The best way to clean sneakers is to pull the laces and insoles, dry brush the loose dirt off, then scrub the uppers and soles with Angelus Easy Cleaner and the Angelus Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush. Wipe them down with a microfiber towel and let them air dry. Easy Cleaner is safe on leather, suede, nubuck, canvas, mesh, knit, vinyl, and rubber, so you can use one bottle on every part of the shoe. A few coats of Angelus Water & Stain Repellent afterward will make the next clean faster.
We're a family business that has made shoe care products in Los Angeles since 1907, and this is the routine we'd use on our own pairs. That's Easy Cleaner coming off our line.
Quick answer: the 5-step sneaker clean
- Pull the laces and insoles, and put in shoe trees.
- Dry brush off the loose dirt.
- Scrub with Easy Cleaner and the Premium Brush, then wipe.
- Dab any leftover stain with Spot Remover, after a spot test.
- Air dry, then spray with Water & Stain Repellent.
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Easy Cleaner Kit
Cleaner, brush, and microfiber towel in one box. 4.9 stars from 430+ reviews.
Shop the kitYellow soles
Sole Bright
Reverses yellowing on midsoles and icy soles. 4.7 stars from 760+ reviews.
ShopAlso handy: Shoe Trees, the Detail Cleaning Brush Set for tread, the Nubuck & Suede Kit for suede panels, and Deodorizer for smelly pairs.
Real reviews from Angelus customers
4.9 stars from 780+ reviews of Angelus Easy Cleaner
★★★★★
"I used this product on some all white roshe run... One day I stepped in mud and got it all over my shoe and I used the easy cleaned to clean them. They came out crisp as if they were new."
David J. · Verified buyer · Easy Cleaner Kit
★★★★★
"Honestly this is the best shoe cleaner you will ever have! Takes the dirt and stains in seconds and you don't even have to use too much force and product. Really easy to use."
Arantxa J. · Verified buyer · Easy Cleaner Kit
★★★★★
"They maintain the toe box of my kicks so well that i have no creases and the life of the toe box and sneaker is increased. I have no regrets buying this product."
Jose D. · Verified buyer · Shoe Trees
How to clean sneakers, step by step
Take out the laces and insoles
With the laces out you can reach the tongue and eyelets, and the insoles get cleaned on their own. Slide in a pair of Angelus Shoe Trees (4.9 stars, 580+ reviews) so the upper is firm and the creases open up while you work.
Dry brush
Go over the whole shoe with the dry Premium Sneaker Cleaning Brush to knock off dust and dried mud. If you skip this, the loose dirt turns to mud as soon as the cleaner hits it.
Scrub with Easy Cleaner
Put Angelus Easy Cleaner on the shoe or on the damp brush and scrub in small circles. Work in sections: toe box, sides, heel, then tongue.
Pro tip: go easy on suede and knit, and press a little harder on leather and rubber.
Wipe clean
Wipe each section with a Premium Microfiber Towel, turning to a clean part of the towel as you go so the dirt doesn't end up back on the shoe. Anywhere that still looks dirty gets another round of Steps 3 and 4.
Clean the midsoles and outsoles
Use the same cleaner on the midsoles, sidewalls, and outsoles. The hard brush in the Detail Cleaning Brush Set gets into tread and grooves that a big brush misses.
Treat any stain that's left
If a stain survives the cleaning, dab Angelus Spot Remover on it with a cotton swab and wipe as it lifts.
Always spot test: try a little inside the heel and let it dry first. Faux leather and vinyl can't take Spot Remover, so use Easy Cleaner alone on those.
Air dry
Leave the shoes at room temperature, shoe trees in, for at least 8 hours. Heaters, hair dryers, and direct sun can warp the shape and weaken the glue that holds the sole on.
Protect
When they're dry, spray 2 to 3 light coats of Angelus Water & Stain Repellent about 30 minutes apart, and give them 12 hours before you wear them.
How to clean sneakers by material
| Material | Clean with | Stains | Finish with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Easy Cleaner + Premium Brush | Spot Remover | Leather Balm, Water & Stain Repellent |
| Suede & nubuck | Suede kit, then Easy Cleaner (or Foam-Tex / Blue Foam) | Spot Remover | Mink Oil Aerosol or Suede Renew, Repellent |
| Canvas | Easy Cleaner + brush | Spot Remover | Water & Stain Repellent |
| Mesh & knit | Easy Cleaner, soft brush, light pressure | Spot Remover | Water & Stain Repellent |
| Faux leather | Easy Cleaner | Easy Cleaner only | Water & Stain Repellent |
| Rubber soles | Easy Cleaner + detail brush | Spot Remover | Sole Bright for yellowing |
Leather sneakers
Clean with Easy Cleaner and the Premium Brush, then wipe dry. Once they're dry, a thin layer of Angelus Leather Balm puts back the oils the cleaning took out. If a scuff has gone through the finish, touch it up with Angelus Leather Paint. There's more on this in our guide to cleaning white leather sneakers.
