How to clean white sneakers: Leather, canvas & mesh

White sneakers are a summer staple; they look great with everything from the most tattered jean shorts to the fanciest ball gowns. While beat-up, broken-in-looking sneakers are a look in their own right, there's just something about a perfectly white pair of white sneakers.

Of course, keeping white sneakers white can be a challenge. So we enlisted Jason Angsuvarn, a sneaker care expert and the founder of Jason Markk, to share his tips and tricks for keeping white sneakers — whether they be leather, canvas or mesh — bright white all summer long.

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Cleaning white sneakers doesn't require a lot of specialty products, but there are some cleaning agents and tools that can make the job a breeze, and something to look forward to. With Angsuvarn's help, we’ve rounded up the best products for keeping white sneakers looking their best, along with tips for how and when to use them.

First, some general advice on keeping white sneakers white: "Definitely pretreat them with Repel before wearing them out," Angsuvarn says. "Stay on top of cleaning them after each wear. And last but not least, keep the laces as clean as possible as well."

Though you may not want to hear it, the best sneaker cleaning advice is simply to do it. "Regular maintenance will help extend the life of your shoes," Angsuvarn says. If the thought of regularly scrubbing your kicks sounds like more of a commitment than you're willing to make, sneaker wipes are for you.

If you have an extensive sneaker wardrobe, consider buying a cleaner that is safe to use on leather, canvas and mesh, like Jason Markk's foam cleaner.

A good shoe brush allows you to dry brush the shoes before cleaning to remove dried-on mud, dirt, grass and other debris. Shoe brushes are also used to apply cleaner to the sneaker, and to lift dirt and grime.

Melamine foam sponges, like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, are excellent at removing dirt and scuff marks from the midsoles of sneakers, and can help to keep them looking cleaner in between washing. To use a melamine foam sponge, get it wet, squeeze out excess water, then rub it over the soiled area just the way you would a pencil eraser.

Before cleaning sneakers, it's important to remove the laces to allow access to the tongue and area around the eyelets, where dirt and grime collects. Launder the laces in a mesh bag, which will keep them from getting tangled up in the rest of the wash.

When cleaning mesh sneakers, Angsuvarn says to follow the steps for cleaning canvas sneakers, "except you’re going to insert a microfiber towel into the shoe and apply slight pressure upwards as you scrub. This is going to help the dirt work its way out of the material."

White leather sneakers, in particular, are prone to whiskering — the nicks, creases or lines created from regular wear and tear. If, after cleaning, there are nicks or whisker lines marring the appearance of your white sneakers a shoe whitener or white shoe polish will fill in those blemishes.

Before you clean the sneakers, remove the laces, which trap dirt and grime on the tongue and around the eyeholes; removing the laces allows you to better clean the entire shoe. "Use a soft bristle brush with our RTU Foam cleaner to keep the leather clean and conditioned," Angsuvarn says. The laces can either be washed or replaced with a new pair for a fresher look.

Cleaning white canvas sneakers is similar to the process for cleaning leather sneakers, but there are a few differences in the approach.

Cleaning white mesh sneakers, Angsuvarn says, is "a very similar process to cleaning canvas," but there is an extra step to take to ensure the best results.

Angsuvarn says to follow the steps for cleaning canvas sneakers, "except you’re going to insert a microfiber towel into the shoe and apply slight pressure upwards as you scrub. This is going to help the dirt work its way out of the material."

Like canvas sneakers, most mesh sneakers can be rinsed with cool running water, gently squeezed dry with a towel and allowed to air dry. Flipping the tongue over the toe box of the shoe will allow air to circulate, speeding up drying time.