How to clean the white midsole on Nike Air Force 1

The chunky white midsole on Air Force 1s shows every scuff and splash. A soft brush, mild soap and a little patience bring most of it back without harming the leather.

Take out the laces, dry-brush off loose dirt, then scrub the midsole with warm water and a few drops of mild detergent or dish soap. For stubborn marks, Nike suggests a damp cleaning eraser or a little white non-gel toothpaste. Wipe clean and let the shoes air-dry at room temperature; do not put leather AF1s in the washing machine.

• 1. Take out the laces: Pull the laces out so you can reach the whole midsole and so they can be washed separately.
• 2. Brush off dry dirt: With the shoes dry, use the soft brush to knock off dust and caked mud from the midsole and outsole. Doing this first stops you smearing dirt around once it is wet.
• 3. Scrub with soapy water: Dip the brush in the warm soapy water, tap off the extra and scrub the midsole in small circles. Go round the whole shoe, including the toe and heel edges where scuffs collect.
• 4. Tackle stubborn scuffs: For marks that stay, wet a cleaning eraser and rub the spot gently, or work a pea-sized amount of white non-gel toothpaste in with the brush. Both are on Nike's own list for white AF1s.
• 5. Wipe and blot: Wipe away the foam with a damp cloth, then blot dry with the microfibre cloth. Blotting rather than rubbing avoids spreading dirt back onto the leather.
• 6. Wash the laces: Swish the laces in the same soapy water, rinse and squeeze them in a towel. Hang them to dry; do not put them in a dryer.
• 7. Air-dry indoors: Stuff the shoes loosely with paper and let them dry at room temperature, away from heaters. Nike notes this can take eight hours or more, longer in monsoon humidity.