Your Jordans are more than sneakers. For many people, they're an investment and a collection piece with real financial value. Knowing how to clean Jordans properly matters, because a pair caked in dirt and scuff marks loses value every week it sits uncleaned.

The global sneaker resale market hit $10.6 billion in 2022 and is on track to reach $51.2 billion by 2032, according to a report from Market Decipher. Condition plays a massive role in what any pair fetches on the secondary market. How you clean and maintain your Jordans directly affects their worth.

This guide walks through the full cleaning process with material-specific instructions for leather, patent leather, nubuck, and mesh uppers, plus a quick-clean method for touch-ups between deep washes.

Dirty shoes are more than an eyesore. Dirt and grime actively break down the materials holding the shoe together. Dried mud cracks leather panels.

Salt residue eats through stitching over time. Clean pairs in near-deadstock condition pull 80 to 90% of retail value on resale platforms. Visibly worn pairs drop to 50 or 60%, according to data from METAZ.

Regular cleaning keeps your shoes in that higher bracket by preventing the buildup that ages materials prematurely. A quality shoe cleaning kit and a consistent routine are all it takes to stay on top of sneaker maintenance.

Shoes pick up bacteria from every surface you walk on. A University of Arizona study found an average of 421,000 units of bacteria on shoe exteriors. That buildup works into the shoe's interior, causes odor, and breaks down padding and lining from the inside. Cleaning protects how the shoe looks and how long it lasts.

You can clean Jordans at home with basic supplies. Get everything together before you start.

• Soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works)

• Microfiber cloths or clean white towels

• Mild dish soap or gentle laundry detergent

• Lukewarm water (never hot)

• Small bowl for mixing your cleaning solution

• Paper towels or newspaper for drying

• Shoe trees for maintaining shape during drying (optional but recommended)

For quick touch-ups on soles, midsoles, and non-porous uppers, SneakERASERS cut out all the setup. Add a little water to activate the sponge and swipe across the surface. They're the #1 selling shoe cleaner on Amazon with over 13,000 reviews, and they work in seconds without mixing or mess.

A few things to keep away from your Jordans:

• Bleach yellows synthetic fabrics and weakens fibers.

• Hot water loosens the adhesive bonding the sole to the upper.

• Colored cloths transfer dye onto wet materials.

• Abrasive brushes scratch delicate finishes like patent leather.

These steps are the best way to clean Jordans regardless of model or colorway. Material-specific adjustments come in the next section, but this is the core process.

Pull your laces out before doing anything else. Dirt hides at every eyelet and underneath laces where you can't see it during a surface wipe.

Take out the insoles. They trap sweat and bacteria that need separate cleaning.

Give the inside of the shoe a quick look. Loose stitching or peeling along glue lines means you'll want a lighter touch during the wash.

Use a dry soft-bristled brush to knock off dried mud, dust, and debris from the outsoles, midsoles, and uppers. Do this before any water touches the shoe.

Wet dirt turns into mud and pushes deeper into the material. Always start dry. Tap the soles together over a trash can to shake out anything stuck in the tread grooves. The same dry-first rule applies when cleaning cleats after a game on a wet field. If your Jordans picked up heavy mud or trail dirt, the process for cleaning muddy shoes applies before these standard steps.

When cleaning the soles of your Jordans, start with the rubber outsole. It handles firm pressure well, so use a stiff brush with warm soapy water and work through each tread groove until the rubber is clean.

The midsole needs a different approach. Foam compresses under too much force, so switch to a soft brush with gentle circular motions.

SneakERASERS make this step faster. The dual-sided sponges remove scuff marks and grime from these non-porous surfaces with a light swipe. The white side cleans, and the orange side wipes away residue and gives you a solid grip on the sponge.

Wipe everything down with a damp cloth before moving to the uppers.

Dip a soft cloth or sponge in your lukewarm soapy water and wring it out until it's damp, not soaking. Excess water near the glue lines weakens the adhesive bonds holding the shoe together.

