How I Clean My Kicks

I’ve always kept my kicks clean, ever since I was in grade school. That was just the way it was; kids wanted their kicks to be clean. This is something that transcends class and/or race; from the suburbs of Washington DC to the projects in Brooklyn, your kicks have to be clean if you want to look fresh.

As time has passed by, I’ve refined my methods on how I clean my kicks. I don’t know if these are the best methods to use, but I do know that they work for me. This information has been gathered over countless hours at a sink, lathering, scrubbing, rinsing, wiping, and doing it all again. Let’s begin.

At first, I used a plain, old toothbrush, preferably NOT the one you use to brush your teeth (assuming that you brush your teeth… if you don’t brush your teeth, click out of this and search “Dirty and stankin’-ass mouth and how to clean it” IMMEDIATELY), and dishwashing detergent. This is still an acceptable route to go, if it’s the only one you can afford. As long as you are diligent with your cleaning routine, this should be fine. If you don’t clean your kicks on an every-wear basis (or you’re just a dirty fucker that stomps around in mud and shit, puts shitbag fires out with your kicks, or skates in your J’s), you might need something with a little more power.

After a while, I started to do a little research, as well as some experimenting, and the method that I’ve come up with is this:

-          For non-suede/nubuck kicks (i.e. leather), I use the Jason Markk cleaning kit (click HERE to buy Jason Markk merchandise - the premium kit is a good place to start) , along with a Mr. Clean “Magic Eraser” (you can find these at any major grocery store), and a toothbrush for spot-cleaning jobs that need a finer touch.

o   Although pricey, the Jason Markk cleaner is, in my opinion, the best cleaner out there. It doesn’t use harsh chemicals, yet it is able to clean most stains with ease. The brush is also top-notch. When the two products are used together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

§  For things that can’t be cleaned with this combo, the Magic Eraser will knock it out.

·         The Magic Eraser is especially useful on the midsole.

o   Always clean the bottoms of your kicks, if not after every wear, at least once every 3 to 5 wears, and most definitely if there is a stain on the bottom

§  Failure to immediately clean off particularly grimy substances will result in a permanent stain (this has happened to a pair of Concords, so trust me, I know)

§  For all my kicks, I use the Jason Markk cleaner and brush for the bottoms of the shoes. For things that get caught between the groves of the outsole (i.e. gum, rocks, dirt, etc.), I use the pointy tip of the nail-file thingy that is a part of most nail clippers. Of course, make sure to clean the nail-file off when you’re done, unless you want to get yelled at by your girlfriend.

§  The Magic Eraser also works well for tough-to-remove stains.

-          For suede/nubuck kicks, I use a typical foam nubuck/suede cleaner you can find at most shoe stores (the ones with a prickly plastic cap).

o   This is a fairly new thing for me, so if anyone has a better idea/solution on how they clean their kicks, please let me know in the comments section.

o   Make sure to follow the directions, and spot-check in an area that isn’t visible if you have any doubts as to whether the cleaner might leave a stain on your kicks (and don’t get mad at me if it does. It ain’t my fault!)

o   The most important thing to remember is to wipe/dry off the cleaner immediately after you’re done scrubbing (gently, but not too gently – don’t be a pussy about it!). The longer the stuff sits in the suede/nubuck, the higher chance you have of ruining your kicks.

§  If you decide to use water and soap or something else, DO NOT LET THE SHOES SOAK AT ALL, and DO NOT SATURATE THE SHOES WITH WATER/LIQUID/ANYTHING ELSE. This will most definitely leave you with a fuzzy, totally fucked shoe. This I also know from experience, so please, take my advice. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TAKE MY ADVICE MAN!!!!

·         From what I’ve gleaned through my many years of experience, the most detrimental thing you can do, when dealing with suede/nubuck, is letting it get saturated, and not drying it off immediately when cleaning. As long as you do that, you should be fine.

§  Also, don’t be scared bruh. When I first purchased the nubuck/suede foam cleaner that I now use, I bought them to remove a small stain on my Black/Infrared 6s. It took me damn near an hour before I mustered up enough courage to apply the foam, because I didn’t want to ruin my shoe, which cost me around $500. Once I did apply the foam, I scrubbed the stain in a light, circular motion, and dried them immediately with a soft hand towel. To my surprise/pleasure/immense relief, the stain was gone and the material was totally fine. So, long story short, don’t be scared. Have faith. But, do your research online before using any product on your suede/nubuck. Remember the part where I said spot-check on an area that isn’t highly visible? Fuck that. Before you do that, go online and search the product you are planning on using, and how it works with the exact material you’re going to use it on. Just because it works fine with suede, doesn’t mean it will work fine on every suede shoe. Well, maybe it does, but I’m not taking any risks here, and neither should you!

Basically, there are several ways you can clean your kicks. I’m not saying my way is the best way; all I’m saying is this is what I do, and it works well for me.  The most important thing to remember is always do your research before cleaning your kicks, more so when cleaning nubuck or suede. It is much different than leather, and as such, it needs to be cleaned differently. It only takes a few minutes to do a Google search, and those few minutes could end up saving you a lifetime of grief. All in all, use my method, or experiment and figure out the method that works best for you. Hopefully, this helps someone out. Thanks for reading, and check out my youtube channel if you haven’t already. Peace!