Without a single doubt, Nike is one of the greatest footwear brands in the entire world. Ever since the label’s inception back in 1964, Phil Knight and the Swoosh team have been set on creating the best athletic footwear in existence. Since then, the brand has continued to craft game-changing sports shoes, as well as branching out into the lifestyle sector and offering up some seriously stylish steppers. Here at Crepslocker we’re constantly helping out our customers with any queries or issues they may have with their latest purchase, so we find ourselves being asked how to clean Nike sneakers very frequently.
Keeping your sneakers clean is an essential step to being a sneakerhead, as dirty sneakers never look good. But just how can you clean them and keep them clean? Well, there’s a few processes and methods that can be used depending on the sneakers in question, so we’re here to outline the process once and for all and help our customers around the world. Get ready to take notes, as we’re about to treat you with some expert knowledge!
How to Clean Suede Nikes
Suede. Most sneakerheads love it, but cleaning it can strike fear into the hearts of even the most hardened footwear fans. While it gives sneakers an impeccably-clean and luxurious look, it’s notoriously difficult to clean and even more sensitive to water damage than any other fabric. To begin with, if you’re in the fortunate position where your favourite suede sneakers aren’t yet dirty, we absolutely recommend protecting them with a dedicated sneaker protection spray. This will avoid many of the difficult situations those with dirty suede shoes find themselves in.
Now if your suede Nikes are already dirty, then you’re going to need to use some specialist products. First off we’d advise trying a suede eraser to remove any dirty marks, as sometimes they can be cleaned with minimal effort. Should that fail, you’ll have to resort to a full-blown suede cleaning kit and brush. Thankfully, these are readily available and aren’t too difficult to use if you follow the instructions carefully. Just be wary not to apply too much pressure.
How to Clean White Nikes
Who doesn’t love a fresh pair of triple-white Air Force 1s? We love them as much as the next person, but we really don’t love seeing beat-up pairs that deserve better. It’s actually a lot easier than you might think to keep your white trainers fresh. First up, we’re going to cover the obvious facts. If it’s raining outside or you’re heading out for a walk down a muddy path, leave the white Air Force at home, or any white sneakers for that matter. You’ll simply create more hassle than it’s worth. As a general rule, many sneakerheads reserve their white sneakers for the summer months, where you can wear them worry-free.
If the worst case scenario has happened and you’ve got your white sneakers dirty then fear not, as it shouldn’t be too hard to fix. In fact, white sneakers aren’t any harder than other sneakers to clean – the dirty simply looks worse due to the fact that it shows up more. We’d advise using the same method you’d use for leather or suede here, just be extra careful due to the nature of white sneakers.
How to Clean Leather Nikes
Got your leather Nikes dirty? Don’t stress, as leather is actually one of the easiest fabrics to clean when it comes to sneakers! The hard wearing material not only looks great on our kicks, but most importantly it’s nearly resistant to dirt. Unlike suede or nubuck, dirt will just sit on top of leather, making them easy to wipe clean most of the time. We’d recommend using dedicated sneaker cleaning wipes to ensure there’s no damage to your kicks. Should the stains in questions be more stubborn, classic sneaker cleaning kits will often feature a product called sneaker cleaning solution.
Combine a small amount of solution with some hot water to form a soapy mix, and use a sneaker cleaning brush to remove any marks. Afterwards, allow your sneakers to dry naturally in a warm place. Should any dirt remain, repeat these steps until your sneakers are sparkling clean.
Should I Wash Nikes in the Washing Machine?
Despite popular rumours, we want to make it very clear that you should absolutely NEVER wash your Nikes in the washing machine. Many people will try to tell you that it’s a quick and easy life hack to clean your sneakers, however it simply doesn’t work. They may even state that removing the insoles will make it safe, but this is still untrue. The washing machine will drastically change the shape of your sneakers, leaving permanent damage to the design. We’d advise only cleaning your sneakers using professional sneaker cleaning products and the methods we’ve listed above.
