakes:
- Never put your canvas shoes in the washing machine, as this will cause the heel counters to deform and dissolve the assembly adhesives.
- Avoid homemade remedies (baking soda, lemon, toothpaste, etc.), which are too abrasive for the canvas and difficult to apply evenly, leaving streaks.
- Never dry them in the sun, on a radiator, or with a hair dryer, as this can damage the adhesives, or turn them inside out to prevent moisture from condensing inside the shoe.
- Avoid washing machines, hot water, and laundry solvents, as these can damage the heels, soles, and fused elements.

Before you begin

Remove the laces and insoles if they are removable so that they can be cleaned separately, then pour liquid cleaner into a container and add the laces so that they soak up the cleaner throughout the cleaning process.

Next, insert hollow plastic shoe trees to maintain the shape of the shoe during drying and to make it easier to handle the pair and brush them during cleaning.
As this method involves rinsing, the hollow plastic shoe trees are not affected by moisture and allow air to circulate to remove moisture during drying.

shoe tree for canvas shoes

Dust removal

Use a polypropylene sole brush for the soles and a universal boar bristle brush for the canvas and inner sole. Polypropylene is most effective for stiff surfaces on soles and the plastic toe caps of Converse shoes to restore their whiteness.

The boar bristle brush is stiff enough to clean the canvas without damaging it, unlike a more abrasive brush.

See sneakers brushes

Soles cleaning

Dip the polypropylene sole brush into the cleaner and scrub vigorously back and forth. Only use this brush on the soles and rigid parts of the shoe to avoid damaging the fabric.
The cleaner should foam and become discolored with dirt. Feel free to dip your brush back into the cleaner until you are satisfied with the whiteness of the shoe.

Restore white soles

Cleaning the upper fabric and insoles

Clean with a universal boar bristle brush thoroughly soaked in cleaner. Apply in circular motions to create a lather and remove dirt from your canvas shoes. The lather should become colored with the grime embedded in the shoe. Do not use a varnished brush, which is damaged by liquids and water; instead, use a wax-coated wooden brush. If you are caring for canvas shoes without laces that need to be soaked, you can also opt for the foam cleaner: it is the same product, only the applicator is different.

See all cleaner formats

Rinsing & drying

Rinse the cleaner with clean, cold or lukewarm water to remove all dirt. Hot water should be avoided as it damages the bonded construction of your shoes. Observe the color of the water, which should quickly darken as all the dirt is now removed from your shoes.
While rinsing, rub the fabric to remove all of the dirt-laden cleaner so that it does not become embedded in the fabric again.

Dry your shoes either on their side or tilted upwards in the open air. This allows them to dry as quickly as possible and removes moisture, which can cause mold. Avoid sunlight, radiators, and hair dryers, as strong heat sources can damage your shoes.

See product used

Cleaning and drying the laces

Rub your laces in the cleaner until they foam and remove any traces of dirt. Then rinse them with clean water and pat them dry along their length with an absorbent microfiber towel.
Do not pull on your laces too hard, as this may stretch and damage them. Absorb as much water as possible with the towel and hang them up. Gravity will allow your laces to drain and smooth out under their own weight.

See the sneakers towel

Apply water repellent

Once your shoes are completely dry, apply a first coat of PFAS-free waterproofing evenly, from a distance of 20-30 cm from your shoe in a well-ventilated area. You can apply a second coat 45 minutes later, as fabric absorbs more than coated leather.
You can repeat this step every month to keep your shoes waterproof and less susceptible to dirt.

Protect your shoes from stains