How to Clean Your Converse at Home

Keep your All Stars shining bright.


Ever wondered what the best way to clean your Converse is?

We’re all guilty of wearing the same pair of shoes day in, day out without giving them the attention they deserve – but if you want to give yours some TLC, it might be useful to know how to clean them.

While you should probably consider giving your Converse an air between wears, you should still give them a thorough wash to keep them looking fresh.

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There are a few different ways that you can clean your Converse shoes, but the best way depends on what type of dirt or stains you are trying to remove.

converse all star low top sneakers on brown wooden surface
Photo by Valeriia Miller on Pexels.com

I hate spending needlessly on a replacement, so I’ve been keen to learn what to do. I’m sharing what I found with you here so you can look after yours too.

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How to clean Converse shoes at home

If your Converse shoes are looking a little worse for wear, don’t despair โ€“ they can be easily cleaned with just a few simple steps.

First, start by giving them a good brush to remove any dirt or debris that has accumulated on the surface.

If there are any tough stains, Converse advises simply wiping them down with a damp cloth. Once you’ve removed all the visible dirt, it’s time to give your shoes a good wash.

To do this, you can hand wash your shoes in a mild soap and water solution. Good Housekeeping recommends mixing dish liquid with warm water and using a cloth or soft brush to clean them, but you can soak them briefly if you need to.

You can remove the laces and soak them too.

Converse advises not to wash your shoes in the washing machine or dryer, so be sure to let your shoe air dry completely before wearing them again. It’s a good idea to stuff them with soft paper to retain the shape as they dry.

You can also use a toothbrush to scrub the rubber sole or toe cap, and I recommend using baking soda to do this for best results.

two pairs of white and red converse all star shoes
Photo by Terje Sollie on Pexels.com

How to clean suede Converse

If your Converse are suede, it’s a different story.

The only way to clean them is to brush away dirt with a suede brush. Do not machine wash them!

What not to do when cleaning your Converse

We all know how important it is to keep our Converse clean. But sometimes, in our eagerness to get them looking like new, we can make some big mistakes. Here are a few things you should avoid doing when cleaning your Converse shoes.

  1. Don’t soak them in water for too long. This can cause the material to break down and the shoes to fall apart.
  2. Don’t use harsh chemicals or detergents. These can damage the material and cause the colour to fade.
  3. Don’t put them in the washing machine or dryer. The heat can damage the material and cause the shoes to fall apart.
  4. Don’t scrub them too hard with a brush or scrubber. This can damage the material and cause the colour to fade.
  5. Don’t leave them in direct sunlight for too long. This can also cause the colour to fade.

How often should you clean your Converse shoes?

If you wear your Converse regularly, you should clean them about once a week. This will help to prevent dirt and grime build-up, as well as keep your shoes looking fresh. A quick wipe-down with a damp cloth should do the trick. You can also use a toothbrush to get into any hard-to-reach areas.

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