8 Expert Tips for Taking Care of Your Sneakers
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1/8Like Windex, But for Your Sneakers
Jason Markk's premium shoe cleaner has got sneakerheads' kicks looking their best after many wears. "I designed my solution to be versatile, because I didn’t want to have so many different types—if I was cleaning suede I didn’t want to have to go buy another product," says the brand's founder. The solution is formulated to keep the integrity of luxurious fabrics like suede and nubuck intact, and super simple to use. Markk describes the process: "Start with a clean bowl of water, apply the solution onto the bristles of a wet brush, dip the brush in the water and start scrubbing until the cleaner start to foam up. Wipe it clean. You could use any old towel or T-shirt, but when you use our microfiber towel, you’ll definitely notice a difference."
Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner, $18, jasonmarkk.com
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2/8Be Sure to Brush
What it really comes down to is the bristle; if you have an Air Max with a cotton mesh upper, what’s going to happen is that mesh is going to pill up when you use a stiffer bristle," says Markk. "The brush definitely plays a huge part. I always recommend you have both standard and hog bristle brushes, because sometimes you need that extra stiffness of the bristle to really get in there and clean.
Up & Up Soft Toothbrush 4-Pack, $4, target.com; Jason Markk Standard Shoe Cleaning Brush, $8, jasonmarkk.com; Jason Markk Premium Hog Bristle Brush, $10, jasonmarkk.com
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3/8Restore Your Laces to Their Former Glory
"What I used to do with white laces is just throw them in a bowl with hot water and bleach and it worked," says Markk, "but once they dry out and you put the laces back in, you'll notice it feels different because the bleach has weakened all the fibers." Other than going easy on the bleach, Markk offers this alternative: "Soak the laces in warm water and Jason Markk cleaner, swirl it around, rinse, repeat."
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4/8What To Do with Suede
"I definitely recommend suede protector," says Markk. "First you have to clean it, let it dry, treat it, and then let that dry overnight. Then you’re good for about eight to ten months." However, Markk cautions against using weightier products like NeverWet. "The technology is great, but not on shoes," he cautions. "If you spray it on a shoe, it can leave a white film over the sneaker. For materials like leather and suede, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it." Instead, try a spray from a trusted source, like New Balance.
New Balance Suede Cleaner and Water Repellent, $10, newbalance.com
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5/8How to Fight the Foot Funk
If sweaty feet and smelly insoles are a problem, Markk suggests taking the insoles out, letting them dry, and treating with a deodorizer or fragrance spray. One product sneakerheads swear by? retaW's sneaker spray. Made in Japan, the stuff has masculine spicy mint notes. Another solution? Consider moisture-wicking socks. "If you have really sweaty feet, there are incredible socks with dry wicking technology that helps," says Markk. And when it comes to that, Drymax socks are the best-kept secret of diehard runners everywhere.
retaW JB Sneaker Spray, $24, store.hypebeast.com; Drymax Dry-As-A-Bone No-Show 3-Pack Socks, $30, roadrunnersports.com
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6/8**Dryer Sheets: Great For More Than Just Your Towels
"**Fabric sheets are my answer for everything," says Brandon Edler, digital engagement strategist at Finish Line. He advises keeping your shoes fresh by leaving dryer sheets in them. "Over night, the fabric sheets settle into the shoe leaving your nasty kicks smelling like a hoodie fresh out of the dryer." Edler also advises keeping sheets in your shoes when you travel. "It's almost as good as that brand new sneaker smell."
Arm & Hammer Dryer Shirts, $5, walgreens.com
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7/8**Believe In Magic (Erasers)
"**Generally, Common Projects uses fine leathers that wear well with age," says Peter Poopat, who co-founded the minimalist sneaker label. "Care generally depends on the type of leather. For our basic nappa we generally recommend to simply clean with a damp non-abrasive cloth. A conventional leather shoe spray can also be used but not necessary," he says. "For the soles, I recommend Mr. Clean Magic Eraser." That's a sneaker care move_ __GQ _creative director Jim Moore can not only get behind, but already swears by.
Common Projects, $410, available at mrporter.com. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, $3, available at walmart.com
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8/8The Ideal On-the-Go Solution
That Jason Markk premium cleaning solution gets the portable treatment with these simple wipes. With one side plain and smooth for simple spot cleaning, and the other built with textured blue dots to give each wipe a slight abrasiveness, tougher stains can't be taken care of in a snap. **"**I keep these in my backpack," says Edler. "One time I spilled hot sauce on a pair of Ronnie Fieg Asics, and they came through."
Jason Markk Quick Wipes, $11/dozen, jasonmarkk.com