How to Clean the Inside of Shoes: Easy Steps, With or Without Washing

Quick Discussion

To clean the inside of shoes, take out the insoles and laces, brush or vacuum out the debris, wipe the lining with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then let everything air dry away from heat. Wash the insoles separately. To disinfect, use a product made for fabric and keep it wet for the time on its label.

• Do not soak the inside. SneakERASERS says to wring the cloth until it is just damp when the insole cannot come out.

• Drying takes time. Nike says many shoes need at least 8 hours at room temperature.

• Rubbing alcohol works best at 60 to 90% strength, the CDC says, but with prolonged, repeated use it can swell and harden rubber and some plastics, so use it sparingly on shoes.

• Vinegar is not an EPA-registered disinfectant and works on only some germs (Healthline), so do not rely on it to disinfect.

• Rotate pairs so each one dries for a day. AAD, Mayo Clinic and the NHS all give this advice.

On this page: 5 steps | Which method | Without washing | Insoles | By material | Disinfect | Smell | Drying | After athlete's foot | How often | What brands say | Atoms shoes | FAQ

How do you clean the inside of shoes?

You clean the inside of shoes in five steps: remove the insoles and laces, clear out loose dirt, wipe the lining with a damp soapy cloth, clean the insoles on their own, and air dry everything fully. The hands-on work is quick, and the drying takes much longer. Here is each step with what shoe brands advise.

1. Take out the insoles and laces. Allbirds says to remove insoles and laces before washing, adidas says to remove them before machine washing, and Nike says to take insoles out to clean them.

2. Shake, brush or vacuum out grit and dust, so you do not rub it into the lining.

3. Mix a little mild soap into water and wipe the inside with a cloth that is damp, not wet. Vans recommends a damp cloth and mild soap for insoles.

4. Clean the insoles separately with the same soapy water, or see the insole section below.

5. Air dry at room temperature, with paper stuffed inside to help hold the shape (Converse). Put the insoles back only when they are fully dry (Nike).

Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, such as the edge of the tongue, as Converse suggests. Leave out bleach unless the maker says it is safe.

Which method should you use to clean inside your shoes?

Match the method to the problem. A quick wipe handles everyday dust, baking soda handles mild odor overnight, a deep clean handles grime, and a fabric disinfectant handles bacteria and viruses. Shoes worn with a fungal infection need an antifungal powder or spray, as the AAD advises. The table shows what each method does and what it does not do.

How do you clean the inside of shoes without washing them?

To clean the inside of shoes without washing, work dry or with very little moisture. Vacuum or brush out debris, pull the insoles and air them, sprinkle baking soda overnight and shake it out, then wipe with a barely damp cloth. Finish with a fabric disinfectant if you need to kill germs.

1. Vacuum the inside with a narrow nozzle, or brush it with a dry soft brush.

2. Take out the insoles and leave the shoes open to air overnight. Cleveland Clinic advises against wearing the same shoes every day so they can dry out.

3. Sprinkle baking soda inside, leave it overnight or up to 24 hours, then shake it out (Nike).

4. Wipe the lining with a cloth that is just damp with mild soapy water (SneakERASERS).

5. If you need to disinfect, spray the insole as the product label directs and let it dry for 24 hours, as podiatrist Joy Rowland advises in Cleveland Clinic.

Shoes you can wash in a machine have more options. Our guide to washing shoes in the washing machine covers what each brand allows.

How do you clean shoe insoles?

Take removable insoles out and clean them on their own with mild soap and water, or leave them overnight in a bowl or bag with a little baking soda, then scrub, rinse and air dry. For insoles glued in place, wipe them with a barely damp cloth instead. Replace insoles that still smell after cleaning, as Nike suggests.

• Removable insoles: Converse says to rub them gently with a cloth, sponge or soft brush. Arm and Hammer suggests putting 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a bowl or bag with the insoles overnight, then scrubbing and rinsing them with water.

• Glued-in insoles: do not soak them. SneakERASERS says to use a cloth wrung out until it is just damp.

• When to replace: Nike says to replace insoles if the odor does not go away.

• Drying: let insoles dry fully before you put them back (Nike).

