How To Clean Mesh Shoes

If you would like to know how to clean mesh shoes, you have come to the right place. These shoes have many good things going for them.

For instance:

  • They are super breathable
  • They keep the feet cool, dry and comfortable
  • They are lightweight, so you can wear them for running
  • They look really posh

On the other hand, mesh shoes have a serious downside. They are so absorbent of everything, so they retain grease. To keep the shoes in top-notch condition all the time, you have to clean them more frequently than most other shoes.

Here, you will see helpful tips for cleaning your mesh shoes using different products. Keep reading to see some common ways to clean your mesh shoes.

1. How to clean mesh shoes with baking soda

Baking soda is one of the most underrated and commonly available cleaning products at home. Everyone has baking soda tucked in somewhere. It is used to clean humidifiers, dehumidifiers, grease and other stains.

But just what makes baking soda so good for cleaning? It is because of its ability to dissolve organic matter. It is also friendly to different fibers, fabrics and even to your hands.

To clean your shoes with baking soda, you need a small amount of baking soda, an old toothbrush and a small amount of hot water.

Mix the baking soda and the hot water in a small bowl. You can also add a tablespoon of vinegar for better results.

Use the old toothbrush to apply the paste on the stain that you want to clean out. Apply it thoroughly so that it covers the entire stain.

If you need more paste, go ahead and make it. In circular motion, brush the stain lightly with the toothbrush. You want the baking soda to interact with the stain completely to break down the organic matter.

When the shoe is covered in the paste, you should place it in the open air for up to 4 hours. This is important for white shoes because it brings out the color brilliantly.

Bang the shoes together so that the paste can fall off. You will notice that the stain is gone. If it is not, make more paste and apply it on the shoes. You can then clean the shoes in clean water, using the recommended soap or detergent.

Baking soda is also a good deodorant as it can remove odor from the shoes.

2. How to clean mesh shoes in washer

It is possible to clean some mesh shoes in the washer. However, you have to check with the manufacturer whether you can do that.

Sneakers and tennis shoes clean well in the washer. Besides, the washer removes odor from your footwear.

Remove the insoles and the shoe laces. They could become entangled in the washer so you will have to clean them separately.

To prevent the shoes from banging around in the washer, you can add a few towels. If you do not have such towels, you can put the shoes in a mesh bag. It will serve just as good.

It is best to choose the lowest spin cycle in your washing machine because it keeps the washer well balanced through the cleaning process.

If you decided to clean the mesh shoes in the washer because they had odor, you can add a product that can kill the foot fungus. It is mainly responsible for the development of foot odor.

One question that people ask is whether they can put their shoes in the dryer. We advise you not to do that because the high temperature will cause the glue in the shoes to start coming apart.

Also, the heat can damage some materials, causing them to shrink and some might even stretch.

How to Clean White Mesh Shoes

If they are white and super absorbent, they need immediate attention. In this case, you can use toothpaste, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide to clean the shoes.

How to clean white mesh shoes with toothpaste

Toothpaste is a superb cleaning agent for white mesh shoes. It is best that you get white toothpaste rather than colored ones.

If you do not have the time that is required to let the baking soda do its work, you can use toothpaste. It works fast and it is efficient, especially for stains that are not too old.

Just take a whitening toothpaste and apply it onto your toothbrush. You can then rub it onto the stain in circular motion.

You should then let the shoes rest for about 15 minutes so that the toothpaste can absorb the stain molecules.

Take a clean piece of cloth and clean the toothpaste out after 15 minutes. The stain will be gone and if it is still there, you should repeat the process again.

Again, just as we said in the baking soda section, even here, we would advise you to use toothpaste just for spot cleaning, not for the entire shoes.

After removing the stain, you can put your mesh shoes in a mesh bag and clean them in the washer. You can also clean them in a basin or in the sink under running water.

If you decide to clean your mesh shoes manually, you should do it with the recommended soap or cleaning product and use a soft fiber cloth.

How to clean white mesh shoes with hydrogen peroxide

You may use hydrogen peroxide on white mesh shoes because it can whiten them up very well. As usual, we suggest that you do not let the stain get too old before you clean it out. Old stains are stubborn!

Hydrogen peroxide is also good for removing fungi that causes foot smells. Thus, if you are struggling with odor in your shoes, you might want to try this. However, for now, we shall see how to use hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from your mesh shoes.

Add a half tablespoonful of water in a small bowl and add a tablespoonful of hydrogen peroxide. You can then add a tablespoon of baking soda and mix them.

Take an old toothbrush and use it to apply this paste on the stain. You can apply the first coat of the paste, rubbing gently in the circular motion. You can apply a second coat of the paste on the stain.

Let the paste soak in for about 4 hours, then rub it out with a clean piece of cloth. If the stain remains, repeat the process.

While there might be an option to use hydrogen peroxide and water without baking soda, it is best to mix the three.

Water, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide solution make the best cleaning agent that leaves shoes looking spanking white.

How to clean white mesh shoes with baking soda

Using baking soda on white mesh shoes gives very good results. Just mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water, then apply the paste on the stain with an old toothbrush.

Image of How to clean white mesh shoes with baking soda

Do this in gentle round motions and apply a second layer too. You can then leave the shoes to dry for a couple of airs and then remove the caked powder.

Final Thoughts on How to Clean Mesh Shoes

How to clean mesh shoes does not have to be hard at all. Of course, before you start cleaning with the agents that we have proposed here, you should do the preliminary things.

For instance, you can use a blunt knife to remove superficial mud. You could also bang the shoes against each other to remove the dried mud.

Also, clean the stain out as soon as it develops or as soon as you spill something on the shoes. New stains are not stubborn so they make the work easier.

Lastly, if there are no spills or nasty stains on the shoes, just toss them in the washer with towels to prevent banging around. Also, get the machine to run at the lowest speed possible.