how to clean mesh shoes

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There's nothing quite like unboxing a pair of fresh new sneakers for the first time, am I right? They're pristine, blemish-free, and ready to take on the world!

You know, until you take those kicks out for a spin and mud, coffee, and food stains enter the picture. Tragic, I know.

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Before you totally lose your sh*t let me introduce you to Jeff Esquillo—owner of Sole Fresh, a sneaker cleaning service in New Jersey.

Whether you're trying to rehab suede, leather, or mesh, Esquillo is here to make all your sneaker dreams come true.

THE PROBLEM:

Stained white sneakers

THE SOLUTION:

Cleaning solution + water

If you're dealing with a white leather shoe that has some nasty food stains, like these white Reebok Freestyle Hi sneakers, Esquillo says you'll need:

From there, remove the shoelaces and place them in a small bowl that's filled with water and two to three tablespoons of dish soap (he recommends Dawn, FYI). After dipping the laces a few times, take one side in each hand, and rub them together to help scrub out the stains. After a few rounds of this, let them soak and get to work on the rest of the shoe.

Next, time to clean the undersole. Esquillo says you should remove any "rocks, dirt, or debris stuck in the sole using a small tool, like a mini screwdriver or other pointy object." From there, he grabs his firm-bristled brush, dips it in a mixture of shoe cleaner solution (specifically, Reshoevn8r Shoe Cleaner) and water, then scrubs.

Esquillo advises wiping the shoe down with a white microfiber cloth—yeah, the type of cloth matters: "The microfiber towel is great for picking up the dirt stains on a white shoe," says Esquillo. Repeat the process of scrubbing and wiping as many times as needed until your shoes look fresh. Then, move on to the midsole (the side of the sole), and repeat the process here.

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Now it's time to clean the top of the shoe, a.k.a. the upper. Once again, break out your scrubby brush—but this time go for a medium or medium-firm brush—and get to work scrubbing (goodbye, nasty coffee stains!) Again, keep scrubbing and wiping until that shoe is sparkling. This usually doesn't take more than one go, but Esquillo says that once the shoe is dry, you can use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to clean up any leftover stains.

To finish off the shoe, put the clean, dry, laces back in place. And voila! A shoe that's ready to make its comeback.

THE PROBLEM:

Dirty suede sneakers

THE SOLUTION:

Suede brush + magic eraser

There's no denying that suede can be a real PITA. But it's no match for Esquillo's clever cleaning tricks.

If you spill food on a pair of suede sneaks, like these Saucony Jazz Originals, try not to panic and start frantically scrubbing at them. "You're actually pushing the dirt into the suede" says Esquillo.

Instead, gently wipe the excess junk off the shoe, and let it dry (that is, if it's a wet stain like food or mud). Then, grab your secret weapon: a suede brush. Slide this special tool over the affected area, to help get rid of any remaining dirt and particles.

What You'll Need To Clean Suede Sneakers

Once you've taken care of this step, you can start to clean the shoe more thoroughly. Again, start with your undersole. For this step, use a medium-firm brush dipped in your shoe cleaning solution and water mixture. Scrub the sole of the shoe until it's clean, followed by the midsole, where you switch to a foam cleaner (Esquillo recommends Foam Tex Gentle Foaming Cleaner by Angelu).

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Next comes the slightly more challenging part: the suede upper. "You'll take the soft brush, and avoid using too much of the foam cleanser, because you don't want it to get too damp and ruin the suede," says Esquillo. "Just enough that it's moist but not too damp, and then start scrubbing normally."

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Scrub lightly—in one direction, scrubbing back and forth will mess up the material—until you start to see the stain get lighter. Since you don't want to get the shoe too wet, let it dry before attempting another round of cleaning. You can use that handy microfiber towel here to help soak up the moisture—just be sure to lightly dab and twist, don't rub.

While the shoe should look significantly better after the first wash (a.k.a. not a spaghetti murder scene), it can take anywhere from three to four rounds of washing and drying before your sneaker will look close to its original glory.

You may also notice the material feels stiff after it dries. In that case, break out your second secret weapon: a brass brush. This type of brush can help revive the suede after so much cleaning.

And if you're just dealing with everyday dirt stains, Esquillo says all you need is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. When the shoe is dry, "You just rub it wherever the dirty area is."

THE PROBLEM:

Filthy mesh shoes

THE SOLUTION:

Soft brush

Those light mesh sneakers are cute AF and breath super well, but the second you hit a puddle of mud on your run—that upper gets wrecked. Seriously, it's like the mud sinks into every freaking crevice. (Can you tell I've been there before?)

When it comes to mesh sneakers, Esquillo recommends you start by (yes, you guessed it) removing those laces and giving them a nice bath.

What You'll Need To Clean Mesh Sneakers

While they're soaking, start cleaning the undersole with your shoe cleaner solution and water mix—but here's where things get a little different. A pair like these Adidas Ultraboosts feature an undersole and midsole made of a soft rubber. To clean them, "gently use a medium or soft brush—so you don't damage the material."

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Then, it's time to clean that cringe-worthy stain on the mesh upper. "Mesh uppers are tough," says Esquillo."It definitely takes multiple cleaning sessions. One tip that we recommended is grabbing a microfiber towel and wrapping it around two fingers. Scratch at the mesh with your fingers, and the microfibers should be able to help pick up the dirt."

Like the white sneakers, you'll use the shoe cleaner to wash the uppers, too. Dip the brush in your solution, and move it in a circular motion over the stain. Scrub and wipe until it starts to return to its original color. Again...this could take a few attempts, so be patient.

Once you feel good about the clean, let those bad boys dry, and lace them back up.

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Need more inspo? It's Transformations Week on WomensHealthMag.com! For more amazing beauty, fitness, and weight loss transformations, check out the rest of our Transformations Week collection.

Kristine Thomason Fitness & Wellness Editor Kristine Thomason is the fitness & wellness editor at Women's Health, where she edits, writes, and helps oversee the food and fitness sections of the website and magazine.