Do you want to make your crocs spotless and make them like new ones quickly? In this article, we will discuss how to clean crocs in detail.
Most people choose crocs for their daily activities because they are comfortable, soft, and lightweight. Enjoying a nature walk, gardening, or playing in the rain, they are the perfect footwear that makes everything easy for you.
So, getting dirt, mud, and different kinds of stains is a common problem while using it. Fortunately, there are simple and easy techniques to make your crocs glossy and fresh in no time.
How to Clean Crocs Shoes?
- Grab a bucket and pour warm water into it.
- Put one tablespoon of dish soap into it and mix it well.
- Gently clean your crocs with this solution using a cloth.
- If required, use a brush to scrub the hard residues of dirt.
- Wipe them with another damp cloth, and let them dry.
Tools and Materials Required
- Towel
- Sponge
- Mild soap
- Toothbrush
- Bucket or washbasin
- Vacuum (handheld)
- Scrubbing brush
- Baking soda or salt
- Cloth
How Long Will Crocs Take to Clean?
The time required to clean your crocs depends on the amount of dirt on it. If there are only a few small streaks on your shoes, only a minute or two will be required for this purpose.
However, if their soles, crevices, and other parts are full of dirt, their cleaning will take a lot of time.
Clean Different Types of Crocs
1. Cleaning White Crocs
If the white crocs you have are the classic ones, they can be cleaned using hand washing. Unfortunately, white color crocs are more prone to stains of grass and mud than colored ones, but many people like them to wear.
Don’t worry; the cleaning method of white crocs is not so difficult. The things you will need to clean them are not so expensive.
First, use warm water to wash your crocs. This step can be done in a sink, or you can use a bucket. Rinsing will remove all dirt residues from the croc’s surface, and its cleaning will become easy.
Next, take a bucket or large container and pour one teaspoon of dishwashing soap into it. Mix it well and put the pair of crocs into it. Wait 10 – 15 minutes, so the dish soap thoroughly cleans the dirt and grime from its surface.
Grab an old toothbrush and brush the surface of the crocs thoroughly. As a toothbrush is small in size, it effectively cleans all the places that are hard to reach and other small holes.
Now, rinse them with clean water and dry them with an unsoiled and soft rag. You can also wash crocs in a washing machine, but the cycle should be gentle. However, washing them in a machine is recommended unless your shoes are too dirty and require deep cleaning.
Once this step is completed, make a solution of baking soda and water. Dampen a cloth into it and wipe your crocs with it. This polish will make your white shoes shiny and fresh.
If your white crocs are lined, you can apply this polish on them, but Croslite material only.
2. Cleaning Fuzzy or Lined Crocs
Most people think cleaning fuzzy crocs is impossible, but that’s not true. Its cleaning is possible but requires a little effort. These crocs are not washable; you cannot soak them in water because it is unsafe for them.
Furthermore, never use a washing machine to clean them; instead, use the following method:
Take warm water in a container and add dishwashing soap into it. Mix it well and dampen a microfiber cloth in this solution. Make sure the cloth is wet and not fully covered with the solution.
Clean the outer surface of your crocs with the cloth gently. Remember this solution should not be applied to the shoe’s inner side. Use them to clean only the outer surface.
You can use a toothbrush to clean the inner areas and hard-to-reach places since it is small and easily accessible to all spaces.
If the lining of the crocs smells unpleasant, baking soda is the best solution. Take a pinch of baking soda and pour it into the lined part of the shoes & leave it overnight.
In the morning, use a brush to remove the baking soda from the crocs. You will notice the bad smell has gone.
3. Cleaning Leather Crocs
You can use a soft rubber sponge to clean the leather crocs. Dampen cloth can also be used to clean them, but both should be applied gently on the leather surface.
After this step, apply leather cream, which will make its surface shiny, and a protector spray is also good to use to repel water.
If the material of your crocs is Soft Napa Leather, wipe its surface from dust and dirt with dampened cloth. Next, polish them with natural waxy shoe cream using a cotton brush. The brush should be applied gradually in a twisting manner.
