Cleaning Kicks: Internet Tips Tested, Reviewed and Ranked

[hasejun1985]

by Carlos at the old forum, and now, its here again.


Clean kicks are of the essence and there comes a time in every sneaker-fiend’s life when he has to roll up his sleeves and risk doing more damage to his dirty kicks by cleaning them instead of ignoring them.

The results are in. After scouring the Internet for sneaker cleaning tips, I tested the popular ones on various materials and fabrics using them for their intended purposes. In other words, I didn’t use the Clorox Bleach Pen on materials that were color-dyed and I didn’t use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on delicate fabrics or patent leather. Some products cleaned as expected, others not so well, and others better than anticipated.

Below you’ll find a summary of the best sneaker cleaning products around. They’re ranked and categorized by the materials they’re intended to clean, followed by a detailed review of each product. Overall ratings were determined by product availability, cost, effectiveness and ingredients contained. You’ll see that not one cleaner earned a 10 out of 10 rating---although a few come very close---because not one cleaned perfectly and not one cleaned the single most-difficult cleaning task in shoe history: the dirty mid-sole of a Jordan III (Retro or O.G.)


The MORELWORKS Sneaker Cleaning Philosophy
*The best maintenance is preventive
*Wear your sneakers with care
*Protect them with sneaker protector/water repellent
*Clean your kicks regularly, but with the least amount of cleaners, abrasives or solutions
*Test cleaning agents on a small area (e.g. the shoe-arch) before smothering the entire shoe

Bare Essentials Shoe Cleaning Kit $12
1. Paper Towel and/or Rag (wiper/scrubber)$1
2. Toothbrush (scrubber) $2
3. Dishwashing liquid (basic shoe sole & mid-sole cleaner) $1
4. Woolite (basic shoe-upper cleaner) $5
5. Shout (stain remover) $3

Upscale Shoe Cleaning Kit $33
1. The Essentials Cleaning Kit (basic supplies) $11
2. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (tough-stain removal) $2
3. ShoeMGK Cleaner & Conditioner (all-around cleaning) $10
4. Windex (patent leather) $4
*OPTIONAL: Add $10 for a Nubuck/Suede Cleaning Kit if you have shoes made of nubuck/suede or synthetic nubuck/suede


RESULTS AT-A-GLANCE

SHOE-UPPERS: Canvas, Mesh, Vinyl
General Cleaning
1st Choice: Woolite $4
2nd Choice: ShoeMGK Cleaner and Conditioner $10
Last Choice: Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action Gel Cleaner $5
Woolite is my first choice because it’s gentle, effective, easy to acquire and the cheapest of the lot. It also has an established reputation of cleaning delicate fabrics since Mom’s around the world trust their delicates to the stuff. ShoeMGK, although an excellent cleaner, comes in second because of its high price, difficulty to obtain and newness to the cleaning market. The Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action Gel Cleaner rounds out the pack as a more expensive version of laundry detergent.

Stain Removal: WHITES
1st Choice: Clorox Bleach Pen $4
2nd Choice: Shout/Spray N Wash/OxiClean $3
Last Choice: Woolite $4
Clorox Bleach Pen runs circles around every other cleaner when it comes to getting whites white. Generic stain removals are the next best thing and, for day-to-day use, Woolite and some water should do the trick.

Stain Removal: COLORS
1st Choice: Shout/Spray N Wash/OxiClean $3
2nd Choice: Woolite $4
Last Choice: ShoeMGK Cleaner and Conditioner $10
*Wildcard: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
For colors, products designed for stain removal come in first place, while Woolite (fortified with some elbow grease) comes in second. ShoeMGK Cleaner, although an effective all-around cleaner, comes in the last, again, because of its price and difficulty to obtain. The wildcard here is the miracle worker Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: It’s such an effective cleaner, however, it may just ruin your uppers. Although some regularly clean their entire shoes with the Magic, I save it as a last resort, because there are usually equally effective, less harmful alternatives.

SHOE-UPPERS: Patent Leather
Light Soil: Warm water $0
Heavier Soil: Dishwashing liquid and warm water $2
Heaviest Soil: Windex $4
Real patent leather is leather treated with linseed oil and lacquer, polished to a high gloss finish---a process that was once patented, hence the name. The “patent leather” used in most athletic shoes, however, is leather-coated with plastic or entirely made of plastic. It follows, then, that the care of patent leather sneakers is actually the care of flexible plastic. With time plastic patent leather tends to fade, yellow and crack, and any cleaning agents applied to its surface actually help accelerate the aging process, so if cleaning agents are used, they should be the least corrosive available, used infrequently and preferably when other remedies fail.

