How to Clean Canvas Sneakers

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methods

1 Nail polish remover

2 Cloth

3 Sanitiser/Rubbing Alcohol

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Tips and Warnings

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Last Updated: February 8, 2025

Although canvas shoes and sneakers are great and comfy, they do tend to get really dirty, especially if you have white ones, so, here are a few methods you can use to clean your canvas shoes.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Nail polish remover

1. 
   1
   Gather the cleaning gear. You will need nail polish remover and a cotton ball, cotton swab, cotton bud, or cotton pad.
2. 
   2
   Add some nail polish remover to the stain on the canvas sneaker. Use small amounts of nail polish remover each time, as some fabrics and materials react to certain amounts of nail polish remover due to the acetone it contains. You may wish to do a test area first.
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3. 
   3
   Begin to press and rub with the polish remover along the surfaces of the shoes. Stick the same motion, in order to get the same, consistent level of cleanliness.
4. 
   4
   After you are satisfied with how clean the shoes are, use a tissue or napkin to rub off the nail polish remover. This will ensure they are dry and fully clean, as well as making sure there's no residue left on the shoes.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cloth

1. 
   1
   Use a wet cleaning cloth and some dish-washing liquid.
2. 
   2
   Grab a sponge or cloth and wet it slightly. Add a small amount of dish-washing liquid and begin to scrub the shoe until you are satisfied with the results.
3. 
   3
   Clean the cloth you are using every so often. This will make sure you're getting the best possible clean.
4. 
   4
   Using the damp cloth or sponge, wipe off any excess reside to make sure there's no bubbles. You might have to do this a few times to make sure there is no residue left.
5. 
   5
   Go over the shoe one last time (or several more times depending on how wet/damp your shoe still is) with a dry napkin or tissue or towel. This will dry the outside thoroughly. However, you may have to leave the shoes outside or near on open window to make sure they are completely dry and ready for use.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Sanitiser/Rubbing Alcohol

1. 
   1
   Replace nail polish remover of the first method with hand sanitiser or rubbing alcohol. Follow the steps outlined in the first method but replace the nail polish remover with either hand sanitiser or rubbing alcohol.

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Tips

• Be sure to change the item you are using to clean the actual shoe (cloth, sponge, cotton swab, etc.) every so often, or when you feel that it is getting too dirty.
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• If one method isn't working, try another one.
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Warnings

• If you have sensitive skin or you are allergic to any of the ingredients, be sure to wear gloves of some sort. Or, protect your hands in some way to help decrease any risk of an allergic reaction.
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• It's best to work on some kind of disposable surface like newspaper, to ensure you don't spill nail polish remover or anything else on a surface that you don't want ruined.
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• Always test the method you have decided to use with the material of the shoe for at least 24 hours to ensure the fabric does not have some kind of reaction with the materials.
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