How To Clean Canvas Shoes (Even White Keds)

cleaning canvas shoes collage: rubber gloved hand holding white canvas shoes above a bucket of sudsy water; before and after pictures of white canvas shoes after cleaning

Finding The Best Way To Clean My White Canvas Shoes

When it comes to shoes, there are few types that are as durable and versatile as canvas sneakers! They have a classic look that works for people of all ages.

Despite canvas’s many advantages, it does have one big drawback — it shows off dirt, grass stains, and scuff marks plain as day. (This is especially true of white canvas shoes, like my favorite pair of white Keds!)

But lucky for us, dirt on canvas is an easy come, easy go situation. In this post, I’ll show you how to clean canvas shoes so well, they’ll look nearly good as new! :-)

cleaning canvas shoes - rinsing white canvas shoes under running water over a kitchen sink

How To Wash Canvas Shoes Safely: Do It By Hand

The safest option for cleaning most types of shoes is to do so gently, and it’s no different for canvas sneakers. Many people choose to wash canvas shoes in the washing machine to save time, but there are risks to going that route.

Cleaning canvas sneakers in your washer can cause discoloration, and weaken the glue that holds the shoes together. So cleaning your shoes by hand may require a bit more of your time and effort, it’s the best way to avoid damaging them.

And as you’ll soon see, it really doesn’t even take that much time or effort to clean your shoes by hand. Here’s how you can do it at home!

cleaning canvas shoes - before and after: dirty white canvas shoes; clean white canvas shoes

How To Clean Canvas Shoes

You’ll need:

Bucket or sink
Warm water
OxiClean
Scrub brush or toothbrush
Towel

Directions:

cleaning canvas shoes - dirty white Keds

Step 1 – Remove Laces & Insoles

Start by removing the laces from the shoes. Zip them into in a mesh laundry bag and toss them in your washer to clean them.

If your shoes have removable insoles or you’ve put a pair into them, remove those from your shoes as well.

When hand washing a sturdy or very soiled stuffed animal, you can add a scoop of Oxiclean to the water.

Step 2 – Dry Brush, Then Soak

Next, use a scrub brush to brush off any loose dust and dirt from your shoes. Then in a bucket or your sink, mix up a soaking solution of 1/4 cup of OxiClean per gallon of warm water.

Submerge your shoes in the solution and allow them to soak for 30 minutes to two hours, depending on how dirty they are.

cleaning canvas shoes - holding a canvas shoe with rubber gloves on and scrubbing the shoe with a brush

Step 3 – Scrub & Rinse

After soaking, use a scrub brush or a toothbrush to scrub away the loosened dirt and grime. Rinse the shoes thoroughly with clean water, then use a dry towel to absorb as much water as you can from the outside and inside of the shoes.

cleaning canvas shoes - clean white Keds

Step 4 – Air Dry

Finally, stuff a bit of newspaper into each shoe to help absorb excess moisture and hold the shape of the shoes while they dry. Set the shoes aside and allow them to dry completely, which could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days depending on the humidity.

Once your shoes have dried, relace them and then go show off your fresh and clean kicks! :-)

Bonus Tips For Cleaning Canvas Shoes

Use a damp Magic Eraser to make short work of those unsightly scuff marks on the rubber parts of your sneakers.
Ball up some newspaper or paper bags and stuff them inside of each shoe to help them keep their shape while they dry.
Never underestimate the power of a new pair of shoelaces. They’ll instantly make your shoes look cleaner and less worn!
Looking for solutions for smelly shoes? Learn how to remove odor from shoes here.

What’s your favorite way to clean canvas shoes?

How to Clean Canvas Shoes

Jill Nystul

If there's one thing I hate it's having my nice white canvas Keds become dirty and unwearable! If you've felt the same, follow these simple steps to clean your canvas shoes so they look like new.

4 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Active Time 15

Total Time 20

Cost $10

Yield clean canvas shoes

Equipment

Bucket
Scrub Brush
Toothbrush
Towel
Newspaper

Ingredients

1/4 cup OxiClean
1 gallon Warm Water

Instructions

Start by removing the laces from the shoes. Zip them into in a mesh laundry bag and toss them in your washer to clean them. If your shoes have removable insoles or you’ve put a pair into them, remove those from your shoes as well.
Next, use a scrub brush to brush off any loose dust and dirt from your shoes. Then in a bucket or your sink, mix up a soaking solution of 1/4 cup of OxiClean per gallon of warm water. Submerge your shoes in the solution and allow them to soak for 30 minutes to two hours, depending on how dirty they are.
After soaking, use a scrub brush or a toothbrush to scrub away the loosened dirt and grime. Rinse the shoes thoroughly with clean water, then use a dry towel to absorb as much water as you can from the outside and inside of the shoes.
Finally, stuff a bit of newspaper into each shoe to help absorb excess moisture and hold the shape of the shoes while they dry. Set the shoes aside and allow them to dry completely, which could take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days depending on the humidity. Once your shoes have dried, relace them and then go show off your fresh and clean kicks!