How To Wash Air Force 1’s

Anybody who has ever owned a pair of Nike’s Air Force 1s will testify to the fact that the shoes are a nightmare to clean.

Due to their material and color, Air Force 1s can get dirty pretty quickly, and cleaning them can often be tedious.

In this guide, I will go over the steps you need to follow to wash and clean a pair of Air Force 1s.

Here are the 5 steps:

  • 1. Prepare the Air Force 1s.
  • 2. Scrub them.
  • 3. Dry them.
  • 4. Wash the laces.
  • 5. Put the laces back on.

Read on to discover more about how to wash Air Force 1s. Happy reading!

What you need

To get started with cleaning and washing your Air Force 1s, here’s what you need:

  • Baking soda
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Vinegar
  • Mild detergent
  • Old toothbrush or brush to scrub the shoes

Step 1 – Prepare the Air Force 1s for cleaning

Before you start cleaning your Air Force 1s, you need to prepare them for the cleaning process.

Firstly, take off the laces. The laces need to be cleaned and washed separately, so taking them off before cleaning the shoes is essential.

Once the laces are removed, proceed to step 2.

Step 2 – Scrub away the dirt

This is the cleaning part. To get started, you’ll need to apply a cleaning solution on the shoes and scrub away the dirt using an old toothbrush or some other brush.

For the cleaning solution, you have multiple options:

  • Apple cider vinegar. Add half a cup of apple cider vinegar to a bowl and mix it with some water.
  • Baking soda. Combine and mix baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl until the mixture isn’t lumpy.
  • Soap/detergent. Make a soapy solution by mixing soap or detergent with water.

Whatever option you go for, apply the mixture on the surface of the Air Force 1s evenly and scrub away the dirt.

Step 3 – Dry the shoes

This step is important. Drying your Air Force 1s after you’re done scrubbing and cleaning them is something most people do incorrectly. 

After the shoes are scrubbed, make sure no water is left in the shoes as it can damage them. Accumulated water can create unpleasant smells and result in mold.

Once you’ve made sure there’s no water left, you can air dry the shoes. Avoid using a blow dryer to dry them as it may cause damage. 

Step 4 – Wash and clean the laces

Washing and cleaning the laces on your Air Force 1s is really simple.

Simply soak them in a soap or detergent solution for about half an hour.

After that, use an old toothbrush to scrub away the dirt while the laces are wet.

Moreover, you can pop the laces into your washing machine and run it on a gentle cycle.

You can dry the laces by simply hanging them outdoors and letting them air-dry.

Step 5 – Put the laces back on

Once the laces of your Air Force 1s are washed, scrubbed, and dried, you can put them back into the shoes.

There – you’re done! Your Air Force 1s are like new and ready to be worn!

Final thoughts

Washing a pair of Nike’s Air Force 1s may not be difficult but you do have to do it correctly to avoid damaging the shoes.

First, the shoes are prepared for cleaning. Then, a cleaning solution is applied on them and dirt is scrubbed away using an old toothbrush.

After that, the shoes are dried and the laces are washed and cleaned. 

These are the steps needed to wash and clean a pair of Air Force 1s properly and safely.