How to Clean Skechers Shoes

There’s no need to be embarrassed by a dirty pair of Skechers, because cleaning your shoes is an easy process that instantly improves your style. There are different methods for cleaning your Skechers, depending on what material they’re made of. Wash performance or light-up Sketchers by brushing them with soapy water. For nylon or mesh Sketchers, you can wash them in the washing machine. For suede, nubuck, or leather shoes, you’ll have to be more careful and brush them off. Finally, for that extra touch, wash and bleach your laces for a sparkling fresh look.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Washing Performance or Light-Up Skechers

  1. Image titled Clean Skechers Shoes Step 1
    1
    Don’t put performance or light-up Skechers in the washing machine. Performance shoes are the athletic version of Skechers and will break down faster if you put them in the washing machine. Machine washing will also damage the lights in light-up shoes.
    • If you’re not sure what kind of Skechers you have, look at the Skechers’ website and compare your shoes to the photos there.
  2. Image titled Clean Skechers Shoes Step 2
    2
    Brush off excess dirt from your shoes with a rag. Before you reach for the water, do a preliminary brush-off of the dirt on your shoes. You don’t need a special kind of brush, because you can just use a rag, an old tooth brush, a sponge, or a towel.[1]
    • Brushing off the excess dirt means you won’t accidentally be rubbing this dirt in as you try to clean your Skechers.
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  3. Image titled Clean Skechers Shoes Step 3
    3
    Put a few drops of laundry detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. Mix the detergent into the water until it's sudsy.[2]
    • Make sure you water is warm, not cold, because the warmth accelerates the cleaning process.
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    4
    Brush your shoes and insoles with the soapy water and a rag. Dip your rag, tooth brush, or towel in the warm soapy water. Brush off all sides of your shoes.[3] Remember to get the soles of your shoes, too. If you have insoles, take those out and brush them off, too.
    • If any part of your shoes is particularly dirty, pay special attention to that part.
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    5
    Wipe the shoes off with clean water and a rag. Get a fresh bowl of clean water and a clean towel, rag, or sponge. Wipe off all the soap, making sure to get all the parts of your shoes.[4]
    • Try not to get your shoes soaking wet as you wipe them off.
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    6
    Let the shoes and insoles air dry. Leave your shoes in a dry, room-temperature, well-ventilated spot. If you washed insoles, let them air dry outside of your shoes before putting them back in. It might take a few days for you shoes to totally air dry, but don’t get impatient and put them in the dryer.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Machine Washing Nylon/Mesh Skechers

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    Remove the laces and put the shoes in a delicates bag. If you don’t have a delicates bag, you can put your shoes in a pillow case. A thin, white pillowcase will work best, but any will do. Make sure to zip up the delicates bag or tie the top of the pillow case.[6]
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    2
    Wash your shoes on a cold cycle with laundry detergent. Use enough laundry detergent for a normal load of laundry, even though you should only be washing the shoes in this load. Make sure to set your machine to cold, because heat can separate the layers of your shoes.[7]
    • Your shoes might be a bit loud as they bang around in the washing machine, but it’s nothing to worry about.
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    3
    Let your shoes and insoles air dry. If you washed insoles, let them air dry outside of your shoes before putting them back in. Leave your shoes in a dry space. It might take a few days for your shoes to dry, depending on how humid it is where you live.
    • Don’t put your Skechers in the dryer, because the heat might separate the layers of your shoes.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Brushing Suede, Nubuck, or Leather Skechers

