How to Clean White Hoka Shoes

White Hoka running shoes may look great but after you have used them outside in all weathers they can quickly start to look dirty. This means you need to learn how to clean your White Hoka shoes to stop them from deteriorating fast.

Cleaning white Hoka shoes isn’t quite as simple as colored sneakers because you don’t want to turn them yellow or get the dirt ingrained into the material. So how do you take care of your Hoka running shoes and make them last longer?

Here are some methods I use to clean white sneakers but I should give you a word of warning. Only one method is officially sanctioned by the brand. That means if you try and clean Hoka sneakers any other way other than by their recommendation don’t expect to get your money back if you ruin them.

I always say tread cautiously unless your sneakers are really old! So let’s dive in and look at what you can do to clean your Hoka shoes.

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Washing Hoka Shoes – The Brands Recommendation

If you want to know how to clean white Hoka Shoes the first method you have to use is the cleaning process recommended by the brand itself. They clearly have tested the cleaning process with their footwear so their care instructions really should be listened to.

Here’s what they say about keeping their footwear clean.

Take Your Shoes Apart

By this I mean remove the laces from your Hokas, take out the liners and inserts, and put them to one side.

Clean The Laces

This is the easy part. The laces of your shoes can be washed on a cold wash with normal washing detergent in with your other whites.

If you are worried about losing them put them in a laundry bag. When the wash is finished allow them to air dry naturally. Do not put them in a dryer.

Clean Your Hoka Shoes

I know how dirty Hokas can get as my sister-in-law wears them when she is trailing running. They can get caked in dirt after just one run. Wait until this dirt and mud is dry before trying to remove it with a brush.

Then use a gentle detergent or dish soap mixed with cold water to clean the main body of the shoes. A soft bristled brush should do the job as you work it into the dirty parts of the shoes. As the product starts to lather check to see if it has removed the dirt and then wipe this away with a dry cloth. Make sure the cloth is white to prevent any dye transfer onto your white shoes.

If your white Hoka shoes are made out of mesh material just be wary about scrubbing your sneakers too hard as it can cause the material to fray. This is why a softer brush or toothbrush makes more sense for cleaning.

Finally, wipe away any excess lather with a damp cloth using only cold water.

Drying Your Hokas

Blot your Hokas with a dry cloth and leave them to dry overnight. Do not stuff your white Hoka’s with newspaper as the brand suggests in case it comes off on your newly cleaned shoes. Instead, use white paper or cotton towels.

Make sure you dry the shoes indoors away from sunlight and heat which can warp your shoes.

Best Way to Clean Hoka Shoes – Sneaker Cleaner

Clearly, the Hoka shoes method has been tried and tested plus it costs you virtually nothing to remove dirt and grime however it is labor intensive and can be a bit hit and miss.

This is why I prefer the next method which is to use a great shoe cleaner to do the hard work for you. My absolute go-to product for this is the Jason Markk Cleaning Kit With Brush.

If you haven’t heard of this product then let me fill you in. It has loads of positive reviews and is brilliant for cleaning all shoe materials and colors including white shoes. It has been approved for everything from leather and suede to cotton mesh and canvas so it is the perfect product for white sneakers.

This starter kit can clean up to 50 pairs of shoes which means a little goes a long way.

Using Jason Markk Cleaning Solution On Your Sneakers

This product is super simple to use which is why I love it when I am washing sneakers.

As before remove the inserts, liners, and shoe laces from your shoes. Then remove any debris or surface dirt with a soft brush.

Next, dip the brush which comes with the solution into some cold water, take it out, and then put some of the cleaning solution onto the brush. Now all you need to do is scrub the brush over your sneakers to remove any grime.

Finally, remove the excess lather with a dry cloth and blot dry.

Leave your shoes to dry overnight away from direct sunlight or heat and your white sneakers should be transformed.

Can You Put Hoka Shoes In The Washing Machine?

If you want to know how to clean white Hoka shoes and are looking for quick solutions then you have probably thought about whether you can put them in the washing machine.

Well, if you are thinking of machine washing your Hokas think again and the manufacturers make it very clear that this is a very bad idea. Oh and don’t even think about cleaning shoes in a dishwasher either!