SHOE-UPPERS: Nubuck/Suede
1st Choice: Nubuck/Suede Cleaning Kit [suede stone, brush & cleaner] $11
Last Choice: Woolite $4
The Cardinal Rule when cleaning nubuck/suede (a specialized form of leather derived from calfskin) has always been: Never use water to clean nubuck/suede. The reason was that water dries out and stains the leather. Traditionally, nubuck/suede care consisted of a using a brush to restore the nap (i.e. fuzz), a suede stone to remove small stains and, as a last resort, spraying aerosol nubuck/suede cleaner and “dry cleaning” the suede.

Many athletic “nubuck” or “suede” shoes, however, are actually made of a synthetic material called “Chlorenol” (a.k.a. “Durabuck” in Nike’s and “Hydrolite” in Avia’s) that has the look and feel of suede, but is less delicate and more durable than the real deal. Nike recommends cleaning Durabuck with “a soft brush and mild soap and water”. I cleaned different sections of my girl’s light blue adidas Campus IIs (real suede) and my Nike Tokyo URL’s (Chlorenol) with Nubuck/Suede cleaner, Woolite, ShoeMGK Cleaner, Shout, Spray N’ Wash and OxiClean…and water. And while none of the detergent cleaners + water ruined our kicks, their use resulted in a clean, but stiff fabric. Use of the aerosol Nubuck/Suede Cleaner, by contrast, resulted in brighter colors and a softer feel in both the real and synthetic suede kicks, so I ended up cleaning them again with the cleaner just to get them to feel soft and velvety again. The moral of the story, then, is that it pays to use a product designed for its specific purpose even if the material is a man-made version of the real thing.

SHOE-BOTTOMS: Soles/Mid-Soles
Light Soil: Dishwashing liquid and warm water
Heavy Soil: Shout/Spray N Wash/Oxi Clean $3 Simple Green $4/Shoe MGK Cleaner & Condtioner $10
Heaviest Soil: COLORED Sole---Mr. Clean Magic Eraser $2
WHITE Sole---Clorox Bleach Pen $4
If you’re careful about how you treat your kicks when you’re wearing them, you shouldn’t need much more than a toothbrush, a drop of dishwashing liquid and a bit of warm water to clean your soles and mid-soles. Sometimes, you gotta kick it up a notch, in which case most all-purpose cleaners will do the trick, but in a pinch you can depend on Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Clorox Bleach Pen to do the heavy lifting. Again, adhere to the MORELWORKS Shoe Cleaning philosophy: the least amount of chemicals causes the least amount of damage, so start with the least abrasive solutions and work your way up to the more heavy-duty solutions.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

*Clorox Bleach Pen
*Dishwashing Liquid (Joy, Dawn, Palmolive, etc.)
*Eraser (the pencil kind)
*Gel Cleaner (Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action)
*Household Cleaners All-Purpose (e.g. 409, OxiClean, Simple Green)
*Instant Sneaker Cleaner (Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action)
*Isopropyl Alcohol
*Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
*Nubuck/Suede Cleaning Kit
*Shoe MGK Cleaner & Conditioner
*Stain Removers: Shout (OxiClean, Spray N Wash, Shout)
*Window Cleaners: Windex, Rite-Aid Glass Cleaner
*Woolite

Clorox Bleach Pen
USE: White soles, white mid-soles, and white uppers made of vinyl and mesh
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
PRICE: $4
AMOUNT: 2 oz.
This gel bleach-in-a-pen works wonders on whites of all types (e.g. uppers, lowers, rubber, canvas, mesh, etc.) and even beats out Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser when it comes to cleaning the Vans sidewalls. The pen comes with a double-sided applicator: fine point on one side, broad on the other. The gel is great but the applicator isn’t so ignore the scrubber supplied; it doesn’t work well and you’ll find yourself dispensing a bunch of gel instead of scrubbing your shoes. Instead, apply the gel to a separate brush (e.g. a toothbrush) and get your cleaning on. Any bleach product consistently used will, over time, yellow the item cleaned, so I’d save the Clorox Bleach Pen for heavy soiled items and stick to mild alternatives for day-to-day cleaning. That said, the Clorox Bleach Pen is a must-have in any serious sneaker cleaner’s arsenal.
PROS: Highly effective, dispenses easily, readily available
CONS: Brush/applicator tip is ineffective, cost (for amount supplied), may yellow after repeated use

