To clean white leather sneakers, brush off the loose dirt, scrub the uppers with Angelus Easy Cleaner and a soft brush, wipe them down with a microfiber towel, and let them air dry. Then condition the leather with Angelus Leather Balm and spray on Angelus Water & Stain Repellent. For a stain that's still there, use Angelus Spot Remover after a spot test. Yellowed soles need Angelus Sole Bright, and a scuff that won't wash off can be painted over with Angelus White Paint. Dish soap and other household cleaners tend to dry the finish out and leave a film, so we'd keep them away from white leather.
We've been making shoe care products in Los Angeles since 1907, and white leather is what most of our customers ask us about. This is the routine we'd follow.
Start here: what's bothering you about them?
Quick answer: keeping white leather white
- Clean with Easy Cleaner and a brush, then wipe.
- Dab leftover stains with Spot Remover, after a spot test.
- Whiten yellow soles with Sole Bright.
- Paint over worn-through scuffs with Angelus White Paint.
- Finish with Leather Balm, then Water & Stain Repellent.
Shop this guide
Start here
Easy Cleaner Kit
Cleaner, brush, and towel for the uppers, soles, and laces.
Shop the kitYellow soles
Sole Bright
Reverses yellowing on midsoles and icy soles. 4.7 stars from 760+ reviews.
ShopScuffs & scratches
Angelus White Paint
Touch-ups that flex with the shoe. 4.9 stars from 1,300+ reviews.
ShopAlso handy: Spot Remover, Water & Stain Repellent, Instant Midsole Color, Instant White, and Shoe Trees.
Real reviews from Angelus customers
4.9 stars from 1,300+ reviews of Angelus White Paint
★★★★★
"My whole family teased me for taking days to fully refurbish my favorite white leather sneakers. Well, at the end of my hard work, they look brand new... It's been a year now and they still look new. No flaking or scratching."
Damon B. · Verified buyer · Repair Filler + White Paint
★★★★★
"I used them like 4 times and the white soles started getting dirty and had a few dirt stain on the canvas and suede. When I cleaned them, I noticed it picked up the dirt almost instantly."
Eddie · Verified buyer · Easy Cleaner Kit
★★★★★
"I used them on my cement 3s where the white part of the toe cap was yellowing and it turned them back to white... maybe back to 85% and that was only from 1 session."
Sherwyn H. · Verified buyer · Sole Bright
How to clean white leather sneakers, step by step
Get them ready
Take out the laces and insoles, put Angelus Shoe Trees in so the creases open up, and dry brush the whole shoe with the Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush.
Scrub with Easy Cleaner
Put Angelus Easy Cleaner on the leather or the brush and scrub in small circles, one panel at a time. The seams, creases, and toe box hold the most dirt.
Wipe clean
Wipe each panel with a Premium Microfiber Towel. Keep turning to a clean part of the towel, because on white leather you'll see any dirt you wipe back on. If a spot still looks dingy, do Steps 2 and 3 again.
Clean the soles, laces, and insoles
The same cleaner works on rubber, laces, and linings. Scrub the soles and laces with the brush, and spot clean the insoles with as little moisture as you can.
Treat what's left
Dab Angelus Spot Remover on any stain that survived with a cotton swab, and wipe as it lifts.
Always spot test: try it inside the heel or under the tongue first and let it dry.
Air dry
Let them dry at room temperature with the shoe trees in. Heaters and direct sun stiffen the leather and loosen the glue on the soles.
Condition and protect
Rub in a thin layer of Angelus Leather Balm, let it dry, and buff. Then spray 2 to 3 light coats of Water & Stain Repellent about 30 minutes apart, and wait 12 hours before wearing them.
You can stop here
For most pairs, that's the whole job. If the soles have yellowed or a scuff won't come off, the sections below take it further. To keep them this clean, try our 2-minute routine.