Suede and nubuck sneakers
Brush and erase marks with the Nubuck & Suede Kit first. Then clean with Easy Cleaner on a brush that's damp, not wet, or use Foam-Tex or Blue Foam Cleaner, which are both gentle on suede. A pair that looks dull all over comes back with a coat of Mink Oil Aerosol. For one faded patch, use Suede Renew on that spot. The full process is in our suede cleaning guide.
Canvas, mesh, and knit sneakers
Work the cleaner into the weave on canvas. Mesh and knit fuzz up if you scrub hard, so use a soft brush and blot instead of rubbing. All three soak up spills fast, which makes Water & Stain Repellent worth doing on them.
Faux leather and synthetic sneakers
Easy Cleaner and a towel are all these need. Spot Remover can damage the coating on faux leather, vinyl, and patent, so leave it out.
How to clean sneaker soles
Scrub midsoles and outsoles with Easy Cleaner and the hard detail brush, then wipe. Yellow soles are a different problem. That's oxidation in the rubber, and cleaning won't touch it. It takes Angelus Sole Bright.
How to use Sole Bright: wear gloves and brush it onto the yellowed rubber only. Wrap the sole in plastic wrap and set it in the sun, about 1 hour for midsoles or 4 to 6 hours for clear soles, and repeat if it needs more. For painted midsoles that just look dingy, Instant Midsole Color brings back a crisp white.
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
Laces, insoles, and odor
Scrub the laces with a little Easy Cleaner, rinse, and let them air dry. If they're frayed or stained for good, a new pair from our shoe lace collection is the quickest way to make clean shoes look new. Spot clean the insoles with Easy Cleaner on a damp towel. For smell, spray Angelus Deodorizer on both sides of the insoles and inside the shoe. It kills the bacteria that cause the odor and has no added scent. Give them 24 hours to dry.
Cleaning on the go, and grime that won't budge
Angelus Instant Clean has a scrub top built into the bottle, so you can touch up a pair away from home without a brush. Press it on the spot, scrub in small circles, and wipe with a microfiber towel. Test it first on suede.
Some grime on leather and canvas won't come out with Easy Cleaner or Spot Remover. For that, Angelus All Purpose Foam Cleaner Aerosol is our heavy-duty degreaser. Spot test, spray from 6 to 8 inches away, let it sit a few minutes, then brush and wipe. It's too strong for suede.
Mistakes to avoid when cleaning sneakers
- Household products like dish soap, detergent, baking soda, vinegar, and melamine sponges dry out leather, leave residue, and can yellow white materials.
- The washing machine warps shoes and breaks down the glue, and it's rough on leather and suede.
- Heat and direct sun do the same damage while they dry.
- Spot Remover goes on a hidden spot first, every time.
- Start gentle. Easy Cleaner comes first, Spot Remover next, and All Purpose Foam Cleaner only if both fail.
- Unprotected sneakers soak up the next stain right away.
"I used to clean my sneakers with an old toothbrush, soap/water, and paper towels. It would make a mess and only clean them so much. With the Easy Cleaner Kit I was able to get more off, with less work and less of a mess."
Brad I. · Verified buyer · Easy Cleaner Kit
Sneaker cleaning FAQ
What is the best sneaker cleaner?
We'd point you to Angelus Easy Cleaner. It's safe on every material a sneaker is made of, and more than 780 customers have rated it 4.9 stars. The Easy Cleaner Kit adds the brush and towel.
Can you put sneakers in the washing machine?
We don't recommend it. The tumbling can warp the shape and weaken the glue, and it's hard on leather and suede. Cleaning by hand with Easy Cleaner and a brush is safer and gets more dirt out.
How do you clean sneakers at home?
Take out the laces and insoles, dry brush, scrub with Angelus Easy Cleaner, and wipe with a microfiber towel. Let them air dry, then protect them with Water & Stain Repellent.
How do you get stains out of sneakers?
Clean with Easy Cleaner first. If the stain is still there, spot test Angelus Spot Remover and dab it on with a cotton swab. On faux leather and vinyl, stick with Easy Cleaner.
How do you clean white sneaker soles?
Scrub them with Easy Cleaner and a detail brush. If they've turned yellow, Angelus Sole Bright reverses the oxidation.
How do you get the smell out of sneakers?
Spray Angelus Deodorizer inside the shoes and on both sides of the insoles, then let them dry for 24 hours. It kills the bacteria behind the smell.
How often should you clean sneakers?
Wipe off fresh dirt after you wear them and give them a full clean every few weeks, or whenever they look dirty. Reapply Water & Stain Repellent every few months.
How do you restore faded sneakers?
Faded leather comes back with Angelus Leather Paint or Leather Dye. For suede, use Mink Oil Aerosol on the whole shoe, Suede Renew on a single spot, or Suede Dye if the color is gone.
