How To Clean The Soles Of Shoes

1
Fill a container with a mixture of warm water and liquid dish soap. Run about 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the container, or just enough to cover the bottom and lower side edges of the shoes you’re cleaning. Add roughly 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of dish soap and stir the mixture with your hand until it forms a sudsy, uniform solution.^[8]

If you can’t find a suitably-sized container, put the stopper in your kitchen sink and run the water directly into the basin.

2
Soak your shoes in the soap solution for 15-20 minutes. Set your shoes down upright in the soapy water. While they sit, the combination of warm water and surfactants in the detergent will go to work breaking down the stains and leftover residue on the soles.^[9]
Warning: Make sure the soapy water doesn’t come up higher than the upper side edges of the soles. Getting your shoes wet could produce unsightly water spots or cause the colors of certain materials (such as suede) to run.^[10]

3
Scrub the soles of your shoes with a wet brush. Grab one of your shoes and dip an old toothbrush, shoe brush, or similar stiff-bristled brush into the soap solution. Polish the tread thoroughly with the bristles of the brush until it’s completely spotless, then repeat with the other shoe, cleaning and rewetting your brush as needed.^[11]^[12]

Be prepared to spend a little extra time on hard-to-reach spots and heavy stains. These areas tend to require more attention.
Don’t forget to go over the upper side edges of the soles, as well.

4
Dry your shoes with a microfiber cloth or allow them to air dry. Fold the cloth in half to make a thick pad and use it to dab at the standing water on the soles of your shoes. If you prefer, you can also hang your shoes up on a shoe rack or shoe tree and let them dry off naturally. This method takes a little longer, but it can be useful if you’re busy doing other things.^[13]

Another option is to simply set your shoes on a clean, dry towel, which will soak up any remaining moisture.
You can wear your shoes again as soon as they’re completely dry to the touch