How to Clean Hemp Shoes

Hemp is a super plant! Natural and sustainable, it’s capable of being made into thousands of different products, including clothing, household goods, health foods, biofuels, and slip on shoes. Among the many reasons that make hemp a popular material is that the plant is an incredible air purifier, absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than trees. It can also grow in almost any environment, doesn’t require pesticides, and returns many nutrients to the soil.

When it comes to fabric, hemp fibers can be woven to create an incredibly smooth material, like silk, or a rougher material similar to burlap. While our hemp shoes, like our Star sneakers, are protective of your feet, they are also soft on the skin and similar to cotton canvas in weight. This makes them the perfect breathable spring shoes for bunion prevention as they don’t irritate or rub.

Best Practices for Cleaning Hemp Footwear

While certain shoe materials like leather and suede can be tricky to clean, hemp doesn’t fall into that hard-to-clean category. Hemp fabric is incredibly durable, so you don’t have to worry too much about ruining your hemp shoes when you wash them. If you’re wondering how to clean hemp shoes, this list of practices should cover all the bases. By taking care of your shoes, you can extend their lifespan and reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Wipe Them Down Regularly

Taking care of your hemp sneakers will help them last longer and keep them looking fresh. Make it a routine to dust off dirt from your hemp shoes and wipe them once a week with a wet rag. You can set them out to air dry and they’ll be as good as new. When you’re traveling, you can use specially formulated footwear wipes to keep your shoes clean and make sure no dirt ends up in your suitcase.

2. Spot Clean

While hemp has many great qualities, like not fraying, it is a very absorbent material. This means that a spill can easily lead to a stain on your shoes. When you have hemp shoes in a light color, like our Star sneakers in Natural Hemp, this can ruin the look and make you not want to wear them. To avoid marks setting in for good, apply a bit of mild detergent to any stains. Wash the area well with water. If the stain hasn’t disappeared, you can use a toothbrush to scrub the area to remove any lingering spots.

3. Avoid the Washing Machine

While durable, hemp can shrink, so it’s best to avoid using the washing machine when you need to clean them. For an all-over clean, add a teaspoon of mild detergent to a gallon of warm water in a bucket and hand wash them by scrubbing with a sponge or brush. Set them out to air dry. 

4. Use a Wipe for the Soles

Our hemp shoes, like Star in Blue Fog Hemp, are made with a rubber outsole that protects your feet while walking. Anytime you feel the sole of your shoes needs a clean, scrub them with a solution of one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of detergent. Rinse thoroughly and enjoy your squeaky clean kicks!



5. Washing the Laces

After a while, your white shoelaces might start to look gray from a buildup of dust and dirt. They can be easily cleaned by scrubbing with the same baking soda and detergent mixture mentioned above. If this doesn’t completely remove the dirt, you can soak your laces in a solution of bleach, water, and detergent for several hours. Rinse completely and air dry out of the sun. To celebrate having fresh laces, why not try out some new fun ways to lace sneakers?

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