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When we aren’t looking high and low for the most attractive deals for our Dad Shoe Discounts page, Dad Shoe Deals is busy hunting down can’t-miss sales to feature in our Dad Shoe Essentials section. Whether you’re trying to track down the best tool box deals or searching for the top sales on sneaker cleaning kits so you can figure out how to clean dad shoes, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s the Deal
- Most dad shoes are made using high-quality materials and designed to withstand regular wear and tear.
- You should still understand how to clean dad shoes to prevent stains and scuffs from impacting their appearance.
- This guide outlines the steps you must take to clean dad sneakers. It also highlights the 10 best sneaker cleaning kits for dad shoes on sale right now.
Our Comprehensive 10-Step Guide on How to Clean Dad Shoes
Do you have a pair of dad shoes that have definitely seen better days? You could kick them to the curb and purchase a new pair. But why do that when you can give them a quick clean and leave them looking (almost!) like new again?
The beauty of buying dad sneakers in the first place is that they’re typically made out of durable materials. By learning how to clean dad shoes, you can avoid replacing them as often. You can also steer clear of walking around with stained, scuffed-up sneakers.
Read through our 10-step guide on how to clean dad shoes from the best brands below.
Step 1: Begin by Removing Loose Dirt and Other Debris
Take a toothbrush or something like these Ganganmax Shoe Cleaning Brushes and gently brush your dry dad shoes. Remove any dirt, dust, or other debris that may be affecting their appearance.
Step 2: Take Out the Laces
Figuring out how to clean dad shoes with their laces still in is difficult. Remove the laces so you can clean them on their own before putting them back into place.
You might also want to take the insoles out of your dad sneakers and clean them separately. It’s nearly impossible to clean them completely without removing them first.
Depending on how old your dad shoes are, you may even want to toss out your current laces and insoles and replace them. We recommend going with these Bread Elastic Shoelaces, available in a wide range of colors, and these PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles.
Step 3: Create an Effective Cleaning Solution
You’re welcome to use one of the many sneaker cleaning kits on the market today to make your dad shoes look spotless. Scroll down to check out a few of our favorites.
You can also create your own concoction using warm water and Dawn Ultra Original Dish Soap or Tide Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent. Some experts also suggest sprinkling OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder into a homemade solution to supercharge its cleaning power.
Step 4: Add Support to Dad Shoes
Just before cleaning dad shoes, stick a pair of shoe trees inside them. This will prevent them from creasing or losing their shape while you’re washing them.
You might also want to consider leaving these shoe trees in your dad sneakers anytime you aren’t wearing them. These Angelus Adjustable Shoe Trees are great for helping dad shoes keep their original shape.
Step 5: Deep Clean the Uppers
Dip the soft bristles from a sneaker cleaning brush — we love this Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaning Brush that offers separate soft, medium, and strong bristles — and apply your cleaning solution to your dirty dad shoes. Use the brush to gently scrub the uppers of your dad sneakers in a circular motion.
Step 6: Scrub the Midsoles and Outsoles
Dip the stiff bristles from a sneaker cleaning brush into your cleaning solution. Apply it to the midsoles and outsoles of your dad shoes. Scrub them slightly harder than you scrubbed their uppers to wash away deep-seated dirt.
The Alloda Shoe Cleaning Brush has both soft and stiff bristles. It’s another fantastic option for those learning how to clean dad shoes.
Step 7: Tackle Tough Stains
With a little luck, your cleaning solution should eliminate stains and scuff marks from your dad shoes. But if it doesn’t quite do the trick, take your cleaning efforts to the next level to make them go away for good.
Buy a box of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, and keep them on hand when you’re taking on the toughest dad-shoe stains. There are also other options, like the sneaker-specific SneakERASERS Instant Sneaker Cleaner Sponges, that can get the job done.
Or, if you’re really in a bind, get your hands on a box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. Create a paste with it, and use a toothbrush to apply it to stains.
Step 8: Wipe Away Soap Suds
Use a Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth to wipe soap suds off your now-clean dad shoes. If any dirt remains after you’re done, you may need to repeat steps 5 through 7.
Step 9: Let Dad Shoes Dry
Wiping off your dad shoes with a microfiber cloth after cleaning them should leave them mostly dry. Still, you should let them sit out for a few hours so they can dry more thoroughly.
Whatever you do, you should not blow-dry your dad sneakers or expose them to other heat sources. Even with shoe trees inside, heat can cause dad shoes to lose their shape and form creases.
Step 10: Spray Dad Shoes With Moisture and Stain Repellent
If you don’t want to constantly worry about figuring out how to clean dad shoes, hitting them with a special spray may prevent moisture and dirt from affecting them going forward.
Crep Protect Shoe Protector Spray is one of the many sprays you can rely on to keep dad shoes stain-free. We’re also big fans of the Jason Markk Shoe and Sneaker Protector Repel Spray.
While you’re at it, why not use the Sweat-X Sport Extreme Odor Spray on the inside of your shoes, too? It will help them smell as good as they look when you wrap things up.
You may even want to continue treating the interior of your dad shoes in the weeks to come by investing in the PediFix ShoeZap 15-Minute UV Shoe Sanitizer.
