Guide · Shoes, bags and accessories · October 24, 2026

How to Wash Canvas Shoes

Canvas shoes are light, breathable and suited to everyday wear, but their cotton fabric easily soaks up dust, mud and stains, and white pairs soon look dirty. The fabric of canvas shoes can be washed; what needs care is the adhesive that bonds the rubber sole to the fabric, and the shape of the shoe. This guide explains how to wash canvas shoes, how to machine wash canvas shoes and how to wash canvas sneakers. For trainers, see our guide how to wash trainers.

Before washing

Remove laces and insoles: wash the laces separately; for details, see how to wash shoelaces.
Remove dry dirt: knock the shoes together and use a dry brush to remove dried mud and dust.
Check the manufacturer's instructions: see whether the care instructions on the label or box allow machine washing.
Do a colour test: on coloured canvas shoes, wipe a hidden spot with a damp white cloth to check whether the dye runs.

How to hand wash canvas shoes?

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add a little liquid laundry detergent such as TETİK detergent for coloureds.
Dip a soft brush in the soapy water and gently scrub the fabric in circular motions.
Do not soak the shoe in water for long; the sole adhesive may be damaged.
Remove the foam with a cloth dampened in clean water and blot excess water with a towel.

How to machine wash canvas shoes?

Machine wash only canvas shoes whose manufacturer allows it.
Take out the laces and insoles and put the shoes in a laundry bag; add a few old towels so the drum stays balanced.
Choose a delicate programme at a cold or low temperature and a low spin speed.
Use only a little liquid detergent.
Do not put the shoes in the tumble dryer.

How to wash canvas sneakers?

Most of the shoes that people call canvas sneakers are made of cotton canvas and are washed using the steps above. Genuine linen or linen-blend fabrics can crease and shrink in water; wash these shoes by hand in cold or lukewarm water without pressing hard with the brush. Blot the water from the fabric with a towel and stuff the shoe with paper to keep its shape. On jute-soled (espadrille) models, do not wet the sole; jute absorbs water, loses its shape and dries slowly.

White canvas shoes

Wash white canvas shoes separately from coloured shoes and laundry.
Use a little laundry detergent for whites, such as TETİK detergent for whites.
Pre-treat stained areas before washing (how to use stain remover).
For yellowing on the rubber sole: how to clean shoe soles.
On why white shoes and soles turn yellow after washing: white shoes turn yellow.

How to dry canvas shoes?

Stuff the shoe with crumpled paper and change it as it gets wet.
Dry in the shade in an airy place; direct sunlight can yellow white fabric.
Do not use a radiator, stove or hair dryer; the adhesive softens.
Dry the insoles separately.
On the causes of odour inside shoes: why do my shoes smell.

What not to do

Leaving canvas shoes soaking in water for a long time.
Using bleach on canvas shoes.
Washing canvas shoes in hot water and drying them in a tumble dryer.
Wetting a jute-soled shoe.
Washing coloured and white shoes together.

For schools and sports clubs

In schools and sports clubs, canvas shoes are often worn in PE lessons and halls; brushing off dry dirt every day, hand washing the shoes at regular intervals, not wearing them until fully dry and washing white pairs separately from coloured ones make for a well-organised routine. For schools, see the school cleaning supplies list. TETİK detergents for coloureds and for whites are produced in 4 kg packs; for bulk purchases you can request a quote.

Prepared by: Tetikoğlu Kimya — cleaning chemicals manufacturer since 1997. When using products, always follow the instructions and warnings on the pack.

Frequently asked questions

Can canvas shoes be machine washed?

Canvas shoes whose manufacturer allows it can be machine washed with laces and insoles removed, in a laundry bag, at a cold or low temperature, on a delicate programme and with a low spin. They do not go in the tumble dryer.

What do you wash canvas shoes with?

Canvas shoes are washed with a soft brush in lukewarm water with a little liquid laundry detergent added; for white canvas shoes, a detergent for whites is used. Bleach is not used.

How can canvas shoes dry quickly?

Excess water is blotted from canvas shoes with a towel, they are stuffed with crumpled paper that is changed as it gets wet, and they are dried in the shade in an airy place. Heaters are not used.

Can ballet flats be washed like canvas shoes?

Fabric ballet flats are cleaned on the same principle as canvas shoes: by hand, with lukewarm water and a little detergent; leather, suede and embellished flats are not put in water but wiped with a damp cloth. The machine is not recommended for thin-soled and glued flats; stuff them with paper and dry them in the shade so they keep their shape. The steps by material are in the how to clean ballet flats guide.