It’s devastating when you buy brand-new Jordans and they get dirty or muddy within the first week.

But unless you’re going to keep your Jordans in the box they came in 24/7 (which we think would be a travesty, by the way), then you’re going to want to learn how to clean them.

Cleaning your Jordans is an easy task to learn, and if you’re a parent reading this, it’s something you can teach your kids how to do too. After all, you know that Jordans won’t stay clean for long if they’re on your children’s feet! And it’s good for them to have the responsibility of keeping them clean. 

We all know that it’s much better for the environment and your pocket if you clean your Jordans, rather than buying a new pair. But why do so many people resist? Well, mainly because it’s a bit of a hassle, and there’s not an easy way to do it. Plus, the last thing you want to do is damage them by giving them a good scrub!

That’s why we’ve put together this useful blog post, which tells you, step-by-step, how to clean your Jordans quickly and simply without causing any damage.

Firstly, we’ll give you our easy-to-follow five-step process, and then we’ll go through some tips and tricks for getting your Jordans clean depending on the fabric. Let’s get stuck in.

So your Jordans have taken a bit of a beating, and they’re caked in dirt. The first place you head to is the washing machine, right?

Err...nope.

It’s much safer for your trainers – and your washing machine – if you hand wash them. Even is you use a special type of mesh laundry bag, putting your Jordans in the washing machine could damage the glue in them, eventually causing them to fall apart (which would be a bit embarrassing if you’ve popped out to the shops).

We get it. Washing machines were invented to save us time and hassle. But hand-cleaning your trainers properly only takes 15 minutes. Spending some of that time now will keep your trainers lasting longer.

Plus, the price of electricity right now is enough to put anyone off running their washing machine unnecessarily!

So if the washing machine is a no-go, how do you clean your Jordans? Simple. Just follow our step-by-step process below…

To get into every nook and cranny to clean your Jordans, you’ll need to remove the shoelaces. Simply soak the laces in warm water with a cleaning solution or even washing liquid.

You’ll want to remove any insoles as well, to give them a clean while you’re at it. You can clean your insoles in the same way we recommend you clean your Jordans below.

You’ll want to use a dry brush and buff the Jordans to remove any loose dirt. Ideally, you’d use a dry brush or shoe brush for this, but you can also use a toothbrush (it might just take a bit longer!).

You’ll need a cloth, warm water and a shoe cleaning solution. If you don’t have a shoe cleaning solution, you can mix warm water with a small amount of baking soda or a mild laundry detergent.

Next, you’ll want to gently rub the Jordans in a circular motion to remove any stains or dirt. Do this carefully throughout.

This process may differ depending on the fabric of your trainer, but you can see our tips below for different fabrics to help you out.

Step back from the tumble dryer!

Don’t use a tumble dryer or even a radiator to dry your trainers. This can cause them damage. Try to air dry them naturally outside (yes, if you live in the UK, this might not be possible!), otherwise leave them to air dry naturally inside. Use a towel to pat them dry too.

We’re sure your feet smell sweet, but understandably our Jordans need a little freshening up every now and then.

You can use a spray or something like our deodorising scent bags. Take your Jordans outside, give them a spray and leave them for 10 minutes, or pop the bags in overnight. That’s it. And, yes, this will even works on teens’ trainers too - our deodoriser sacks not only prevent bad smells, but mould and bacteria, too!

You do need to be mindful of what fabric your Jordans are made of and the best way to clean the different materials. Depending on the fabric, you may need to adjust your approach slightly to make your Jordans clean and prevent damaging them in the process.

Leather is a good, durable material, but it can get dirty easily, and those stains can be tricky to get out. You also want to be careful with leather, because even though it’s durable, it can be quite sensitive!

If your Jordans are all-leather, try not to get them too wet because any moisture can alter the shape of your Jordans. To clean them, use a soft shoe brush or a damp cloth (but not too wet) and rub in a circular motion.

For extra stubborn stains, you can even use toothpaste! Add a very small amount to the stain and rub with a cloth.

If your Air Jordans have some suede accents, you might want to be a little more careful with these areas to make sure you don't damage them, so they stay looking good long-term.

If you have one, use a suede brush to clean up these areas. If there are any scuff marks, you can use a suede rubber, or even a normal pencil eraser, to gently rub them away.

If the dirt or stains are particularly stubborn, you can use a cloth dipped in white vinegar to clean the affected area, using a gently rubbing motion. Whatever you do, avoid using water on any suede on your Jordans, as this can easily stain.

The synthetic leather on your Jordans (and any other synthetic materials used on your shoes) are fairly hardy, and you should be able to easily clean them in a similar way to natural leather, with a brush, soft cloth, and warm water mixed with a few drops of mild detergent, like dish soap.

The coating on synthetic leather can eventually wear away, so don't use anything too abrasive - and don't be too heavy-handed just because it's not real leather. It may be a bit more forgiving, but it still needs a fairly soft touch to maintain its clean look and shine.

So those are the slightly different techniques you want to employ, depending on what materials your Jordans are made from.

Alternatively, you could use a professional brush like Boot Buddy, which comes with three detachable brush heads, one of which is perfect for cleaning your Jordans. In fact, Boot Buddy cleans every type of shoe without damaging them, including Jordans!

Don’t fancy rustling up your own shoe cleaning solution? (We don’t blame you. It takes us 30 minutes just to find the bicarbonate.) Obviously, the next thing to do then would be to buy a shoe cleaning kit, wouldn’t it?

And you’d be right. A shoe cleaning kit does the job of, well, cleaning shoes!

We would recommend you look for foam cleaners. Foam cleaners work well because they prevent your Jordans (or shoes) from getting too wet. Getting your trainers too wet changes their shape and can cause damage.

A foam shoe cleaner works better because it doesn’t make your Jordans too damp, and they’re much easier to dry too!

If you’re taking your Jordans on holiday, to the beach, camping, or to festivals, you might also want to take some kind of shoe cleaner with you. After all, you don’t want your trainers looking dirty on the first day and then having to wear them all week!

It’s a good idea to look for travel shoe cleaning kits, like Boot Buddy, which are easy to carry.

Not to brag or anything, but we’re pretty proud of the fact that not one, not two, but three dragons from Dragons’ Den said yes to Boot Buddy. We absolutely love keeping your trainers clean and long-lasting and helping the environment in the process, so if you do too, click the button below to shop our Boot Buddy bundles.