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Categories
Personal Care and Style
Footwear
Shoes
Care of Shoes
Cleaning Shoes
How to Clean Adidas Shoes, Shoelaces & Insoles Download Article Use ordinary household cleaners to make your Adidas shine like new Co-authored by Marc Sigal and Kyle Hall
Last Updated: October 15, 2025
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Scrubbing the Shoes
|
Washing Shoelaces
|
Refreshing the Insoles
|
Expert Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. 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. This article has been viewed 123,045 times.
A fresh pair of Adidas looks chic and clean, but they don’t look like new forever—eventually, they’ll get a little dirty. Fortunately, you don’t need any special products to make your shoes shine again. In this article, we’ll show you how to wash the outside of your shoes, your laces, and your insoles so your footwear always looks crisp and clean. Let’s get to it!
Things You Should Know
Knock loose dirt off your shoes with your fingers or a dry brush, then wipe them down with a cloth soaked in warm water and laundry detergent. Air dry overnight.
To clean your laces, remove them from the shoes, spray them with stain remover (if needed), then toss them in the laundry machine. Air dry overnight.
To freshen your insoles, remove them and sprinkle them with baking soda. Let them air out overnight, then brush the baking powder off.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Cleaning the Outside of Your Shoes
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1 Shake off any dirt on your shoes. Do it outside so dirt doesn’t get all over your floor. Hit the soles of your shoes together a few times to help dislodge caked-on dirt and grime.
2 Remove stubborn dirt clumps on the soles with a dry, clean toothbrush. Take the toothbrush and gently brush it back and forth over any dirt spots. Don’t use the toothbrush on the upper fabric portion of your shoes or you could damage them.[1]X Expert Source Marc SigalShoe Care SpecialistExpert Interview
Rinse off the toothbrush when you’re finished and store it in a plastic bag so you have it for the next time you clean your shoes.
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3 Wipe down your shoes with laundry detergent and warm water. Add 1 drop of detergent to a bowl of warm water and dip a cloth in the mixture. Clean the soles and the upper sections of your shoes using the cloth. Rub the cloth back and forth over any dirt spots until they fade away.
Use a clear laundry detergent if your shoes are white.
4 Rinse the cloth in warm water and wipe the detergent off your shoes. Go over the soles and upper sections of your shoes so there’s no detergent left on them. You should wipe off all of the suds on your shoes. It's important you get all the detergent off so it doesn't dry on your shoes and damage them.
5 Let your shoes air dry overnight. Set your shoes somewhere inside so they dry out at room temperature. Don’t use a heater to speed up the process or you could damage your shoes.[2]X Expert Source Marc SigalShoe Care SpecialistExpert Interview
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Washing Your Shoelaces
Download Article
1 Take the shoelaces off your shoes. It’s easiest to clean them when they’re separate. Set your shoes aside after you remove the laces.[3]XResearch source
2 Apply a gentle stain remover to any spots or stains. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray the stain remover directly onto the shoelaces. If you’re using a liquid stain remover, pour some onto a washcloth and dab it onto the shoelaces. Read the instructions that came with the stain remover to see if you need to let it set in for a few minutes before washing.[4]XResearch source
3 Wash the shoelaces in a washing machine with a load of your laundry. If the shoelaces are white, wash them with other whites so they don’t absorb dye and change color. If you have colored shoelaces, wash them with similar colored laundry. Wash the shoelaces on the same setting you would use to wash your clothes.[5]XResearch source
4 Let the shoelaces air dry overnight. Lay them out on a table or countertop to dry. Avoid machine drying the shoelaces or they could shrink. Once the shoelaces are dry, lace them back into your shoes.[6]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Airing Out Your Insoles
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1 Take the insoles out of your shoes. The insoles are the padded flaps that line the bottom of your shoes on the inside. Just lift and pull them up to remove them.
If the insoles won't come out, try to clean them while they're still in your shoes.
2 Sprinkle baking soda over the insoles and let them sit overnight. The baking soda will absorb any bad odors on the insoles that are causing your shoes to smell. You don’t need a lot of baking soda. Just use enough to lightly cover the entire surface of both insoles.[7]X Expert Source Marc SigalShoe Care SpecialistExpert Interview
3 Brush the baking soda off the insoles. Brush it off into the trash or a plastic bag, or take the insoles outside and shake the baking soda off. Once all the baking soda is off, you can slip the insoles back into your shoes.