Our guide to what the insole of a shoe does explains insole types, and our guide to replacing insoles covers when to swap them.

How do you clean the inside of shoes by material?

Clean the inside of shoes by the material of the lining. Knit, mesh and canvas linings take mild soap and a damp cloth. In our view, leather linings need very little water, no alcohol and slow drying at room temperature. Check the maker's care page first, because glue and dyes react differently.

For mesh uppers, our guide to cleaning mesh shoes covers the outside too.

How do you disinfect the inside of shoes?

To disinfect the inside of shoes, clean them first, then use a product labeled to disinfect fabric and keep the surface wet for the full contact time on the label. The EPA says the surface should stay wet the whole time. If you wipe it dry straight away, you have cleaned it, not disinfected it.

The label tells you whether a product sanitizes or disinfects, and how long each takes. For example, Lysol Fabric Disinfectant must stay wet for 30 seconds to sanitize and 10 minutes to disinfect, and it is not for leather.

Before using any product inside a shoe, test it on a hidden seam. Clorox's bleach colorfastness test is a good model: one very small drop, a one minute wait, then rinse, and stop if the color changes.

How do you get the smell out of the inside of shoes?

Shoe smell comes from bacteria breaking down sweat, so the fix is to clean the insoles, dry the shoes fully between wears and keep feet drier. Nike says the odor comes from bacterial waste such as isovaleric acid, and a 2015 study linked Staphylococcus on the sole of the foot to that compound.

• Rotate shoes so each pair dries for a day (Cleveland Clinic, NHS).

• Wear moisture-wicking socks and change them midday if your feet sweat. Cleveland Clinic suggests clean cotton socks and a spare moisture-wicking pair, while the APMA says 100% cotton absorbs but does not wick, so pick what keeps your feet driest.

• Use cornstarch, foot powder or antifungal powder on dry feet (APMA).

• See a doctor if smelly feet do not improve with self-care or affect daily life (NHS).

Our full guide on how to deodorize shoes covers every odor method in detail.

How do you dry the inside of shoes?

Dry the inside of shoes at room temperature with the insoles out and paper stuffed inside, and swap the paper when it gets damp. Most brands say to keep shoes away from heaters, dryers and direct sun. Expect at least 8 hours, and up to a full day.

• Nike says many shoes need at least 8 hours at room temperature, and adidas says air drying can take a full day.

• Arm and Hammer suggests stuffing shoes with newspaper and checking them at about 12 hours.

• adidas says never to put shoes in the dryer and warns that direct sun can melt or curl a shoe. Vans says to avoid tumble drying, heaters and direct sun.

• One Nike odor page suggests drying in the sun, which conflicts with this. We suggest following the care page for your exact pair.

Our guide to putting shoes in the dryer explains the risks in more detail.

How do you clean the inside of shoes after athlete's foot?

After athlete's foot or nail fungus, clean the shoes, then disinfect them or throw them out, use an antifungal powder or spray inside, and give each pair 24 hours to dry. The American Academy of Dermatology gives this advice to help prevent another nail infection, and the same steps suit shoes worn with athlete's foot.

• Harvard Health says athlete's foot fungus can linger in shoes for many months.

• AAD says to alternate shoes each day, because damp shoes encourage the fungus.

• Mayo Clinic advises rotating shoes and not sharing them.

• Treat your feet as well as your shoes. Mayo Clinic lists antifungal creams, powders and sprays, and a doctor can help if the infection keeps coming back.

How often should you clean the inside of your shoes?

Give shoes a thorough clean at least every couple of months, or every couple of weeks for sweaty athletic shoes. Podiatrist Anne Sharkey gives that timing in TIME. In our view, air shoes out after every wear and clean sooner after a soaking, a spill or any foot infection.

A small 2008 study by University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba with The Rockport Company found far fewer bacteria inside shoes than on the outside. A cold wash with detergent cut the inside count by 90% (study summary). It tested only 10 people, so treat the numbers as a rough guide.

What do shoe brands say about cleaning the inside?

Shoe brands agree on the basics: take the insoles out, use mild soap, avoid soaking and avoid heat. They differ on machine washing and sun. The table sums up what each brand's own care page says, so you can follow the advice for your exact pair.