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    1
    Don’t put suede, nubuck, or leather shoes in the washing machine. Suede is leather that’s been rubbed to be velvety, and nubuck is a kind of buffed leather. Soaking these shoes all the way in water will break down the material, so don’t put them in the washing machine.
    • If you’re not sure what kind of leather your shoes are, look up your shoes online or check the inside of the shoe to see if it has any information.
  2. Image titled Clean Skechers Shoes Step 11
    2
    Brush suede or nubuck shoes with a suede brush. Brush your shoes with quick and gentle strokes to avoid damaging the material. On the final pass of your shoes, brush the nap in the same direction for the best look.[8]
    • If you don't have a suede brush, you can use a brass wire brush, a crepe brush, or a suede eraser block.
    • An old toothbrush will also work in a pinch.[9]
    • Don’t use shoe polish or conditioners on your suede or nubuck.
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    3
    Brush leather that isn’t suede or nubuck with soapy water and a rag. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a bit of laundry detergent. Dip a rag into the soapy water, and rub the leather with the water. Then, wipe off the soapy water with some clean water. [10]
    • Let your shoes air dry once they’ve been cleaned.
    • You can also polish your leather shoes if you want to make them shinier.
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    4
    Apply a water-proofing spray to your shoes. You can buy a Skechers brand water-proofing spray or a generic shoe water-proofing spray from a shoe store. Spray the entire upper portion of your shoes, let the shoe dry for a few minutes, and then spray on another coat. Wipe off any excess with a towel.[11]
    • Make sure to spray your shoes in a well-ventilated area.
    • Let your shoes dry for a few hours before wearing them.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Cleaning the Laces

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    Take off the laces and pretreat any stains with laundry detergent. Remove your laces from your shoes by untying them and then pulling them out of the eyelets. If the laces are stained, pretreat the stained areas by dabbing on a little bit of laundry detergent or stain remover.[12]
    • If you want, you can clean the eyelets where the laces go with a little soapy water and a toothbrush.
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    2
    Machine wash the shoelaces in a delicates bag on a normal cycle. Place the laces in a delicates bag or pillow case to keep them from getting all tangled up in the machine, and then throw them in the washing machine. Remember to zip up the delicates bag or tie the pillowcase to keep your laces from falling out in the wash.[13]
    • It’s okay to wash them in a load with other items as well.
    • Use whatever laundry cycle you normally use – laces aren’t that fragile.
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    3
    Let the laces air dry. You can hang them on a drying rack or lay them out on a towel. Don’t machine dry your laces, because it might stretch, shrink, or otherwise damage them. It might take a few hours for your laces to dry.[14]
    • If you want them to dry faster, squeeze them in a towel before leaving them out to dry.
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    4
    Soak white laces in bleach and water for 30 minutes. Fill a bowl with water and a little splash of bleach. Put the laces in the solution for half an hour, and then rinse them out.[15]
    • You should wear gloves when handling bleach so it doesn’t damage your skin.
    • Let the laces air dry like you did before.
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Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    How can I dry my shoes out quickly?
    Marc Sigal
    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
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    First, make sure there isn't any mud or dirt on your shoes since you don't want that to dry and become caked-on. If there is, hose your shoes off outside. Once your shoes are clean, stuff them with newspaper and place them in a well-ventilated room to air dry. You can set up a fan next to the shoes to help them dry faster.
  • Question
    What can I use to scrub my shoes?
    Marc Sigal
    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
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    You may be able to scrub off dirt and grime with a wash cloth. If that doesn't work, try a shoe brush or tooth brush.
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Things You’ll Need

Performance/Light-up

  • Towel, rag, or sponge
  • Laundry detergent

Nylon/Mesh

  • Delicates bag or pillow case
  • Washing machine
  • Laundry detergent

Suede/Nubuck/Leather

  • Suede brush
  • Towel
  • Laundry detergent
  • Waterproofing spray

Laces

  • Delicates bag or pillow case
  • Laundry machine
  • Laundry detergent
  • Bleach
  • Gloves

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References

  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/kyGR47nDrus?t=138
  2. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  3. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/SgGHazlRFWw?t=56
  7. ↑ https://youtu.be/SgGHazlRFWw?t=139
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/nct8d2DdduE?t=42
  9. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/MSaNoMNrZxU?t=46
  2. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/style/how-to-waterproof-suede-and-nubuck-20131230
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/fFSGdSfkRx4?t=156
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/fFSGdSfkRx4?t=171
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/yvu2ycIPh-4?t=264
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/yvu2ycIPh-4?t=179

About This Article

Marc Sigal
Co-authored by:
Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal. 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. This article has been viewed 217,739 times.
75 votes - 76%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: October 21, 2021
Views: 217,739
Categories: Cleaning Shoes
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