Some crocs are made of patent leather which can be cleaned by applying a dampening cloth on its surface. You can also purchase a product that is specially made for this type of leather from the market.
To protect your crocs from damage and maintain their shine and luster, never apply liquid, detergent, or alcohol on them. Standard leather crocs come without a finish so you can clean them with a wet cloth or brush.
Maintain the natural luster of the shoes by applying a waxy shoe cream; use a cotton cloth or brush to polish them.
4. Cleaning Rubber Crocs
Wash your rubber crocs with regular water so that all dirt residues can be removed. This will make it easy to find which part requires brushing to clean.
Next, pour warm water into a bucket or put a stopper in your washbasin to fill it with warm water. Add one teaspoon of dishwashing soap into it and mix it well. Submerge the crocs in the solution and leave them for some time.
Warm water will make the dirt removal process easy, and dishwashing soap will clean them safely because it has no harsh chemicals. If the shoes are too dirty, add one tablespoon of bleach to the solution and mix.
Use a toothbrush to scrub the crocs inside the soapy water as much as possible. The more time you give to scrubbing, the better the result will be.
If there are stubborn stains on the shoes, you can use any safe store-bought product to clean them. Read all the guidelines given with the product before using it.
Last, wash the crocs with clean water and let them air dry. Avoid exposure to sunlight because heat will discolor them, and they will soon wear out.
5. Cleaning Canvas Crocs
Take a bucket and pour water into it. Put one tablespoon of dishwashing soap and mix it well. Next, take out the laces of your canvas shoes, if they have and dip crocs and its laces into the solution. Leave it in this mixture and keep rubbing all the areas of your shoes.
Any mild soap can be used for cleaning them; dishwashing soap, mild detergent, or even beauty soap. These soaps have no harsh chemicals, so they don’t ruin the crocs.
Both cold and warm water will work for this purpose. However, keep in mind that water should not be too hot because it harms the shoes. Rub the laces thoroughly in the soapy water, then take them out and rinse with clear water. Hang them to dry.
Submerge a small toothbrush into the bucket and use it to scrub the canvas of your crocs. Gently remove all the dirt from every corner of them. Before starting the scrubbing process, first, scrub on a little area to check it is safe for the shoe’s fabric.
Some crocs have prints and labels on their canvas, don’t scrub that part because they will go off.
In case of hard stains on your shoes that do not go with scrubbing, apply stain remover on them, which you use for your clothes. Apply it according to the directions written in the manual of the remover. Leave it on the crocs for a few minutes to get better results.
Next, wash them with clean water by rinsing every part of the shoes well. Make sure all the residues of soap have been gone. Keep it aside for a few minutes so that excess water comes out from them.
When the water dripping finishes, put them in a towel and dry them as much as possible. Place them outside to dry them. Don’t leave it in sunlight for long because its fabric’s color will severely damage.
6. Cleaning Wedges and Heels
Take a dampened cloth and use it to clean synthetic wedges and heels. Thoroughly clean all areas of the crocs, including the inner parts. This will remove all kinds of dust and grime from the shoes.
Never use solvent cleaners during the cleaning process because the glue that is used to fix the sole will be damaged with them.
7. Cleaning Crocs with Fur
In winter, people choose fur-lined crocs because they provide comfort and warmth. However, if you will not maintain them well, they will be damaged soon, and an unbearable smell will be created in the insoles of this footwear.
Unluckily, when these crocs get extremely dirty, you cannot deep clean them in the washing machine. It is recommended that they should be washed with a solution of soap and water.
If the crocs furry lining is removable, remove it gently from the shoes and wash them separately to clean your crocs with fur you need to follow some steps mentioned below.
- First, sprinkle any absorbent powder on the affected areas to remove the bad smell from the fur of the lining, or if there are any oily stains,. For example, cornstarch, dried oatmeal, baby powder, or baking soda are all effective.
