How to Clean Air Jordans

Co-authored by Marc Sigal

Last Updated: April 19, 2022 References

To clean your Air Jordans, remove surface dirt and stains on a regular basis. Deep clean your shoes when needed with dish washing soap and a shoe brush. Clean or replace your laces often to keep your shoes looking fresh. To deodorize your Air Jordans, use teabags, a vinegar spray, or baking soda.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Basic Cleaning

1
Dislodge dirt and dust. Remove your Air Jordans and knock the soles together to remove any debris that might be lodged on them. Use a paper towel or shoe brush like this to remove visible fragments of dust and dirt on them. Use a toothbrush or small cloth to get dirt out of the shoes’ creases and corners.^{[1]
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- Remove debris from your shoes outdoors, or over a covered or easy to clean surface.
2
Wipe down the soles. Dampen a cloth or small sponge with warm water. Wipe down the upper and mid soles of your shoes to remove superficial marks or stains. For the mid soles, you can also use magic eraser cleaning pads for a brighter clean.^{[2]
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Research source} You can find them on Amazon here.

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3
Use sneaker cleaning wipes. Purchase cleaning wipes that are specially designed for sneakers for quick, on the go cleaning. Wipes can be used to remove surface stains from your shoes as soon as they occur. In a pinch, ordinary baby wipes can also be used to remove dirt or stains from your shoes.^{[3]
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- Find sneaker cleaning wipes in shoe stores, or online. Some highly rated options on Amazon are these Swipz wipes and these All About Sneakers wipes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Deep Cleaning

1
Scrub them with cold water and dish soap. Using cold water, wet the bristles of a shoe brush (available in shoe stores or online) and add a few drops of dish washing liquid. Scrub your shoes all over, wetting the brush and reapplying soap when necessary. For hard to reach spots, use a toothbrush.^{[4]
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2
Rinse off the soap with cold water. Rinse the soap off your shoes in the sink under a gentle stream of cool water. Avoid using hot water, which can damage the material and glue on your shoes. Shake excess water off of the shoes, squeeze the material, and pat the shoes down with a dry paper towel to remove excess water.^{[5]
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3
Dry your shoes in front of a fan. Place your wet Air Jordans in front of an electric fan to dry. The wind movement will help to dry the shoes and prevent water damage. Do not use a blow dryer on your shoes or place them near a heat source, as heat can damage the glue that holds the shoes together.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Cleaning Your Laces

1
Put laces in the washing machine. To clean your shoelaces in the washing machine, choose a gentle, cold water setting. Remove the laces from your shoes and place them in a mesh laundry bag to keep them from tangling around the agitator. If you do not have a mesh bag, place your laces inside a pillowcase and tie it shut before placing it in the washing machine.^{[7]
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2
Soak the laces. In a small bowl, mix warm water with approximately one tablespoon of detergent. Place the laces in the bowl, stir them around for approximately ten seconds, then let them soak for twenty minutes. Remove the laces, rinse them under warm water, and place them on a towel to air dry.^{[8]
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3
Buy new laces. If your laces are too soiled and dirty to clean effectively, buy new ones at a shoe store, sports store, or online. Shoe laces naturally suffer a great deal of wear and tear and should be replaced if they become frayed or discolored. New laces are an excellent way to make your Air Jordans look clean and new^{[9]
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Research source} and you can easily purchase them on Amazon here.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Deodorizing Your Shoes

1
Use tea bags. To remove odor from your Air Jordans, place 3 teabags of your choice in each shoe and let them sit for 24 hours. The tea bags will draw out the moisture from your shoes that leads to odor-causing bacteria. Opt for a fresh flavor of tea (e.g. peppermint or lavender) for especially clean-smelling shoes.^{[10]
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2
Spray them with a vinegar and water mixture. In a spray bottle, mix together equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray the inside of your Air Jordans. Place the shoes in front of an electric fan to dry. ^{[11]
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3
Use baking soda. Avoid sprinkling baking soda directly into your Air Jordans, as direct contact with baking soda can cause certain materials to become brittle. Pour a tablespoon of baking soda inside a coffee filter, dryer sheet, or piece of cloth and tie the bundle together with an elastic. Place one of these bundles inside each shoe for approximately 24 hours to freshen them.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- For heavy odors, place 2 or 3 baking soda bundles in each shoe to deodorize them.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Can I wash my Air Force Ones in the washer?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

It's generally not a good idea to throw your shoes in the washing machine. For sneakers, use a combination of warm water and a mild detergent to wipe away any blemishes or marks. You may be able to brush dirt and mud out of your shoes with a clean brush as well. Let your shoes air dry in front of a fan after cleaning them if you use water.
Question

What if the logo is dirty and almost permanent?

Community Answer

Clean the logo with a harsher chemical like bleach, or HCl, or simply try a microfiber cloth with some hot soapy water.
Question

My toddler had an accident and the urine got inside the sneakers. How can I clean them? Can I wash them in the machine?

Community Answer

Yes, you can machine wash. Once you have cleaned the whole shoe by damp wiping with a soapy cloth, including the foot pad, take out the laces and foot pad. Then put the shoes in the wash with cooled water. Use a low tumble. It helps to put the shoes in a pillow case, knot it and add a big thick towel to the wash to prevent unbalancing of the machine.