[hasejun1985]

Here is the part 2



Eraser
USE: Soles, mid-soles
OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 10
PRICE: $0.50
AMOUNT: 1 eraser
Simple and effective for stain removal on rubber soles and mid-soles, erasers get a 2 rating because---by rubbing rubber on rubber---you’re essentially removing a small layer of sole/mid-sole from your shoe and its effectiveness is directly proportional to shoe damage. It was recommended. I tried it. I don’t recommend it.
PROS: Inexpensive, readily available
CONS: Lightly damages soles

Gel Cleaner (Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action)
USE: Soles, mid-soles, and uppers made of vinyl, suede, nubuck and mesh
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
PRICE: $5
AMOUNT: 4 oz.
Touted as the “All purpose cleaner for shoes, clothing and hats” this stuff is the result of a good idea poorly executed. First, the brush---which is connected to the bottle and serves as the applicator---doesn’t scrub very well. Second, the gel is basically a more expensive, less effective version of Shout. Finally, you have to wash off the brush so the gel doesn’t get crusty. And only 4 oz.?!
PROS: Easy application (when used with an external brush)
CONS: Expensive, brush/applicator is non-effective, small amount
NOTE: Foot Locker Inc. owns Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and Eastbay.com. Consequently, each store carries the exact same shoe care products in slightly different packaging.

Household Cleaners: All-Purpose (e.g. Simple Green / 409 / OxiClean)
USE: Soles, mid-soles
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
PRICE: $3-$5
AMOUNT: 21-32 oz.
With minor differences in performance, most all-purpose cleaners are effective in cleaning sneaker soles and mid-soles and, because of the active ingredients they contain, are slightly better than dishwashing liquid in doing so. Depending on the stain, use full-strength or a diluted strength to clean your soles. The spray is a bit messy, so you’re better off spraying the cleaning agent onto a rag or brush and then scrubbing your kicks. Also, be advised that these cleaning agents are not recommended for use on “soft vinyl, varnishes, aluminum or painted surfaces,” so I wouldn’t use them on shoe-uppers of any type, or you run the risk of damaging them.
PROS: Inexpensive, easy to acquire
CONS: Spray is messy, may discolor shoe uppers

Instant Sneaker Cleaner (Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action)
OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 10
USE: Soles, mid-soles, and uppers made of vinyl, suede, nubuck and mesh
PRICE: $6
AMOUNT: 11 oz.
Don’t be fooled by the updated packaging, this stuff’s messy, overpriced and not very effective. The cleaning agent releases via a chemical-propelled foam, it covers just about everything, and then it dissipates. In other words, after over-spraying the chosen area with messy foam, you have an approximately 3-second window in which to scrub the shoe before you have to re-apply the foam, and the results aren’t really worth the effort. If that weren’t enough, the bristles on the brush tip are so stiff and sharp (think miniature plastic daggers) that you stand a good chance of tearing up your shoes just trying to clean them. For 6 bucks I’d rather get some Woolite and some dishwashing liquid.
PROS: Compared to other products, none
CONS: Messy, expensive for size, brush may damage shoe uppers and/or lowers
NOTE: Foot Locker Inc. owns Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and Eastbay.com. Consequently, each store carries the exact same shoe care products in slightly different packaging.

Isopropyl Alcohol aka Rubbing Alcohol
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10
USE: Soles, mid-soles
PRICE: $2
AMOUNT: 16 oz.
“Rubbing alcohol?” Yes, rubbing alcohol. The AV Club (i.e. Audio/Visual Club: the rich, former high school nerds who now run Microsoft, Apple and Oracle and dress up like Star Wars characters on weekends) have been using this stuff for years to clean their electronic equipment, so it was only a matter of time before they attempted to purchase coolness by spending their newfound wealth on limited-edition sneakers and cleaning them with the same stuff. Rubbing alcohol does an average job on soles & mid-soles while leaving no residue. Keep in mind, however, rubbing alcohol is a 70%-90% chemical solution which probably isn’t the best thing to rub on your shoes, and the results aren’t much better than those of some warm water and a dab of dishwashing liquid (by contrast, a 15-20% solution). What’s more, dishwashing liquid is a better buy and, coupled with water, is less toxic and probably won’t hurt your kicks in the long-run.
PROS: Inexpensive, readily available, residue free
CONS: Toxic, flammable, smell

