How do you clean off your shoes?

[GOKU]

What do you guys use for digging gunk/dog poop/etc out of the grip on the bottom of your shoes? There's gotta be something better than a dang toothpick or w/e for those tough shoes like Vans waffle grip.

Also, what do you guys use for cleaning your upper if it's suede, or like let's say... whatever the Half Cab material is. The kinda clothy material that isn't all smooth like a lot of leather shoes are?

[pointandclick]

in before mandatory "of" comment.
for the upper ive sued mr clean magic erasers, but wear gloves. that shit cant be good for you skin.

for the sole honestly just water and some kind of coarse brush maybe?

[planman]

Water, maybe soap, and elbow grease for the sole. If they're shoes you're actually skating you might as well just use the same brush for the upper too, no point in babying them.

[Lukabrazi]

use the spray gun coming from your sink, hot water, high pressure, should get everything out quickly

[rapscallion]

Toothpaste and a toothbrush and water has gotten deep rust stains out of brand new white canvas. Cant go wrong.

Clorox wipes 90% of the time because a toothbrush cleaning is excessive.


As for the sole, just bang them together til the dirt falls off. Or walk in them.

[Paco Supreme]

waffle grip especially i've found a shitty old toothbrush, the more frayed the better

[GOKU]

I've tried several types of brushes on these Emerica Romero 1s or 2s I found at Savers that were in almost brand new condition, save for some strange white specks on a few spots of the upper and apparently some ancient calcified dog dookie in the grip holes. No dice. I suppose I'll either try a brand new toothbrush with a firm handle, or resign to using plastic toothpicks since nothing else has worked.

Thanks everyone, looks like I tried the right things initially and am just dealing with some reallll old gunk. It's those Leo shoes with the 2 white stripes on 'em, so they're probably quite old.

[SneakySecrets]

Clean your shoes??  What are you, poor or something?

Just buy some new ones.

[GOKU]

Clean your shoes??  What are you, poor or something?

Just buy some new ones.

I collect older skate shoes from thrift stores, maybe to sell on eBay someday or maybe just for nostalgia's sake. I also have a pair of the first Arto etnies pro shoe and the first DVS Getz shoe too, haha. My buddy who works at the Savers I found the Leo shoes at got a pair of brown Reynolds 1's (or maybe the "Boss" remake) and he skates them. It kinda pains me but it's also pretty sick.

[j....soy.....]

The grip tape cleaner eraser....wd40 works well w. white leather and rubber....

[cosmicgypsies]

for getting shit out the soles ill usually fill a bucket with hot water, hold just the bottom/midsoles in for a little while then smash them off the floor, use a toothbrush etc. baby wipes to clean midsoles, again old toothbrush and maybe water for suede/upper areas. for real caked in shit on uppers you'll prolly want a proper suede cleaner/sneaker cleaning kit. ive heard that reshoevn8r shit is meant to be pretty good.

[Krooked antihero]

I’ve washed several pairs of skate shoes in washing machine, low temp and gentle sling will do the job.

[cricketclub]

If you were lazy and let the crap dry up and then take a walk with them on a gravel path it will all get knocked out. As far as cleaning sneakers goes that's something I usually do to leather cupsoles... dishsoap and magic eraser work well. I noticed that nothing really works on Vans white walls. I was never able to get them very bright again.
As for suede I've never cleaned it but they make suede brush kits.

[woodinbrine]

Stiff brush for sole, and for the upper I first use a wet microfiber cloth and then a dry one.

[somedudefromnj]

to clean your upper use all purpose car cleaner wipes. forgot the brand name but theyre in that yellow tube

[SkateBox]

Toothbrush, bleach for white leather, soap and water all work

[givecigstosurfgroms]

Slapping them super hard off the ground holding them from the back works. 

[Yibb-Tstll]

As krooked Antihero said. If you have a washing machine, clean the shoes roughly first to get rid of any good chunks of dirt and put them in on low temp with a couple of old clothes to prevent any damages to your machine. And let it dry in open air. Works like a charm, especially on beer-drenched shoes from a gig or a festival.

[Bagelskate]

for getting shit out the soles ill usually fill a bucket with hot water, hold just the bottom/midsoles in for a little while then smash them off the floor, use a toothbrush etc. baby wipes to clean midsoles, again old toothbrush and maybe water for suede/upper areas. for real caked in shit on uppers you'll prolly want a proper suede cleaner/sneaker cleaning kit. ive heard that reshoevn8r shit is meant to be pretty good.

To piggy back on this sinc eits basically what I do...I use a cheap Tupperware container from the dollar store then just fill it up an inch or so. Hot water and A drop or two of dish soap helps if it’s really grimy, just gotta rinse with clean water so it isn’t slippy.

Home Depot sells small brushes cheap too that have longer and stronger bristles than a tooth brush but I pretty much just use an old toothbrush.

[LemThurdy]

I use baby wipes and they work every time pretty well.

[johnes]

http://mrclean.cleanerhomeliving.com/iron-handle-brush-577.html

[GOKU]

You guys are fuckin' rad. I'm gonna clean all these shoes off soon, is anyone interested in a pair of the first Kerry Getz DVS shoe or the first Arto etnies shoe? Getz is black and gum, Arto is white and royal blue. I have to go double check but they should fit size 10-11 range.

[Htownlegend]

Brake clean and compressed air

[GAY]

Reading this I'm wishing I wasn't so damn lazy...I feel like my shoes would look nicer for longer if I'd put in a little work and clean them shits.

[rapscallion]

Reading this I'm wishing I wasn't so damn lazy...I feel like my shoes would look nicer for longer if I'd put in a little work and clean them shits.

It's worth it, takes 10 minutes per shoe and that's long enough to be pretty thorough.

[femdom perignon]

my slave does that

[GAY]

Expand Quote

Reading this I'm wishing I wasn't so damn lazy...I feel like my shoes would look nicer for longer if I'd put in a little work and clean them shits.

[close]

It's worth it, takes 10 minutes per shoe and that's long enough to be pretty thorough.

Damn. That's pretty impressive. Looks like a whole other shoe once cleaned.

[GOKU]

RE: the washing machine methods mentioned earlier... is that only for non-leather/suede shoes? Or is any shoe pretty much fine as long as you keep it low 'n slow? Gonna experiment later tonight and try to get my babies clean. I suppose I should probably take the laces out, right?

[Torre]

I use a suede cleaning eraser and a brush that comes with it. The eraser is literally like a pencil eraser, and you use it in the same way and it take some of the dirt off. Then after you use the brush and that takes more off and smoothies out the suede. Got it on amazon.

[brent]

my wife's toothbrush