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I thought buying white Nike Air Force 1s was the coolest thing ever. Truth is, buying them was a dream come true, and wearing them was really cool. Keeping them white, though? That was almost mission impossible.
I say ‘almost’ impossible because I figured out how. Thanks to my tenacity and determination to restore my dirty Air Force 1s to their former sparkly selves, I can now share with you several ways to get them clean and keep them clean.
Air Force 1s are made from rubber, leather, and textile. So careful consideration must be taken when determining what cleaning methods and detergents can be used.
Related: How To Clean Leather Shoes & Boots: The Complete Guide
I figured if my Air Force 1s got dirty, others would too. And if other people, like me, prefer shoes that look as good as new, then this guide to keeping Air Force 1s clean is sure to help! Before we get started with the detailed guide, I want to share three top tips:
- Remove shoelaces before washing.
- Regular spot cleaning will prevent your shoes from becoming stained.
- Don’t use hot water.
Cleaning Nike Air Force 1s
This article will detail five ways you can clean your Air Force 1s:
- Machine wash
- Hand wash
- Spot clean
- Stain removal
- Odor removal
1. Machine Wash
Step 1: Remove the laces.
Step 2: Insert a shoe tree into each shoe. For machine washing, I would recommend plastic shoe trees. Shoe trees will prevent your shoes from becoming misshapen and creased during the washing and drying process.
Step 3: Put your shoes in a laundry bag along with the laces. The laundry bag will protect the shoes from getting snagged. It will also prevent the laces from going missing. If you think putting your shoelaces in the laundry bag is overkill, answer this question—where did all those missing socks go?
Step 4: Add some detergent and select a delicate cold-water wash cycle. Put an old towel or two in the machine to prevent the shoes from being thumped around too much.
Step 5: Take the shoes out of the washing machine as soon as they are done to prevent them from getting moldy or smelly.
Step 6: Leave the shoe trees in your shoes so that they dry in shape. Put them in a light, airy place to dry. Do not use a tumble drier (although, there are ways to safely dry your shoes in the dryer), hairdryer, or heater to dry your shoes. If you leave your shoes outdoors to dry, make sure they are not in direct sunlight. If you leave them inside, make sure the area is well ventilated. If there is no ventilation, use a fan, but not a heater fan.
Machine Washing Tips:
- Don’t machine wash your shoes too often, as the leather and fabric will wear out the more you wash them.
- Examine the soles before you wash them. If they appear to be pulling loose, don’t use the machine.
- You can wash more than one pair of shoes at a time. Put each pair of shoes in their own laundry bag with their matching laces. As with laundry, don’t wash dyed shoes with white shoes.
2. Hand Wash
Step 1: Remove the laces.
Step 2: Insert a shoe tree into each shoe. For hand washing, you can use wood or plastic shoe trees. Shoe trees will help keep your shoes in shape and give you something hard to press against while you scrub.
Shoe tree insight: Some people say you can use newspaper instead of a shoe tree. I wouldn’t recommend it. If the newspaper gets wet (which it undoubtedly will), it will become soggy and useless at keeping your shoe in shape. Not to mention the risk of newspaper ink staining your shoes! Before you consider newspaper, I’d recommend you use your other hand. Just tuck your hand inside your shoe and press against the brush or cloth while you’re scrubbing.
Step 3: Fill a bowl with water. Add some sneaker cleaner and mix to dilute. If you don’t have a sneaker cleaner, you can use mild laundry detergent. I would recommend one teaspoon of detergent per two cups of water, but this isn’t a science experiment, so a little more or a little less won’t do any harm.
Outsole insight: Unless you want to change your soapy water after you’ve washed each shoe, I would recommend that you wash the outsoles last because they are the dirtiest part of the shoe.
Step 4: Dip a soft brush in the cleaning solution and scrub your shoes one little square at a time. A shoe brush, scrub brush, or old toothbrush will do the trick. Using this method, you can clean the entire shoe, including the heel, tongue, and midsole. Use the bristles to scrub between the sole and the shoe as well. Working this way, it won’t be necessary for you to dip your shoes into the detergent.
I would actually advise against dipping your shoes into the detergent because they will get soaking wet, and it will take very much longer for them to get dry.
Step 5: If stubborn marks don’t come off with a soft brush, try a medium brush, but we will talk more about stain removal in Point 4.
Step 6: Once you have washed everywhere, use a damp microfiber cloth to absorb the soapy water. Rinse the cloth often and squeeze out all excess water. Repeat this until your shoes are clean, or move on to Point 4 if they are stained.
Step 7: Put your shoes in a light, airy place to dry. You can leave the shoe trees in while your shoes dry. During the drying process, if you don’t have shoe trees, you could roll a small towel and prop that inside the shoes. If you put your shoes outdoors to dry, be sure they are not in direct sunlight. If you leave them inside, make sure the area is well ventilated. If there is no ventilation, use a fan, but not a heater fan. Never use a tumble drier, hairdryer, or heater to dry your shoes.
Check out the video below for a detailed hand washing procedure:
3. Spot Clean
The best type of cleaning is spot cleaning because it means your entire shoe is not getting wet. If you spot clean after every wear, you will find the necessity for deep cleaning will be diminished, prolonging the life of your shoes.
You don’t have to remove the laces every time you spot clean, only when the laces themselves require cleaning. Refer to our paragraph below that details the best way to wash shoelaces.
Step 1: Insert a shoe tree.
Step 2: Using a damp microfiber cloth, wipe all visible dirt, including the midsole. If a dirty mark remains, mix a bit of detergent with water and, dipping a soft brush in the soapy mix, try to remove the mark by gently scrubbing the affected area only. Use the microfiber cloth to soak up the soapy solution. Repeat until it’s clean.
Step 3: Shoes should be left to dry properly, even after a spot clean. That is what it’s best to clean the shoes immediately after you wear them and not just before you need to wear them again.
4. Stain Removal
If you discover a tough stain that didn’t come clean after completing the regular washing instructions in Points 1 and 2, you can try the following stain removal ideas.
- Use a medium to hard bristled brush with the soapy solution.