How to Wash Mesh Shoes by Hand or in the Washing Machine

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Use common household ingredients to get rid of stubborn mesh stains

Co-authored by Marc Sigal and Mason Martinez, BA

Last Updated: May 30, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Cleaning Mesh Shoes with Dish Soap
|
• Using a Washing Machine
|
• Cleaning White Mesh Shoes with Toothpaste
|
• Video
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• Expert Q&A
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less

Mesh shoes are notorious for absorbing almost anything they come into contact with, making them tough to clean. Luckily, with a bit of care, you can keep them free from dirt and even give them a nice, thorough clean in the washing machine if you follow the proper steps! We interviewed Shoe Care Specialist Marc Sigal for DIY cleaning solutions using common ingredients.

Cleaning Mesh Sneakers

1. Scrub your mesh shoes with a soft-bristle brush to remove dust, dirt, and debris.
2. Undo the laces and soak them in a bowl of soapy water for 15-20 minutes.
3. Mix 1 teaspoon of dish detergent and warm water to make a soapy solution.
4. Apply the homemade solution in a circular motion with a soft-bristle brush.
5. Set the shoes to air dry in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Mesh Shoes with Dish Soap

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1. 1
   Create a mixture of 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) dish detergent and warm water. Shoe Care Specialist Marc Sigal recommends pouring warm water into a bowl—no more than halfway to give yourself room to dip your rag—and adding 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of mild dish detergent. Gently stir the detergent in with a spoon to ensure even consistency.

   • Be sure the consistency of your cleaning solution is slightly soapy without being overly sticky or frothy.
   • Alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of mild laundry detergent or 1 tablespoon (15 mL) white vinegar with 3 tablespoon (44 mL) of baking soda.
   • Use bleaching agents with caution and dilute it with water. Bleach can damage certain materials and cause discoloration when left for too long. Always test a discreet spot before proceeding.
2. 
   2
   Remove your shoe's laces and stuff it with a cloth. After removing your shoe's laces, find a clean, absorbent cloth and stuff it into the shoe—this will absorb extra liquid that leaks in during cleaning and help keep its shape. It will also give you some resistance as you scrub the surface of the shoe.

   • Use microfiber cloths for the best absorbency.
   • Stuff your shoes with a paper towel if you don't have an extra cloth.
   • If your laces are dirty, soak them in a separate mixture of 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) dish detergent and warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, scrub them clean with a soft-bristled brush.
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3. 
   3
   Brush off exterior dirt on the shoe with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Hold a soft-bristled toothbrush perpendicular to the shoe and brush away from the surface dirt using short, simple motions and a light amount of pressure.

   • Always use less pressure than you would with a heavier material, such as leather.
   • Shoe Expert Sigal recommends purchasing a soft-bristled shoe brush at a shoe store.
4. 
   4
   Wash your shoes with a soft cloth and the cleaning solution. Dip a soft cloth into your cleaning mixture. Scrub the surface of your shoes with the cloth using circular motions while applying a light amount of pressure. For regions that require more scrubbing, such as embedded dirt and grass stains, dip your brush into the cleaning solution and scrub them clean.

   • Rinse your cloth periodically in a clean, warm water bowl to remove dirt.
5. 
   5
   Rinse your rag and clean the surface of the shoes once more. After cleaning your shoes with your detergent solution, dip the cloth into your rinsing bucket and squeeze it out. Now, scrub the surface of the shoes once more to remove any soapy residue.

   • Be sure to squeeze your rag out to remove any excess soap in the cloth.
6. 
   6
   Clean the midsoles of your shoes with disinfectant cleaning wipes. Unlike the top of your shoes, the midsoles—the bottom of your shoes—can handle bleaching agents. Purchase some disinfectant cleaning wipes from a home improvement store and wipe the bottoms clean. Apply a firm amount of pressure and avoid touching the shoe's mesh surface with your wipes.

   • Never use cleaning wipes on the mesh surface of your shoes.
   • If you don't have cleaning wipes, use a piece of paper towel wet with 3 to 4 drops of bleach.
   • Sigal recommends using a magic eraser product if you have any. You can also purchase some from home improvement and big box stores.
7. 7
   Air-dry your shoes in a dry, cool place for 24 hours. Sigal suggests finding a cool, dry place, like a shed, hayloft, or an outdoor location in the shade to dry your shoes. Avoid garages, as they typically don't provide enough airflow, and never dry your shoes in a basement.