How do you clean the inside of Atoms shoes?

Take out the Atoms insole and clean it with a soft bristled brush and your preferred gentle cleaning solution, as Atoms suggests, then air dry away from direct sun. The Atoms Help Center says machine washing is at your own risk, cold and gentle, and that you should never machine dry them.

• Atoms insoles are removable and replaceable (Atoms Help Center).

• Atoms says the insole is lined with copper yarn that kills bacteria and prevents odor (Atoms). We have not tested that claim. In our view, stick to a brush and gentle cleaner on this insole rather than alcohol or disinfectant sprays.

• Do not use OxiClean or bleach on Atoms. Atoms says they can discolor white pairs in particular (Atoms Help Center).

• The Model 251 is not machine washable (Atoms Help Center).

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I spray inside my shoes to disinfect them?

Use a spray labeled to disinfect fabric and keep it wet for the label contact time (EPA). Lysol Fabric Disinfectant needs 10 minutes to disinfect and is not for leather. After nail fungus, the AAD suggests an antifungal spray or powder in your shoes.

Can you put rubbing alcohol inside shoes?

Yes, on fabric linings, sparingly. The CDC says alcohol works best at 60 to 90% strength, is flammable, evaporates fast and can harden rubber with repeated use. Use it in a ventilated room away from heat or flame, and let it evaporate fully. Skip it on leather, which a cleaning pro says it can strip of color and crack (Homes and Gardens).

Can I use Dawn soap to clean the inside of my shoes?

A few drops of a mild dish soap in water work for most fabric linings. Vans recommends mild soap and a damp cloth. Test it on a hidden spot first (Converse), and rinse the cloth so you do not leave soap behind.

What can I put inside my shoes to stop them smelling?

Baking soda overnight, a little cornstarch, and dry shoes between wears. Cleveland Clinic suggests sprinkling a little cornstarch into your shoes and not wearing the same pair every day, and the APMA suggests cornstarch, foot powder or antifungal powder on dry feet.

Does vinegar disinfect the inside of shoes?

Vinegar kills only some germs and is not an EPA-registered disinfectant (Healthline). Never mix it with bleach. Use a labeled fabric disinfectant if you need to kill germs.

How long does it take for the inside of shoes to dry?

At least 8 hours at room temperature for many shoes (Nike), and up to a full day (adidas). Stuff them with paper and swap it when it gets damp.

Can you clean the inside of leather shoes?

Yes, with a leather cleaner and very little water. Dry them slowly at room temperature, because heat and sun can crack leather (Red Wing), and skip rubbing alcohol (Homes and Gardens).

Should you replace insoles instead of cleaning them?

Clean them first. If the odor stays after cleaning, Nike says to replace them. Atoms insoles are removable and replaceable (Atoms Help Center).

Can you put shoes in the washing machine to clean the inside?

Some brands allow it and others do not. Nike does not recommend it, while Allbirds allows a cold, gentle wash. See our guide to washing shoes in the washing machine.

Is the inside of a shoe dirtier than the outside?

Usually not. A small 2008 University of Arizona study with Rockport found far fewer bacteria inside shoes than on the outside (study summary). The inside still collects sweat and skin cells, which feed odor-causing bacteria.

Sources

This guide draws on care pages from Nike, adidas, Vans, Converse, Allbirds, Red Wing, Arm and Hammer and the Atoms Help Center, plus SneakERASERS.

Health guidance comes from Cleveland Clinic, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, the NHS, Harvard Health and TIME. Disinfecting facts come from the CDC, EPA, Lysol, Clorox, Healthline and Homes and Gardens, and odor and bacteria facts from a 2015 FEMS Microbiology Ecology study and a 2008 University of Arizona and Rockport study.

Atoms publishes this guide and makes sneakers. We link each source where we use it.

Hassaan Sabih writes for the Atoms editorial team about footwear, materials and shoe care.

Updated October 14, 2026: rewrote the guide with a five-step method, a no-washing method, insole, material, disinfecting, drying and athlete's foot sections, a brand care table and an FAQ, all linked to their sources.

Want sneakers with removable, replaceable insoles? See Atoms shoes.