Machine washing your running shoes may seem like a good idea but a washing machine is highly likely to cause damage to your sneakers. The process tends to impact the fibers, dissolve any glued parts, and generally quickens the rate at which they deteriorate. Using a washing machine can also impact the shape of your sneakers.

If you do want to use a washing machine to clean Hoka sneakers only do it if you are prepared for them to be ruined in the process.

Machine Washing Hoka Sneakers

If you want to know how to clean white Hoka shoes in the washing machine without ruining them make sure you use a delicate cycle, use cold water, and add a very mild soap or detergent. Never use bleach or harsh chemicals.

To try and protect your shoes as much as you can put them in a laundry bag whilst they are in the wash.

Make sure your shoes are completely dry before wearing them again then review the results. Bear in mind that using a washing machine even on a gentle cycle may not impact your shoes visibly in some cases for a few washes so don’t think everything is ok if you have got away with it. You are shortening the life of your sneakers if you use this method and Hokas are not cheap!

How to Clean Hoka Shoes With Baking Soda and Vinegar

The next method isn’t an approved way of washing your Hoka shoes so if you do want to try this then remember you are taking a risk with your cleaning. However, baking soda and white vinegar are well-tested products which mean that plenty of people have used them without any problems.

If you do decide to use this method then you will need to mix some baking soda into a paste by adding water. Make sure the consistency of what you are using is thick rather than runny.

Then apply this paste to the dirty areas of your Hoka shoes and let it sit for twenty minutes.

Whilst that is working away get a spray bottle and mix a solution of 50% white vinegar to 50% water. Shake to mix together and then spray this onto the Hoka shoes after the twenty minutes is up.

The two products create a chemical reaction that foams and this should help lift the dirt and stains from the material of your Hoka shoes.

You can gently scrub the areas as well with a soft brush to get more dirt out of your shoes but remember to do this carefully if you have white mesh shoes.

Remove any excess product with cold clean water and then allow it to air dry.

How To Clean Hoka Shoes With a Magic Eraser

I know that if you wash Hoka shoes you are going for a deeper clean but sometimes you may only need a spot clean, especially in the dry summer months. In this case, a magic eraser may be enough for smaller stains or dirt patches.

I buy magic erasers in bulk and use them around the house for other cleaning jobs so they are a brilliant multi-tasker. They are also great for white Hoka shoes because when you use them they won’t mark your sneakers.

To use them all you need to do is dampen it with cold water and rub the problem area of your Hokas. The magic eraser lives up to its name and removes the grime and stains.

The only issue with the erasers is that they can leave behind white foamy bits on your shoes but these can be removed with a damp cloth.

Preventing Your Hokas From Getting Dirty

Learning how to clean white Hoka shoes isn’t difficult but there is a way of limiting the need to wash your shoes and that is by taking preventative measures to stop them getting dirty in the first place.

White Hokas are naturally going to attract dirt so if you take a few simple steps you can keep them cleaner for longer.

Apply a Water and Stain Repellent

Water and stain-repellent sprays are great for stopping your shoes from getting too dirty and take hardly any time to reply.

Use a protector like Crep Protect Spray to repel stains and water. Remember this will need to be reapplied regularly to keep your sneakers looking good.

Don’t Wear Them in the Mud and Dirt

The next tip should be obvious but I’ll mention it anyway. White sneakers are really not the best color for using when it is really dirty or muddy.

If the weather is bad and you know that your sneakers will get covered in mud use another pair of run another day.

Keep Them Smelling Fresh

You don’t just want to keep the outside of your sneakers looking clean and fresh you also need to think about the inside as well.

Sneaker Deoderizer balls are something that I pop into my shoes when I am not wearing them to get rid of any bad smells. They couldn’t be easier to use and they can last for up to a year before you need to replace them.

Store Them Properly

Finally a really simple last tip. When you take off your Hokas store them properly so they don’t get dirty.

Don’t be the person who throws their shoes into a random pile at the bottom of a cupboard because the dirt from other shoes will mark your white footwear. Get a simple storage system and put them on a rack and you’ll keep your white Hoka shoes looking pristine for much longer and minimize the need for any washing.

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