The 10 Best Sneaker Cleaning Kits for Dad Shoes on Sale Right Now
To be clear, you don’t need to buy one of the best sneaker cleaning kits while working out how to clean dad shoes. Warm water and a small amount of dish soap will work just fine in most cases.
But if you anticipate cleaning dad sneakers regularly, you might want to pick up a top-notch shoe cleaning kit to make this chore less challenging. Here are 10 terrific options, all discounted by at least 30% at the moment.
Shoe MGK Starter Shoe Cleaner Kit, $12 (retails for $18) at Amazon
The Shoe MGK Starter Shoe Cleaner Kit includes a 4-ounce bottle of sneaker cleaner and conditioner, plus a premium shoe brush. This will get you off to a strong start as you’re learning how to clean dad shoes.
Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaner Kit, $23 (retails for $34) at Amazon
The Pink Miracle Shoe Cleaner Kit features a multipurpose brush and enough sneaker cleaning solution, roughly 8 ounces, to leave up to 100 pairs of dad shoes looking flawless.
CleanKicks Shoe Cleaning Kit, $8 (retails for $12) at Amazon
The CleanKicks Shoe Cleaning Kit comes with a 4-ounce bottle of dad shoe cleaning solution and a soft-bristle brush. It’s also one of the few sneaker cleaning kits available for under $10.
Nanoxa Shoe Cleaning Kit, $6 (retails for $9) at Amazon
The Nanoxa Shoe Cleaning Kit boasts a 10-ounce bottle of cleaning solution, a soft -bristle brush, and a premium microfiber towel. Not bad for what is, by far, the cheapest kit on this list.
GleamGlee Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $10 (retails for $16) at Amazon
The GleamGlee Sneaker Cleaning Kit provides a 6.75-ounce bottle of shoe cleaner, a sneaker-friendly brush, and a towel, all for just $10.
Xerrycon Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $10 (retails for $15) at Amazon
The Xerrycon Sneaker Cleaning Kit offers 5 ounces of shoe cleaner, a soft-bristled brush for uppers and a hard-bristled brush for midsoles and outsoles, and a microfiber towel.
Koudecy Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $17 (retails for $30) at Amazon
The Koudecy Sneaker Cleaning Kit includes a 10-ounce bottle of shoe cleaner, three brushes, a microfiber towel, and a special sponge designed specifically to erase hard-to-remove stains.
Ugtugt Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $15 (retails for $21) at Amazon
The Ugtugt Sneaker Cleaning Kit contains 4-ounce bottles of cleaner and conditioner, shoe restore, and shoe guard, plus a suede eraser and a suede cleaning brush.
Six Foxes Portable Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $10 (retails for $15) at Amazon
The Six Foxes Portable Sneaker Cleaning Kit comes with nearly 7 ounces of shoe cleaning foam and a built-in brush in its bottle. It’s the perfect sneaker cleaning kit to keep in your car for figuring out how to clean dad shoes on the fly.
Coklean Water-Free Sneaker Cleaning Kit, $20 (retails for $28) at Amazon
The Coklean Water-Free Sneaker Cleaning Kit is another kit that features almost 7 ounces of shoe cleaning foam and a built-in brush, allowing you to clean dad shoes quickly without water when you’re on the move.
Protect Your Sneakers by Understanding How to Clean Dad Shoes
My dog doesn’t always get off his leash, run around in the mud, and then jump all over me, leaving filthy pawprints on my clothes and sneakers. But when he does, it’s usually on the one day that I decide to break out a new pair of New Balance 574 or Nike Air Monarch IV dad shoes.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar scenario, knowing how to clean dad shoes is essential. Take the steps provided here and consider getting your hands on one of the best dad shoe cleaning kits to keep your dad sneakers in pristine condition.
Do you want to see some of the other dad shoe essentials currently on sale? Click here to take a closer look at them.
FAQs About How to Clean Dad Shoes
What Is the Best Way to Clean Dad Shoes?
The best way to clean dad shoes is to scrub them with a brush using either warm water and dish soap or a special sneaker cleaning solution. You might also want to consider using a melamine sponge on dirty dad sneakers to clean them.
How Often Should I Clean Dad Shoes?
You should clean dad shoes every two to four weeks, depending on how often you wear them and how dirty you allow them to get. You also have the option not to clean dad sneakers if you don’t mind minor stains and scuffs.
What Should I Use to Clean Dad Shoes?
You should use either warm water and dish soap or a special sneaker cleaner solution included in a shoe cleaning kit to clean dad shoes. Pair them with a brush — preferably one with both soft and hard bristles — and a microfiber cloth to get them as clean as possible.
Can I Use Dawn Dish Soap to Clean Dad Shoes?
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to clean dad shoes. In fact, some dad sneaker enthusiasts will tell you that cleaning them with Dawn dish soap and warm water is the best way to go.
Is It Okay to Use a Magic Eraser on Dad Shoes?
Yes, it’s okay to use a magic eraser on dad shoes, though you should be careful about which one you choose. Stick with one from a well-known brand like Mr. Clean to get the best results.