The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Nike Blazers

Keep your leather and suede kicks looking fresh

Co-authored by Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: June 7, 2024 Fact Checked

We're here to keep your timeless Nike Blazer Mid ‘77 and Pro sneakers clean and ensure peak performance over time. For the leather accents, it’s safe to use laundry detergent or dish soap and water. To clean the suede accents, however, use a soft cloth, toothbrush, or shoe cleaning brush to gently brush away dirt and grime, and try to avoid getting the area wet. Keep reading to learn how you can keep your Blazers fresh and clean.

Things You Should Know

Soak your insoles and laces in warm, soapy water for 15 minutes.
Brush the suede toward the toe with a dry brush or towel. Scrub the leather uppers with a shoe brush dipped in soapy water.
Blot the shoes with a microfiber cloth to remove suds and dirt and allow the shoes, laces, and insoles to air dry completely.

1

Clean the laces and insoles.

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Soak the laces and insoles in soap and water for 15 minutes, then scrub. Remove the laces and insoles from your shoes. Create a cleaning solution with warm water and 1 tsp (4.93 mL) of laundry detergent or dish soap. Place your insoles and laces in the solution and let them soak for 15 minutes. ^{[1]
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Research source} Scrub the laces and insoles with your hands or a soft shoe brush .
- Try to avoid putting your Nike Blazers in the washing machine—not only can the washer deform your shoes and damage the suede and leather, but you could also damage your washing machine. ^{[2]
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- If you have a special shoe cleaning solution , use that instead of soap.

2

Put a shoe tree or socks inside the toe.

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Place a shoe tree or balled-up socks in the toe to keep it from collapsing. Stuff a pair of balled-up socks, a shoe tree , or newspaper inside the toes of your shoes. This can keep the base and the tongue from collapsing while you’re cleaning the outside. ^{[3]
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- Placing something inside the toe can also make it easier to clean all the creases on the outside of the shoe.

3

Clean the leather uppers.

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Gently scrub the leather uppers with and brush, soap, and warm water. Dip a shoe scrubbing brush, toothbrush, or damp cloth in a cleaning solution with warm water 1 tsp (4.93 mL) of laundry detergent or dish soap. Gently scrub the uppers of the shoe in small, circular motions. ^{[4]
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- Alternatively, spray a sneaker cleaner on the leather uppers, dip your brush into clean water, and scrub the shoes in a circular motion to remove dirt.
- To tackle hard-to-remove scuffs and stains, gently scrub them with a slightly damp Magic Eraser or apply warm water and a leather-cleaning soap . ^{[5]
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  Research source} Rub in small circles, then wipe away suds with a dry towel.
- After cleaning your shoes, apply a leather conditioner with a soft cloth to prevent the leather from cracking or flaking.

4

Brush out the suede accents.

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Brush the suede towards the toe with a dry shoe brush or towel. Using a completely dry brush or a soft towel, brush in the same direction as the material to remove dirt, rocks, and debris. To remove minor scuff marks, brush side-to-side to loosen debris, then brush down towards the toe. ^{[6]
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- Water can cause water stains and damage suede. ^{[7]
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  Research source} If the suede gets wet during the cleaning process, use a dry brush to go back and forth over the grain and re-fluff the fibers. ^{[8]
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- To remove stains, use a clean suede rubber , pencil eraser, or slightly damp Magic Eraser . ^{[9]
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- For more stubborn stains, dip a cloth in water and white vinegar and scrub the fabric in alternating directions. ^{[10]
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5

Scrub the soles of your shoes.

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Clean the soles with a soft shoe brush, warm water, and soap. Wet a shoe brush, toothbrush, or washcloth in the warm water soap solution and scrub at any stains or dirt on the rubber midsole and outsole of your shoes. ^{[11]
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Research source} Dry the soles with a soft dry cloth.
- Alternatively, spray a sneaker cleaner on the soles of your shoes and scrub forcefully with a shoe brush or toothbrush. You can also use a Magic Eraser to scrub stains. ^{[12]
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- Use a toothpick to remove stuck-on mud from the details in the soles as necessary. ^{[13]
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6

Pat your shoes with a cloth and leave them to air dry.

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Blot your shoes with a cloth and place them out of direct sunlight to air dry. After you’ve cleaned your shoes, blot them with a soft cloth or microfiber towel to lift as much soap and dirt from the surface as possible. Place your shoes, laces, and insoles in a warm dry area. Allow your Nike Blazers to air dry completely before wearing them again. ^{[14]
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- Try to avoid rubbing the shoe with the cloth because it can wear down the shoe fabric and spread any remaining dirt. ^{[15]
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- Repeat these steps as necessary or until your drying towel comes away clean.
- Consider washing your Nike Blazers about every 2 weeks or more, depending on how often you wear them and where you go when you do. ^{[16]
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Tips

To protect the suede details on your Nike Blazers, apply a layer of waterproofing spray or suede protectant after cleaning. Allow your shoes an hour to dry after applying. ^{[17]
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To scrub the laces with your hands, cup your hands together with the laces inside and rub your hands back and forth.

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Also, spray a leather shoe protector on the leather portions of your shoes to make them waterproof .

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Warnings

Try to apply light pressure as you clean the tongue of the shoe. The tongue is made of nylon, so if you scrub too hard, the fibers may come loose.

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Try to avoid scrubbing the leather too hard to prevent damaging it.

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The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Nike Blazers

Things You Should Know

Steps

Clean the laces and insoles.

Put a shoe tree or socks inside the toe.

Clean the leather uppers.

Brush out the suede accents.

Scrub the soles of your shoes.

Pat your shoes with a cloth and leave them to air dry.

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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References

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