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
USE: Soles, mid-soles
PRICE: $2
AMOUNT: 2 Sponge Pads
Hailed as the New Killer App by sneaker nerds across the Internet, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser certainly lives up to its name: This magic eraser beat out every other cleaner I used to clean the soles and mid-soles of my kicks with the exception of the sidewalls of my Vans—Clorox’s Bleach Pen cleans slightly better and quicker. The sponge itself contains no chemicals (you simply soak it in water, ring it out and it's ready for use) and can be used again and again until it’s saturated with dirt or crumbles into nothingness. Although many turn to Mr. Clean as their go-to cleaner for shoe-uppers (I’ve even turned to it as a last resort a couple of times), I caution against this---at least for daily use---since this magical eraser will not only remove dirt, but it may also remove the luster/finish off certain surfaces. Word. More than a few sneaker-heads have watched Mr. Clean erase the paint clear off their mid-soles, so be sure to spot test this before going bananas on your grails.
PROS: Excellent cleaning agent, easy to use, inexpensive, reusable
CONS: May damage delicate fabrics, sponge isn’t the best scrubber, breaks apart after moderate use

Nubuck/Suede Cleaning Kit
OVERALL Rating: 9 out of 10
USE: Suede/nubuck uppers
PRICE: $11
AMOUNT: Brush, Eraser and Solution
Most athletic shoes made of nubuck/suede are actually made of the synthetic material “Chlorenol” (aka “Durabuck” in Nike’s, and “Hydrolite” in Avia’s) that has the look and feel of suede, but is more durable and less delicate than actual suede. Nike recommends cleaning Durabuck with “a soft brush and mild soap and water” but I’ve found that Nubuck/Suede Cleaner cleaned my Durabuck Nike’s better and made them softer than the other cleaners reviewed which should come as no surprise: Nothing beats a product designed for a specific purpose. The brush removes dirt and restores the nap (i.e. the “fuzz:”) while the suede stone (a glorified drafting eraser designed to crumble into the leather) removes minor dirt and grime. For deep-seated stains, the Nubuck/Suede Cleaning solution (an aerosol version of your dry cleaner’s spot cleaner) and get to work. All nubuck/suede cleaning kits are essentially the same products in different packaging, so any brand will do.
PROS: Specifically designed for nubuck/suede
CONS: Limited to cleaning nubuck/suede

Shoe MGK Cleaner & Conditioner
USE: Soles, mid-soles, and uppers made of vinyl and mesh
OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10
PRICE: $10
AMOUNT: 8 oz.
Albeit pricey and hard to find, this stuff is an excellent overall cleaner. Whether it’s sneaker laces, uppers, mid-soles or soles, white or colored---Shoe MGK cleans them all. Utilizing coconut and jojoba oils, Shoe MGK C&C is an all-natural cleaning agent that its makers claim will not discolor your kicks and, so far, I have found to that to be a true statement. After walking by the ShoeMGK kiosk at the mall for over a year, I broke down and let the guy clean a pair of adidas Campus IIs (suede). It worked so I bought some and tested it on a dirty pair of white/concord Jordan XIs (mesh & patent leather). Shoe MGK restored them to near deadstock condition. Although Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser has an edge over Shoe MGK when used on soles, and Woolite’s better and more affordable for fabrics, Shoe MGK is the best all-around, cleaning agent. If you can afford it, get some.
PROS: Excellent overall cleaner, natural ingredients
CONS: Expensive, hard to find

[hasejun1985]

and then the last part


Stain Removers: Shout (OxiClean, Spray ‘n Wash)
OVERALL RATING: 7 out of 10
USE: Soles, mid-soles, certain colorfast uppers made of canvas and mesh (NOT leather or suede)
PRICE: $3
AMOUNT: 9 oz.
Notice the words “certain colorfast uppers” in the Use category. Stain removers all work on the same principle: they’re beefed-up, concentrated versions of laundry detergent which means they’ll get into your threads, breakdown the dirt and quite possibly the dyes used to color them. As a result, expect them to do the same things to your kicks and be sure to spot test them on your shoes before spraying the entire surface. Some sneaker heads recommend Spray ‘n Wash, others OxiClean, and others, Shout. I’ve found that they all to work pretty much the same but prefer Shout because it’s slightly better at stain removal and dispenses into a thicker gel than the others, which translates into better control when scrubbing with a brush. Nowadays almost every spray stain remover comes in a hand-held gel format, which I recommend as it’s easier to apply and less messy than its spray counterpart but if you opt to cop the spray version, simply spray the cleaner onto a rag or brush and you’ll be fine.
PROS: Effective, inexpensive, readily available
CONS: Contains chemicals, may damage certain fabrics

