Prep first
Before you start
- Fix the water source first and dry everything completely.
- Put on gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respirator before you touch the shoes.
- Brush loose mold off outdoors if you can, so spores don't scatter in the house.
Mold on shoes grows wherever moisture sits, and it can leave both a mark and a musty smell behind. On fabric, the mark is partly damage to the fibers, and mildew that has been there a long time weakens them, so an old stain may fade rather than fully clear. Fresh growth usually brushes off, while marks that have set in may need several rounds and a full dry before you can judge them.
Keep the shoes somewhere airy while you work, since damp lining keeps a mildew smell alive. For a mildew smell in sneakers, a vinegar wipe on the lining often works better than a spray. Mold on leather shoes needs a gentler hand, so test a hidden spot first and skip anything harsh.
Before you start
What shoes & sneakers can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid3
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Soft-bristled brushLifts loose mold and dirt without damaging the material. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloths and a dry microfiber towelFor dabbing the stain and blotting out the moisture. (opens Amazon)
- Cool water and a little mild soapUse just one cleaner, and keep it weak. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaMakes a paste for white or light shoes. (opens Amazon)
- Gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respiratorKeeps spores out of your breath and off your skin. (opens Amazon)
- Crumpled newspaper or shoe treesHolds the shape while the shoes air dry. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Brush off the loose mold outside
Take the shoes outside if you can, put on your gloves, goggles and respirator, and brush off any loose mold or mildew with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Doing it outdoors keeps the spores from scattering through the house. Brush off loose dirt the same way, keeping the strokes light.
Step 2 of 5
Check the label and test
Read the care tag and follow it over any general advice, or treat the shoes as delicate if there isn't one. Dampen a clean cloth, press it onto a small hidden spot, and see whether dye comes off onto it. If dye transfers, stick to spot cleaning only.
Step 3 of 5
Dab with soapy water
Dampen a clean cloth with cool water and a little mild soap, wringing it out so it's wet but not dripping. Gently pat or dab the stain, working from the outer edge toward the middle. Then pat again with a fresh damp cloth to lift away the soap.
Careful. Rubbing can damage the surface and spread the mark.
Step 4 of 5
Apply the baking soda paste
On white or light shoes, mix equal parts baking soda and water into a paste and work it into the mark with a soft brush. For a cap sweat stain, leave the paste on about 15 minutes before dabbing it away. Skip this step on dark shoes.
Step 5 of 5
Blot and air dry fully
Blot with a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to lift moisture and dirt, pressing rather than rubbing. Stuff the shoes with crumpled newspaper or put shoe trees in to hold their shape.
Air dry them completely at room temperature, which can take at least 8 hours. Wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold, so don't leave them damp.
Careful. Heat can deform or damage shoes, so never use a dryer.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on shoes & sneakers
Choose a plain mild liquid soap with no bleach or added dyes, and a soft-bristled brush for the dry brushing.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on shoes & sneakers, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The shoes are clean when the mark lifts onto the cloth and the fabric looks even, with no dull or darker patch left behind. Before you wear them, check that the inside and the lining are fully dry, since damp material is what lets mold come back.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your shoes & sneakers
Shoe lining
The smell usually comes from mold and moisture left in the lining, not from the outside of the shoe. Take out the insoles, brush out the loose mold, and wipe any lining you can reach with the same barely damp cloth.
Then give the shoes the full drying time before you judge the smell, because a damp lining keeps it going. Stuffing them with newspaper while they dry helps them hold their shape.
Leather shoes
Water is only safe in small amounts on leather, so keep the cloth barely damp and never soak it. Brush and wipe in the same light way, and don't scrub the leather hard.
If the mark stays after it dries, a household cleaning eraser or a leather conditioner is the next option, used with a light hand. Test either one on a hidden spot before using it on the visible area.
Sneakers and tennis shoes
Sneakers are usually bulky and often mesh or knit, so they need the gentlest handling. Clean them by hand with cool water, and work around the knit so you don't snag the yarn.
Take the insoles out and let them dry separately, since trapped moisture keeps the smell going. Let the sneakers air dry at room temperature with crumpled newspaper inside.
Boots
Boots are often leather or suede, so check the material before wetting anything. For suede boots, the Suede & Nubuck guide is the better place to go for the stubborn-stain method.
Smell in boots usually stays in the lining, so take out the insoles and let the inside dry completely. Use a shoe tree or crumpled newspaper inside the boots to hold their shape as they dry.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old mildew that has had time to settle may need more than one pass, and that's normal. If the shoes are still very dirty, repeat the brush-and-wipe steps.
Let them dry fully between rounds, since a damp lining can hold both the mark and the smell. Give each round the full drying time before you judge the result.
Be realistic about fabric, because mildew weakens fibers. Fabric badly damaged by mildew may be impossible to clean, so if the mark stays after a couple of careful rounds, it may be permanent.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on shoes & sneakers?
Plenty of home remedies float around for mold, but most of them are harsher than shoes can take. Stick with cool water and mild soap, and keep hot water and bleach off the shoes.
Works1Helps1Skip1Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't machine wash shoes
Delicate materials can be damaged, and bulky sneakers can damage the washer. Hand cleaning with a damp cloth gives you more control over the mark.
Don't use hot water on mesh
Heat can affect the dye, so stick to cool water, as the steps do. Keep the same rule for any colored upper.
Don't use bleach or harsh cleaners
Chlorine bleach isn't recommended for shoes, and harsh products can damage the material. Stick to the cool water and mild soap in the steps and skip any household cleaner that isn't meant for shoes.
Don't use a strong soap mix
A high concentration of dish soap can cause discoloration or strip natural oils from the material. A little mild soap in a bowl of cool water is enough.
When to call a professional
Most mold on shoes can be handled at home with the steps above. If a mark stays after several careful rounds, the damage is probably in the material, and a shoe repair or cleaning shop can tell you whether it's worth trying more.
Questions
Why is there still a shadow after cleaning?
The mark is often damage rather than dirt. The color left behind can be the shadow of tiny pits in the fiber surface where mildew has done harm, so it can stay even after the mold is gone.
How long before shoes are safe to wear again?
Wait until they're completely dry inside and out, which can take at least 8 hours. A damp lining holds both moisture and smell, so don't put them on until the inside feels dry to the touch.
Does the smell go away on its own?
Usually not while mold or moisture is still there. Clean the mold off, dry the shoes fully, and give the smell time to clear before you decide it's still there.
Can I use a hair dryer to speed up drying?
No. Hair dryers can permanently misshape shoes, so let them air dry at room temperature instead. Stuffing them with newspaper or a shoe tree while they dry helps them keep their shape, and the drying time is what speeds up the job.
What if the mold came from a leak or damp closet?
Fix the water source first, or the mold will keep coming back. Get the area dried within 24 to 48 hours, which usually stops mold from growing.
Can mold come back after cleaning?
It can, if the shoes get damp again, because spores need water or moisture to grow. Keep them dry between wears, and let them air out fully after wet weather.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on shoes & sneakers
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.