Running Shoe Clean
Road miles are hard on a running shoe. Sweat salts sit in the upper, grit works into the midsole, and the shoe starts to smell long before it stops performing.
The Running Shoe Clean is our Red Detail process adapted for running shoes. Mesh and knit uppers, foam midsoles, insoles and outsoles are each handled differently, because what safely lifts grime off a knit upper is not what you want anywhere near a midsole.
How we clean them
- Everything is done by hand. No washing machine. This is not a preference, it is what the shoe brands themselves instruct: Brooks tells owners “do not, we repeat, do not machine wash or dry your shoes.” A machine cycle combines heat, agitation and detergent, which stresses the glue bonds holding the sole to the upper.
- Laces and insoles out first, cleaned separately. Insoles are hand-scrubbed with mild soapy water and a soft brush, then wiped down. ASICS advises against leaving insoles to soak, because a waterlogged moulded foam insole loses its shape.
- Uppers cleaned with minimal force. Engineered mesh and knit fray under hard scrubbing, so we use a soft brush and a dabbing motion rather than wiping, which is HOKA’s own guidance for mesh.
- No bleach and no household cleaners. ASICS is explicit: “Don’t use bleach or household cleaning supplies to clean your shoes.” Bleach discolours foam and attacks the material rather than just the stain.
- Midsole and outsole cleaned by hand, grit cleared out of the tread.
- Deodorised through the footbed, not just sprayed over the top.
- Air dried at room temperature. Never a tumble dryer, never a radiator, never direct sun. REI puts the mechanism plainly: “Never put shoes in a clothes dryer or near any heat source.” Heat is what deforms foam and weakens adhesives, and the brands list direct sunlight in the same breath as the dryer.
What to expect
Your shoes come back almost as new. Being straight with you: a midsole that has already yellowed with age will not come back white, deep-set staining in a light knit upper does not always lift completely, and cleaning does not restore a worn outsole or cushioning that has already compressed. We will tell you what we think will and will not come out.
Results vary with material, age and how long a stain has been sitting.
R 290.00
Running Shoe Clean, done properly.
Our clean for road running shoes, done entirely by hand. Mesh and knit uppers, foam midsoles, insoles and outsoles each get their own method, because what safely lifts grime off a knit upper is not what you want anywhere near a midsole.
- Hand clean of the mesh or knit upper, never machine washed
- Laces and insoles removed and cleaned separately
- Insoles hand-scrubbed, never left to soak
- Midsole cleaned and grit cleared from the outsole tread
- Deodorising treatment through the footbed
- Air dried at room temperature, never heat dried
How it works
Book and pick your date
Choose your clean and your collection date right here on this page.
We collect, or you drop off
Doorstep pickup across JHB, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, or pop into any of our 16 stores.
Our technicians clean
Trained sneaker-care specialists, premium products, real attention to detail.
Back to you in 48 hours
Fresh and almost as new, delivered to your door.
What we clean
Road running shoes: engineered mesh and knit uppers, foam midsoles, removable insoles and rubber outsoles. Each part is cleaned by hand with its own method, minimal force on the upper, no soaking of the foam, and grit worked out of the tread. A midsole that has already yellowed with age will not come back white, deep-set staining in a light knit upper does not always lift completely, and cleaning does not restore a worn outsole.
The Sneaker Shack promise
We treat every pair like it matters. Trained technicians and premium solutions, with one honest goal: your kicks back almost as new. Results vary by material, age and stain.
Questions, answered
Does cleaning affect the cushioning or the foam?
Cleaning by hand does not compress or deform foam. The mechanisms that do the damage are heat, oversaturation and harsh chemicals, so we hand clean, we never leave insoles to soak, we use no bleach or household cleaners, and shoes are air dried at room temperature, never in a tumble dryer, on a radiator or in direct sun. What cleaning cannot do is bring back foam that has already compressed through mileage.
What do you use on them?
A soft brush, a dabbing motion rather than wiping on mesh and knit, and mild soapy water. No bleach and no household cleaners. ASICS is explicit about that one: "Don't use bleach or household cleaning supplies to clean your shoes." Bleach discolours foam and attacks the material rather than just the stain.
Mine smell more than they look dirty. Does this help?
Yes. Laces and insoles come out and are cleaned separately, the insoles hand-scrubbed rather than left to soak, and the shoe is deodorised through the footbed rather than sprayed over the top. Odour that has been sitting in a very old insole does not always lift completely.
How often should running shoes be cleaned?
There is no fixed rule. A sensible trigger is when the upper starts going grey or the shoe starts to smell. Sweat salts and grit are easier to lift early than once they have set in.
How long does it take?
48 hours from collection or drop-off. We will keep you posted along the way.
Will my shoes look brand new?
We get most pairs looking almost as new. Results vary by material, age and stain type, and some materials can change once cleaned, so we are always honest about what is possible.
Do you clean suede and nubuck?
Yes. Suede and nubuck are cleaned under the premium material option, which is priced for the extra care they need.
Where do you collect from?
Doorstep pickup across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, plus 16 stores nationwide if you would rather drop off.