Wipe in gentle motions across the upper, working in sections. Rinse the cloth often so you aren't spreading dirty water around. Your approach from here depends on what material your Jordans are made of.

Skip the dryer, the radiator, the heat vent, and direct sunlight. Heat warps foam midsoles and softens adhesives. UV exposure yellows and weakens synthetic materials over time.

Stuff your shoes with white paper towels or plain newspaper (avoid colored pages since the ink transfers onto wet interiors). Set them in a well-ventilated room at normal temperature.

Full drying takes 12 to 24 hours. A fan pointed at the shoes speeds this up without adding heat.

Air Jordan models vary widely in their upper materials, and each reacts to cleaning differently. Using the wrong method on the wrong material causes more damage than the dirt itself. Figure out what your Jordans are made of before you touch the uppers with anything wet.

Most classic Air Jordans use leather uppers. The Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 3 are the obvious examples, and plenty of Air Jordan 5 colorways feature leather panels. The same leather construction appears on Nike Air Force 1s, so these cleaning steps apply to both silhouettes. Leather is durable but responds poorly to careless cleaning.

Wipe with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild soap. Work with the grain of the leather, not against it. Going against the grain scuffs the surface.

For soles and midsoles, SneakERASERS handle scuffs quickly. On the leather upper itself, use the sponges carefully with light pressure. They clean well, but they won't condition the leather.

Apply a thin coat of leather conditioner after cleaning to prevent drying and cracking. Dry with a clean cloth right away. Water spots set fast on leather. And the same principles apply when cleaning white leather shoes and cleaning Adidas Sambas, which share a similar leather upper construction.

The Air Jordan 11 is the most recognizable patent leather Jordan. That glossy finish is tough and easy to maintain, but it shows every fingerprint and smudge more than any other shoe material.

A damp microfiber cloth handles most routine cleaning on patent leather. Soap usually isn't needed for everyday upkeep. For scuffs on the patent leather rand or the rubber outsole, SneakERASERS work well with a gentle swipe.

Dry patent leather right after cleaning. Water spots form fast on that slick surface. Buff lightly with a dry microfiber cloth to restore the shine.

Nubuck shows up on the Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 12 most often. It has a soft matte texture that's far more delicate than smooth leather. The same applies to suede Jordans, which share similar cleaning challenges.

Brush nubuck with a soft brush in one direction to preserve the nap. Avoid water on nubuck surfaces whenever possible. Moisture darkens the material and can leave marks that won't come out.

For the rubber soles on nubuck Jordans, SneakERASERS work the same as on any other model. Keep the sponge away from the nubuck upper panels. Stubborn marks on nubuck call for a specialized nubuck eraser (not a typical household eraser). Apply light pressure to lift surface stains without water.

Many modern Jordan models and retro reissues have mesh or fabric panels for breathability. These porous materials trap dirt deeper than leather or patent surfaces. For Jordans with white mesh panels, the techniques for cleaning white mesh shoes prevent yellowing and keep the fabric bright.

Dab gently with a damp cloth and mild soap. Don't press hard on mesh. It stretches under pressure and tears if you're too aggressive.

SneakERASERS sponges work best on non-porous surfaces like soles and midsoles. For mesh and fabric uppers, SneakERASERS SOAK is the right call. Submerge the shoe in lukewarm water with SOAK for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

SOAK is made for porous materials and handles laces and fabric-heavy insoles the same way.

When your Jordans need a quick touch-up between deep cleans, SneakERASERS handle soles, midsoles, and non-porous uppers in under a minute.

Add a little water to the sponge to activate it. Hold the sponge by the orange side for a comfortable grip. Swipe the white side gently across the surface you're cleaning.

After the white side lifts the grime, flip to the orange side to wipe away any residue left behind.

Swipe, don't scrub. Light pressure makes the sponges last longer and prevents damage to the shoe's surface.

The sponges wear down as you use them, similar to how a pencil eraser shrinks over time. That's normal and means they're doing their job.

