How to Clean Adidas Shoes, Shoelaces & Insoles

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Use ordinary household cleaners to make your Adidas shine like new
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A fresh pair of Adidas looks chic and clean, but they don’t look like new forever—eventually, they’ll get a little dirty. Fortunately, you don’t need any special products to make your shoes shine again. In this article, we’ll show you how to wash the outside of your shoes, your laces, and your insoles so your footwear always looks crisp and clean. Let’s get to it!

Things You Should Know

  • Knock loose dirt off your shoes with your fingers or a dry brush, then wipe them down with a cloth soaked in warm water and laundry detergent. Air dry overnight.
  • To clean your laces, remove them from the shoes, spray them with stain remover (if needed), then toss them in the laundry machine. Air dry overnight.
  • To freshen your insoles, remove them and sprinkle them with baking soda. Let them air out overnight, then brush the baking powder off.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Outside of Your Shoes

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  1. Do it outside so dirt doesn’t get all over your floor. Hit the soles of your shoes together a few times to help dislodge caked-on dirt and grime. [1]
  2. Take the toothbrush and gently brush it back and forth over any dirt spots. Don’t use the toothbrush on the upper fabric portion of your shoes or you could damage them. [2]
    • Rinse off the toothbrush when you’re finished and store it in a plastic bag so you have it for the next time you clean your shoes.
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  3. Add 1 drop of detergent to a bowl of warm water and dip a cloth in the mixture. Clean the soles and the upper sections of your shoes using the cloth. Rub the cloth back and forth over any dirt spots until they fade away. [3]
    • Use a clear laundry detergent if your shoes are white.
  4. Go over the soles and upper sections of your shoes so there’s no detergent left on them. You should wipe off all of the suds on your shoes. It's important you get all the detergent off so it doesn't dry on your shoes and damage them.
  5. Set your shoes somewhere inside so they dry out at room temperature. Don’t use a heater to speed up the process or you could damage your shoes. [4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Washing Your Shoelaces

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  1. It’s easiest to clean them when they’re separate. Set your shoes aside after you remove the laces. [5]
  2. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray the stain remover directly onto the shoelaces. If you’re using a liquid stain remover, pour some onto a washcloth and dab it onto the shoelaces. Read the instructions that came with the stain remover to see if you need to let it set in for a few minutes before washing. [6]
  3. If the shoelaces are white, wash them with other whites so they don’t absorb dye and change color. If you have colored shoelaces, wash them with similar colored laundry. Wash the shoelaces on the same setting you would use to wash your clothes. [7]
  4. Lay them out on a table or countertop to dry. Avoid machine drying the shoelaces or they could shrink. Once the shoelaces are dry, lace them back into your shoes . [8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Airing Out Your Insoles

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  1. The insoles are the padded flaps that line the bottom of your shoes on the inside. Just lift and pull them up to remove them. [9]
    • If the insoles won't come out, try to clean them while they're still in your shoes.
  2. The baking soda will absorb any bad odors on the insoles that are causing your shoes to smell. You don’t need a lot of baking soda. Just use enough to lightly cover the entire surface of both insoles. [10]
  3. Brush it off into the trash or a plastic bag, or take the insoles outside and shake the baking soda off. Once all the baking soda is off, you can slip the insoles back into your shoes. [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is the best way to clean sneakers?
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It depends on the material of the sneakers! Generally speaking, for most sneakers, you can brush away any big chunks of mud or dirt. If there are any dried stains or dirt, get the shoe a little wet and scrub the problem away. Then, let the shoes air dry.
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      Tips

      • Try to remove stains on your shoes as quickly as possible so they don’t set and become permanent. [12]
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      • Store your shoes in their original box to keep them clean and prevent fading. [13]
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      Warnings

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      Things You’ll Need

      • Toothbrush
      • Laundry detergent
      • Cloth
      • Stain remover
      • Baking soda

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      2. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      4. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
      5. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-soften-leather-shoelaces-12183510.html
      6. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-soften-leather-shoelaces-12183510.html
      7. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-soften-leather-shoelaces-12183510.html
      8. ↑ https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-soften-leather-shoelaces-12183510.html
      9. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      1. ↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      3. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      4. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      5. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html
      6. ↑ https://www.adidas.co.nz/how-to-keep-your-adidas-trainers-clean.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean Adidas shoes, first hit the soles of the shoes together to dislodge caked-on dirt. You can use a toothbrush on the soles for anything that doesn’t come off easily. Then add just a drop of laundry detergent to some warm water. Dip a cloth into the water, and gently run it over any dirt on the upper sections of your shoes. If your shoes are white, be sure to use clear laundry detergent. Next, rinse the cloth in warm water and go over your shoes again to get all the detergent off. Let your shoes dry overnight. If you want to learn how to wash your shoelaces or insoles, keep reading the article!

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