Window Cleaners: Windex / Rite-Aid Glass Cleaner
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
USE: Patent leather
PRICE: $4
AMOUNT: 32 oz.
If glass cleaners are designed to keep the shiny stuff shiny, you’d also expect Windex and other glass cleaners to keep patent leather shiny, too. They do, but with consequences. See, most athletic patent leather is actually flexible plastic that fades, yellows and cracks with age. And since glass cleaners contain harsh chemicals (e.g. ammonia), in the long run they’re likely to do more bad than the good they do in the short, so the rumors that glass cleaners break down patent leather and cause premature cracking are probably true. I haven’t confirmed any of them, but I’m also not willing to risk damaging my Jordan XI’s for the sake of science. I’m good with a damp rag for day-today cleaning, and glass cleaners for the unfortunate Icee, Courvoisier, Cristal spill and the occasional yak.
PROS: Effective, inexpensive, readily available
CONS: Contains ammonia, rumored to crack patent leather with regular use

Woolite
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10
USE: Soles, mid-soles and uppers made of vinyl, suede, nubuck and mesh
PRICE: $4
AMOUNT: 16 oz.
Woolite is an exceptionally effective, readily available, all-around cleaner. Containing no “bleach, phosphates or enzymes which can harm your clothes” Woolite does the least amount of damage to your kicks too, all while whitening your whites and brightening your colors. For years moms have trusted their delicates to Woolite and for the reasons mentioned I recommend Woolite over ShoeMGK for all your basic, everyday shoe cleaning needs. If you only buy three cleaners, dishwashing liquid, Shout and Woolite should be them.
PROS: Effective, inexpensive, readily available, contains no bleach, phosphates or enzymes
CONS: Not very effective on rubber


WHERE TO GET IT
Clorox Bleach Pen, Dishwashing Liquid (e.g. Joy, Dawn, Palmolive, etc.), Erasers, Household Cleaners (All-Purpose: 409, OxiClean, Simple Green), Isopropyl Alcohol, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Stain Removers: Shout OxiClean, Spray N Wash, Window Cleaners (e.g. Windex, Rite-Aid Glass Cleaner, Woolite)
Online: Shop.com, Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, etc.
Offline: Local supermarkets and/or drugstores (e.g. CVS, Target, Wal Mart, etc.)

Nubuck/Suede Cleaning Kit
Online: Shop.com, Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, etc.
Offline: Most department stores (e.g. Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstroms, etc.)

Gel Cleaner, Instant Sneaker Cleaner (Foot Locker/Champs Sports/Foot Action)
Online: Only available offline in stores
Offline: Any Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action shop

Shoe MGK Cleaner & Conditioner
Online: Shoekleen.com
Offline: At various mall kiosks

[cdiesel]

damn thanks for the info

[aBathingCrap]

Do stains last forever if new stains arent washed asap and is left there for a long time?

Like what if u try to wash an easily washable stain but after 1 yr?

[I'm broke]

What is the orange made of on the Pele toe? I was running and when I looked down the black had rubbed off..

[carlos]

What is the orange made of on the Pele toe? I was running and when I looked down the black had rubbed off..

This one's gonna be a tough one and I don't have the best answer yet.

It appears that the Pele toebox is made of some kind of ultra-sensitive suede variant (in other words, not the same kind of DURABUCK that Nike's used on the Tokyo URLS). I write "ultra-sensitive" because it stains easily and when you try to gently rub off the stain, the orange comes off too. See, I've had my Hawaii's for a coupla weeks now and after wearing them for just a day or two, I noticed that the black upper rubbed off onto the orange toebox. When I used an old tee shirt to rub out the stain, the orange came off onto the tee which then made one part of the shoe look lighter than the rest--so I had to clean the whole toebox in order to even out the shade which, in turn, made the whole toebox look faded and 6 months older than it really is. Bah.