- You can use any powder according to the color of the lining of the crocs.
- Once you have sprinkled the powder, wait for three hours so the grease and bad smell disappear from the surface.
- Now, grab a handheld vacuum or brush to remove the powder properly.
- Use brush according to the fiber’s direction so they don’t curl.
- If the fur of the crocs is made of sheepskin, it is better to dry-clean them because restoring their original fluff is not achievable at home.
- Now, mix one tablespoon of soap into a bucket of warm water and soak crocs and the fur lining into it.
- Wait a while, wash them with clean water, and let them air dry.
8. Cleaning Smelly Crocs
Crocs are made from Croslite material, resistant to bad smell, mold, and mildew growth. However, if you wear them a lot, an unpleasant odor is created in them that no one can bear.
Luckily, there are numerous ways to deodorize crocs. If they are too dirty, then washing the smelly crocs is the best method for this purpose. Sometimes, the smell is so high that it doesn’t go with washing.
Baking soda is very effective in making your crocs smell nice. It efficiently removes stinks from each space and leaves the footwear germ-free.
- Grab a zip-top bag and pour baking soda into it so there is only space for the crocs.
- Put the shoes into the baking soda and seal the bag tightly.
- Leave them overnight and let the baking soda pull out the unpleasant smell from each corner of the footwear.
- In the morning, open the bag and take out the shoes.
- Shake it well outside and throw the baking soda in the dustbin.
- If the powder does not go with shaking, use a brush or handheld vacuum.
- You will notice the bad smell has gone, and they are refreshed.
Things to Avoid in Cleaning Crocs
- Exposure to sunlight for a long time will damage them, so avoid this thing. Do not expose them to any heat for a long time. They should not be left in a hot car, and try not to put them in a washing machine or dishwasher.
- If your shoes smell extremely bad, bury them in your cat litter or put them in the solution of rubber-safe enzyme for a few minutes. Using harsh chemicals to remove bad odors will damage them, so avoid using them.
- Lined winter shoes will be damaged by soaking in water. Use a slightly wet cloth to clean the external surface of the crocs.
- Use polisher on crocs that are specially made for them, such as Crocsbutter. They will make them shine like new.
- Apply cleaning products on your crocs according to the material. Different cleaners are available for cleaning mesh, leather, or suede shoes, so read the label of the products carefully.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How to Refresh Your Crocs?
Making your crocs like new is easy, but you must select the cleaning process according to the crocs type. If they are washable, you can soak them in soapy water and scrub them with a toothbrush.
However, some shoes are made of materials that are not washable, so clean them with a damp cloth.
Are Crocs Washable?
The best method to clean the crocs is to wipe them with a damp cloth. A washing machine or dishwasher should not be used, especially to clean lined crocs. Some shoes can be cleaned in these machines but always wash them on a gentle cycle.
Will Dawn Dish Soap Provide Any Harm to Your Crocs?
Any mild dish soap can be used for cleaning crocs because dishwashing soap has no harsh chemicals, making your shoes clean without harm.
How to Get Rid of Yellow Stains from Your Crocs?
First, soak them in soapy water and thoroughly scrub them with a toothbrush. After rinsing, if the stains do not go, use any safe stain remover on the area. You can also use baking soda and vinegar paste but don’t leave it there for a long time.
How to Use Baking Soda for Crocs Cleaning?
Make a solution of two parts warm water, one part vinegar, and one part baking soda, and apply this to your crocs with a cloth. Clean every part of your shoes with it; the inner part, the inside, and the outside. If there are holes, clean them also with this solution.
Final Thoughts
Crocs are wonderful footwear that can be used for different daily activities. You can play, walk, or do gardening comfortably using them. However, they get a lot of dirt and grime, so many people think it’s not easy to clean crocs.
With little effort, you can make your shoes like a new one. Avoid washing them in the dishwasher or machine; always try to choose the hand-washing method. The best way is to apply cleaner on your crocs with a cloth.