   • Unstuff your shoes and tie the laces back on when they dry.
   • Place an electric household fan toward your shoes to improve airflow and decrease drying time.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Washing Machine

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1. 
   1
   Remove the laces from your shoes and put them in a sock. Start by removing the laces from the holes at the top of your shoe—closest to your leg—and work down to the tip. After you remove your laces, stuff them into a sock—this allows you to clean them separately in the same load as your sneakers. Tie the end of the sock tightly with a lace or elastic band.

   • If your shoes have laces that feed through plastic loops that hold them in place, don't remove them.
2. 
   2
   Stuff your shoes into a pillowcase and twist the end. Place your shoes into a pillowcase—whichever size accommodates your load—and twist the end tightly to hold it closed. Afterward, fasten the twisted end with a rubber band wrapped around it 2 times or more, depending on the size of the rubber band and the thickness of the twisted end.

   • Fold the twisted end in half before wrapping the rubber band around it to make it snugger.
   • Usually, you can fit 2 to 3 pairs of shoes in a pillowcase. Put as many in as you want, but try not to stuff it too tight.
   • Not all shoe materials can be washed in a washing machine. For example, Puma and Nike advise against putting their shoes in a washing machine. Whereas Adidas running shoes can be. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
3. 3
   Place your shoes and laces into the washer with detergent. Put the pillowcase with your shoes and sock with the laces into the washer. Afterward, stuff the remaining space around the bags with rags to prevent the bags from hitting the walls. Finally, dump in 1  c (240 mL) of your favorite laundry detergent.

   • If you have a top washer with a center turbine, wrap its edges with a towel.
   • Opt for a color-safe laundry detergent if you’re washing white or light-colored sneakers.
4. 4
   Wash your shoes on "Delicate" and "Cold." Turn the load size dial slightly before the "Medium" and hit the "Cold" button. Now, put the spin mode to "Delicate" on the "Normal" setting. Double-check your settings and then turn the washer on and wait!

   • Always use the "Delicate" or—for older washers—"Knits Gentle" setting for your mesh shoes. This minimizes the agitation of the fabric and prevents it from stretching.
5. 5
   Air-dry your shoes for 1 day in a cool, dry location. Indoor areas like a hayloft or shed or outdoor locations that provide enough shade are ideal. Never store your shoes in a basement; avoid garages, as they often don't provide enough airflow.

   • If you have an electric household fan, place it in front of your shoes to decrease drying time and improve airflow.
   • Don't machine dry your shoes—this will likely ruin the mesh material.
   • Remove the shoes from the pillowcase and the laces from the sock before drying them.
   • Once they're dry, tie the laces back onto your shoes.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning White Mesh Shoes with Toothpaste

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1. 
   1
   Remove the shoe laces and brush off any loose dirt. Before scrubbing your shoes' exterior, take a soft-bristle brush or a cloth to remove any dirt, dust, and debris from the shoes. It helps to remove the laces first to get into any nooks and crannies. However, if your shoelaces are clean, feel free to leave them on.
2. 2
   Dampen the mesh surface with water to prep the surface. Use a cloth or carefully run your mesh shoes under cold water to dampen the material. This will help the toothpaste adhere to the shoe and foam better.
3. 
   3
   Rub the toothpaste onto the mesh in a circular motion. Apply a bead of white non-gel toothpaste to the bristles of the toothbrush. Then, rub the paste using a circular motion until it begins to foam and the dirt lifts.
4. 
   4
   Rinse the shoes with cold water. After lifting the stain, grab a clean, damp cloth or run cold water under the faucet again. Carefully rinse the shoes, avoiding getting the interior soaked. It helps to put a clean towel inside the soles to absorb excess water.
5. 5
   Air dry for 24 hours before wearing. Place your freshly cleaned mesh shoes in a well-ventilated area with indirect sunlight to dry for 24 hours. Speed up the process by placing them in front of a fan.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What should I do if my mesh shoes get muddy?

  

  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

  If the shoes are muddy or if there are just some stains on the shoes, you can grab a soft bristle brush and mild detergent with some lukewarm water and rub those areas out. After, you can crumple up some newspaper and put them in the shoes while they dry. As they dry, make sure to keep them in a dry, well-ventilated area.

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Things You'll Need

Cleaning Mesh Shoes with Dish Soap

• Dish detergent
• Baking soda, optional
• Bleach, optional
• White vinegar, optional
• Microfiber cloths
• Soft-bristled shoe brush or toothbrush
• Disinfectant cleaning wipes

Cleaning White Mesh Shoes with Toothpaste

• Toothbrush
• Microfiber cloth
• White non-gel toothpaste

Using a Washing Machine

• Sock
• Pillowcase
• Rags
• Elastic band
• Electric household fan
• Laundry detergent
• Color-safe laundry detergent, optional