The Hawaii's are hella comfy, but they don't seem to be clean-able in the ordinary sense of shoe cleaning. Any tips from Hawaii owners would be appreciated.

[JonB27]

isn't it made of nubuck

[mikhal-kwane]

i have a light denim bleed on my white Melvins...anyone have any suggestions on how i could fix that?

[The Internet's Jesse]

How about some reviews for water sealants, leather conditioners and other products? I want something to decrease the amount of creasing on my Tiffanys as much as possible before I wear them out often.

[carlos]

How about some reviews for water sealants, leather conditioners and other products? I want something to decrease the amount of creasing on my Tiffanys as much as possible before I wear them out often.

Yeah, how 'bout it?
Here's an idea: why don't you do the research and post the results?

Just kidding.

First, never wear the same pair of kicks 2 days in a row. Rotate your kicks (you've got a huge collection to work with, right?) and give 'em the breaks they deserve. Rotating shoes keeps them from being worn in after repeated bending and it's been said that two pairs of rotated shoes last longer than two pairs worn out in succession. In short, you should have bought two pair of Tiffs you cheap ass.

As for creases and protecton, I used Cadillac Boot and Shoe Care. It works wonders on leather, vinyl and patent leather (i.e. plastic-coated leather). This stuff is magical and was recommended to me by the guy who repairs my dress shoes. You pour this stuff on the toebox area of your shoes where you think they'll crease, let it sit over night so that it seeps in and then wipe it off with a cloth the next day. Cadillac softens materials without discoloring them (I've used it on my Mexico AF1s, my Tiffs and others), while offering decent waterproofing protection. Good stuff. It's only 5 bucks so buy some, try it on a cheap pair of kicks and then feel stupid because it worked and you didn't believe me.

Finally, use cedar shoe trees (or stuff your shoes with old shirts). Cedar works double-time by keep your shoes fresh naturally and by absorbing the water/salt your stanky feet give off during a hard day's work. What's more, shoe trees keep the soles of your feet straight---from heel too toebox---reducing the natural curl that occurs after wearing your shoes for a day.

Cadillac Boot and Shoe Care http://www.heelandsoleshoes.com/browser/32/product/CMF9FCB6ED1049504118-996/items.html

[The Internet's Jesse]

Yo, that post was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Carlos!

[AKwa]

How's undftd's cleaner?

[xkrnmikelx]

thanks for the info.

[mr. newbie]

is there somethin to protect form jean stains or do i just have bad denim?

[A-Star*]

put tape on the inside of ur jeans at the bottom^^^

whats the best way 2 clean patent leather ?

[mr. newbie]

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-care-for-your-clothes.htm very interesting stuff there.

[nikki]

thx a-star!!
hate it when jeans bleed onto the sneaks

[Brick James]

Do you happen to know what i should do for the HOA air max 90s, i've heard putting it in the washing machine. Is this effective? if so, how do i do it without messing the sneakers up.

[doloveira]

the white midsoles on some of my shoes are pretty dirty so i hardly wear them anymore. im gonna try that bleach pen out.

[Holla Its Marc]

wow this info is mad useful. I'm gonna go clean some of my kicks today!

[iam2cool]

great tips 2 keep kicks clean

[Naked Pimp]

Wow, this has to be the first time i ain't actually annoyed that some one dug up an old post...

[Gangstalicious]

Just fucking sticky it at customs board

[Ameex]

Is it okay to use stain/water repellent spray on patent leather?

[ice grillz]

how do you clean the mesh part on your air max 1s? i puked on my shoes last night.

[ice grillz]

they are not made of human teeth.

[SOLE]

you clean it as much as possible, then theres some powder

[unltd.]

Wow, this has to be the first time i ain't actually annoyed that some one dug up an old post...

I dug up the introduce yourself thread, now it's a sticky.

[aroundtheclock]

and how would i clean my hemp dunks from all the blueness of my jeans

[Spunge]

Hey hey
i got me some AF1 Thompsons today, and they've got this cotton/hemp material.
Whats the best way to prevent them gettin dirty? Hard to tell due to the material...

[kankurou]

and how would i clean my hemp dunks from all the blueness of my jeans

My friend says oxyclean does wonders on his hemps.

[MNWKA]

What can I use to clean the elephant print on Atmos AM1's?

[kankurou]

Soap and water, lol.