They're compact enough to throw in a bag for on-the-go cleaning. SneakERASERS appeared on ABC's Shark Tank with investors Lori Greiner and Alex Rodriguez, and the sponges have cleaned over six million shoes since launch. You'll find them at Walmart, Costco, CVS, Target, Amazon, and more than 30,000 other retail locations.

For mesh or fabric uppers, reach for SneakERASERS SOAK instead. The sponges are built for hard, non-porous surfaces. SOAK handles porous materials.

Your Jordans look right after cleaning, but they won't stay that way without some follow-up. Consistent shoe care keeps you from having to deep-clean every week.

Apply a leather conditioner to leather panels after every deep clean. A thin layer prevents drying and cracking over time. Keep conditioner away from mesh or fabric sections.

A water and stain repellent spray creates a barrier against spills and weather. Reapply every few weeks or after each cleaning for consistent protection.

Store your Jordans in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight. Cedar shoe trees absorb moisture and odor and help the shoe hold its shape between wears. Original boxes or clear storage containers keep dust off.

Rotating between pairs gives each shoe time to air out and dry fully. The same applies to basketball shoes, running shoes, and every other sneaker in your rotation. Sweat and moisture trapped inside break down interior materials faster than outside dirt does.

After each wear, knock off any loose dirt and give the soles a quick swipe with SneakERASERS. That 30-second habit prevents buildup from becoming a problem.

These cleaning mistakes cause permanent damage.

Machine washing subjects your Jordans to heat, tumbling, and spin cycles that warp foam, loosen adhesive bonds, and stretch or tear uppers. Hand washing is the standard for cleaning shoes of any type and takes just 15 to 20 minutes with zero risk.

Bleach is another common mistake. It yellows synthetic fabrics and breaks down fibers even on white pairs. Mild soap and lukewarm water handle white Jordans safely.

Heat drying from hair dryers, radiators, or tumble dryers softens foam midsoles and degrades adhesives. Air dry only.

Harsh chemicals and strong detergents strip finishes and leave behind residue that attracts more dirt.

Colored cloths transfer dye onto wet shoe materials, leaving new stains behind instead of removing them. Stick with white cloths.

Waiting too long between cleanings lets stains set and become permanent. Regular maintenance is always easier than a full restoration.

Quick sneaker cleaning tips and answers to the questions that come up most.

No. Heat and agitation warp foam midsoles, weaken adhesives, and damage uppers. Hand washing takes 15 to 20 minutes and gets better results without any risk.

A full deep clean every two to four weeks for daily-wear pairs. Quick touch-ups on soles and midsoles after each wear using SneakERASERS or a damp cloth. If you picked up a pre-owned pair, cleaning thrifted shoes requires a more thorough initial wash before settling into a regular schedule.

No. Bleach yellows synthetic materials and weakens fibers over time, even on white shoes. Use mild soap and lukewarm water. For deep stains on mesh or fabric, SneakERASERS SOAK handles it without the damage.

Now you know how to clean Jordans the right way. The right method for each material keeps them looking and performing their best for years, and it doesn't have to be complicated.

A quick post-wear routine with SneakERASERS handles soles and midsoles in seconds. When mesh or fabric uppers need a deeper clean, SOAK takes care of it overnight. A full hand wash every few weeks keeps everything from leather to patent leather in solid shape.

Your Jordans are an investment. Protecting that investment takes 30 seconds after each wear. Grab SneakERASERS at erasers.com or pick up a pack the next time you're at Walmart, Target, or Amazon. 

References

Gerba, Charles P. "Study Reveals High Bacteria Levels on Footwear." Cleaning Industry Research Institute, ciriscience.org/ieq-measurement/study-reveals-high-bacteria-levels-on-footwear/.

Ding, Xincheng. "The Sneaker Value: A Disquisition Into Sneaker Resale Market." Syracuse University, 2023. SURFACE, surface.syr.edu/thesis/626/.

"Protection from Light Damage." Northeast Document Conservation Center, nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/2.-the-environment/2.4-protection-from-light-damage.