How to whiten yellowed soles and midsoles
Yellowed rubber: Sole Bright
With gloves on, brush a light to medium coat of Sole Bright onto the yellowed rubber only, going lightly near the edges. Wrap it in clear plastic wrap and set the shoe level in the sun, about 1 hour for midsoles and 4 to 6 for icy soles. Very yellow soles take a few rounds. On a hot day, put a bag of ice inside the shoe so the sole doesn't separate. Keep it off the leather and fabric.
Dingy painted midsoles: Instant Midsole Color
Clean the midsole, let it dry, and apply Instant Midsole Color in Bright White or Vintage White. It works best on midsoles that are already white or close to it, and it isn't permanent on rubber.
Skip the home remedies
"My shoe soles are now white as they were when they were new. After trying with tooth paste, lemon and all other stuff people were telling me about (which did not work), I found about this solution."
Eliza · Verified buyer · Sole Bright
How to remove stains from white leather sneakers
| Stain | What to do |
|---|---|
| Scuffs | Easy Cleaner and the brush. If it won't budge, the finish is worn through, so touch it up (see below). |
| Oil & grease | Blot, clean with Easy Cleaner, then Spot Remover after a test. |
| Denim dye | Easy Cleaner first, then Spot Remover for any blue that stays. |
| Ink & marker | Go straight to Spot Remover on a cotton swab. See the ink guide. |
| Coffee & drinks | Blot from the edge in, clean, and use Spot Remover on what's left. |
| Dull between cleans | A quick coat of Instant White (pictured below). |
| Grime nothing else moves | All Purpose Foam Cleaner. Spot test, spray from 6 to 8 inches, let it sit, and brush it off. It's too strong for suede. |
How to fix scuffs that won't clean off
When a scuff goes through the finish, no cleaner will bring the white back. A small touch-up will.
- Wipe the spot with Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer on a cotton pad so the paint has something to grip.
- Fill deep scratches or cracks with Paintable Repair Filler, let it dry, and sand it smooth.
- Brush on Angelus White Paint in thin coats with a fine Angelus brush. It stays flexible, so it won't crack where the toe box bends.
- Seal the paint with Acrylic Finisher that matches the shoe's sheen, and let it cure 24 hours.
Mistakes to avoid
- Dish soap, detergent, bleach, and vinegar dry out white leather and can turn the finish yellow.
- Spot Remover and the All Purpose Foam Cleaner should both go on a hidden spot first.
- Start with the gentlest product. Easy Cleaner comes first, Spot Remover second, and the foam cleaner last.
- The washing machine warps the shape and loosens the glue.
- Heat dries leather out. Sole Bright's time in the sun is the one exception, and only for the rubber.
- Without Water & Stain Repellent, every clean takes longer.
Related guides: Cleaning any sneaker · Restoring yellowed soles · Full leather restoration · Shoe cleaning guide
White leather sneaker FAQ
What is the best cleaner for white leather sneakers?
We'd use Angelus Easy Cleaner, which more than 780 customers have rated 4.9 stars. It's safe on the leather, rubber, mesh, and canvas, and the Easy Cleaner Kit includes the brush and towel.
How do you get stains out of white leather sneakers?
Clean them with Easy Cleaner first. For ink, oil, or denim dye that stays, spot test Spot Remover and dab it on with a cotton swab.
How do you get yellow out of white sneaker soles?
Use Angelus Sole Bright. Brush it onto the yellowed rubber, wrap the sole in plastic, and leave it in the sun about an hour for midsoles or 4 to 6 hours for clear soles. Repeat until you're happy with it.
How do you fix a scuff that won't come off?
Prep the spot with Deglazer, fill any deep scratch with Repair Filler, paint it with Angelus White Paint, and seal the paint with Acrylic Finisher.
Can you put white leather sneakers in the washing machine?
No. It warps the shoe, weakens the glue, and dries out the leather. Hand cleaning with Easy Cleaner works better.
Do white leather sneakers need conditioning?
After a deep clean, yes. Angelus Leather Balm puts back the oils the cleaning removed and helps keep the leather from cracking.
How do you keep white sneakers white?
Spray them with Water & Stain Repellent, wipe marks off when they happen, and give them a full clean with Easy Cleaner every few weeks you wear them.