[UKingdom]

mr's clean magic eraser does wonders and it's cheap; always try that first.

[Triple A]

I've been able to keep all of my shoes in good shape and clean them efficiently, but what just so happens to be my favorite pair i cannot figure out how to clean, so my question is:

How do you clean Unkles?

I'm scared of using different shit on them, and one time i tried using a suede eraser and that just didn't work at all, are they made from that "Durabuck" material? Should i just go with the Suede/Nubuck gel? Any help would be appreciated, love this thread btw.

[.Will]

thanks alot for those infos,

[ordinarychump]

rubbing alcohol for rubber trims

[HEIST.]

how or what is the best way the clean leather laces?
would be a great help...
for example the ones on wtaps vans.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/sparks365/IMG_1398.jpg

[superveelain]

check the new issue of sneakerfreaker online,there is a whole article about cleaning sneakers..

[HEIST.]

check the new issue of sneakerfreaker online,there is a whole article about cleaning sneakers..

yeah i was reading it this morning,
just never found anything that would help with leeather laces..
i still need help with it.
anyone?

[superveelain]

try to get some new one?

[HEIST.]

you know of any places?
:)

[superveelain]

shoes repair store maybe..
they sell laces..

[HYPE.]

Anyone know how to take scuffs off croc skin?

[superveelain]

i dont think scuffs are removable..

[HYPE.]

i dont think scuffs are removable..
crap

[Potsnu]

The guide doesn't really suggest any spray protectors mainly against water and salt. Any recommendations?

Would you guys even recommend the water repellent sprays found at local shoe stores? I actually have those at work lol but I mostly use it for dress shoes.

[JLASA]

awesome thread

[scfdefinit]

Yeah, this doesn't really come with any info on water-proofers. Also how do you clean laces?

[HEIST.]

if its white i just get one of those Japanese laundry bag thing,
and put em in,
come out bright white,
mind you only white laces though,
they should work on colored ones as well,,
just as long as you wash em on thier own....
anyone?

[JLASA]

if its white i just get one of those Japanese laundry bag thing,
and put em in,
come out bright white,
mind you only white laces though,
they should work on colored ones as well,,
just as long as you wash em on thier own....
anyone?

?????) i live in van too....where u get these

[A]

That is some newb shit, Ajax, water and a toothbrush is all you need. If you didn't know that, you're still a teenager or don't know shit about cleaning kicks.

[adrian]

The guide doesn't really suggest any spray protectors mainly against water and salt. Any recommendations?

Would you guys even recommend the water repellent sprays found at local shoe stores? I actually have those at work lol but I mostly use it for dress shoes.

I just use the waterproofers from Footlocker or Champs and they work pretty well. Just spray a couple coats to be safe.

?????) i live in van too....where u get these

Daiso in Richmond maybe?

[JLASA]

hmm alright Daiso

[HEIST.]

saw some people ask about how to clean their 3m,
but i didnt really have a shoe covered in it completely,
that is not as much as the jordan 5 green bean?
how to clean the 3m?
was mentioned before but i heard it was difficult...?
anyone?

[A]

Ajax and a toothbrush guys, you don't need to buy kits, come on.

[JLASA]

ajax?

[SprNtrl]

Ajax and a toothbrush guysNo.

[HEIST.]

anyone know how to clean 3m?
...or is using ajax the answer?.....
help?

[FiendForNike]

this stuff for a general wipe down works great. might be a little too harsh for painted parts.
http://www.disabledhands.com/_images_P_B000AQDKYWcleaningwipes_.jpg

[jus_2much]

I use oven cleaner. It foams up lifting all the dirt and then you just wipe it off.

[HEIST.]

thanks 8):)

[K BOOG]

jason markk hands down best stuff ive ever used. good for any material. amazing.

[SprNtrl]

jason markk hands down best stuff ive ever used. good for any material. amazing.
This.

And it lasts forever.

[Javon_Johnson]

I used to use Simple Green all of the time back in the day. Worked great.

[A]

No.

How are you telling me? I have a mid 40 year old friend who's been customizing and repairing sneakers for over 20 years who owns his own shop a few blocks away that told me the ajax + toothbrush joint, and nothing works better, NOTHING. I got yellowing out of a pair of OG Jordan 4's, and motor oil out of Send Help's.

[zeezyo]

how do i get denim stains out of infrared seude? blah i should have taped em first~