Sneaker care
South African weather goes from summer dust in Joburg to Cape winter drizzle to KZN humidity in the same week. This is the routine we use to keep our own pairs looking box-fresh — no gimmicks, no ruining your leather.
Before you wear them
Hit new pairs with a suede or leather protector spray before their first walk — one thin coat, let it dry fully, repeat. This applies to every silhouette, from Air Jordan 1s to Yeezys to the LV Skate. A R150 can pays for itself the first time you catch a puddle in Sandton or Sea Point.
The weekly reset
- Knock loose dust off with a soft brush before it settles into creases.
- Wipe midsoles and outsoles with a damp microfibre — never a rough sponge on leather.
- Pull the insoles out and let them air overnight. Kills the smell before it starts.
- Rotate pairs. Wearing the same shoe every day breaks it down twice as fast.
Cleaning by material
Leather (AF1, AJ1, Dunks): mild soap + water on a soft cloth. Wipe in small circles, dry with a clean cloth, condition once a month.
Suede & nubuck (AJ4, Sambas, some 550s): soft brush only when dry. Never soak. A suede eraser lifts scuffs. Water rings? Wet the whole panel evenly and let it dry flat.
Mesh & knit (Air Max, 1906R, 990): soft brush + soapy water, blot with a towel, air dry. Skip the tumble dryer — heat warps the sole unit.
Primeknit & Yeezy uppers: soap, water and gentle circular strokes. Rinse the cloth often so you're not just moving dirt around.
Drying — the part people mess up
Never leave sneakers in direct SA sun (yellows the soles) and never on a heater (glue melts). Stuff them with newspaper or shoe trees and let them dry indoors, out of the sun, for 24–48 hours.
Storing them right
Original boxes with silica packets in a cool cupboard beats piled on the floor. If you're a heavy collector in humid areas like Durban or Richards Bay, throw in a few silica sachets and rotate them out. Icy soles yellow with UV — keep them out of windows.