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Expert Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question What is the best way to clean sneakers? 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 It depends on the material of the sneakers! Generally speaking, for most sneakers, you can brush away any big chunks of mud or dirt. If there are any dried stains or dirt, get the shoe a little wet and scrub the problem away. Then, let the shoes air dry. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
Try to remove stains on your shoes as quickly as possible so they don’t set and become permanent. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Store your shoes in their original box to keep them clean and prevent fading. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Don’t machine wash or dry your Adidas shoes or you could damage them. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Avoid cleaning your shoes with harsh chemicals or bleaches. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You’ll Need
Toothbrush
Laundry detergent
Cloth
Stain remover
Baking soda
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References
↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview
↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview
↑ Marc Sigal. Shoe Care Specialist. Expert Interview
About This Article
Co-authored by: Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. 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. This article has been viewed 123,045 times. 5 votes - 80% Co-authors: 10Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 123,045 Categories: Cleaning ShoesArticle SummaryX
To clean Adidas shoes, first hit the soles of the shoes together to dislodge caked-on dirt. You can use a toothbrush on the soles for anything that doesn’t come off easily. Then add just a drop of laundry detergent to some warm water. Dip a cloth into the water, and gently run it over any dirt on the upper sections of your shoes. If your shoes are white, be sure to use clear laundry detergent. Next, rinse the cloth in warm water and go over your shoes again to get all the detergent off. Let your shoes dry overnight. If you want to learn how to wash your shoelaces or insoles, keep reading the article!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist Co-authors: 10Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 123,04580% of readers found this article helpful. 5 votes - 80% Click a star to add your vote
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Jul 8, 2019
"Dependable, practical, reliable, well-explained and well thought out answers and information is always found on wikiHow! Thank you."..." more
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Download Article Use ordinary household cleaners to make your Adidas shine like new Co-authored by Marc Sigal and Kyle Hall 
How to Get Dirt Out of Shoes so They Look Brand New 
How toClean Shoes with a Toothbrush 
How to Clean and Remove Stains from White Air Force 1s 
How to Wash Mesh Shoes by Hand or in the Washing Machine 
6 Easy Ways to Clean Your Converses 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Marc Sigal Shoe Care Specialist This article was co-authored by Marc Sigal and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. 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. This article has been viewed 123,045 times. 5 votes - 80% Co-authors: 10 Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 123,045 Categories: Cleaning Shoes Article SummaryX
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1 Shake off any dirt on your shoes. Do it outside so dirt doesn’t get all over your floor. Hit the soles of your shoes together a few times to help dislodge caked-on dirt and grime. 
2 Remove stubborn dirt clumps on the soles with a dry, clean toothbrush. Take the toothbrush and gently brush it back and forth over any dirt spots. Don’t use the toothbrush on the upper fabric portion of your shoes or you could damage them.[1] 
3 Wipe down your shoes with laundry detergent and warm water. Add 1 drop of detergent to a bowl of warm water and dip a cloth in the mixture. Clean the soles and the upper sections of your shoes using the cloth. Rub the cloth back and forth over any dirt spots until they fade away. 
4 Rinse the cloth in warm water and wipe the detergent off your shoes. Go over the soles and upper sections of your shoes so there’s no detergent left on them. You should wipe off all of the suds on your shoes. It's important you get all the detergent off so it doesn't dry on your shoes and damage them. 
5 Let your shoes air dry overnight. Set your shoes somewhere inside so they dry out at room temperature. Don’t use a heater to speed up the process or you could damage your shoes.[2] Advertisement 
1 Take the shoelaces off your shoes. It’s easiest to clean them when they’re separate. Set your shoes aside after you remove the laces.[3] 
2 Apply a gentle stain remover to any spots or stains. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray the stain remover directly onto the shoelaces. If you’re using a liquid stain remover, pour some onto a washcloth and dab it onto the shoelaces. Read the instructions that came with the stain remover to see if you need to let it set in for a few minutes before washing.[4] 
3 Wash the shoelaces in a washing machine with a load of your laundry. If the shoelaces are white, wash them with other whites so they don’t absorb dye and change color. If you have colored shoelaces, wash them with similar colored laundry. Wash the shoelaces on the same setting you would use to wash your clothes.[5] 
4 Let the shoelaces air dry overnight. Lay them out on a table or countertop to dry. Avoid machine drying the shoelaces or they could shrink. Once the shoelaces are dry, lace them back into your shoes.[6] Advertisement 
1 Take the insoles out of your shoes. The insoles are the padded flaps that line the bottom of your shoes on the inside. Just lift and pull them up to remove them. 
2 Sprinkle baking soda over the insoles and let them sit overnight. The baking soda will absorb any bad odors on the insoles that are causing your shoes to smell. You don’t need a lot of baking soda. Just use enough to lightly cover the entire surface of both insoles.[7] 
3 Brush the baking soda off the insoles. Brush it off into the trash or a plastic bag, or take the insoles outside and shake the baking soda off. Once all the baking soda is off, you can slip the insoles back into your shoes. Advertisement 
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. 