With a rich heritage starting in 1906, Mizuno was started in Osaka by Rihachi Mizuno and his younger sibling Rizo, selling Western imports to Japan. The Japanese brand started to sell baseballs before expanding into athleisure wear.
The brand is known for its hi-tech running trainers, which incorporate cushioning and responsive Wave technology for added support and performance. Mizuno is also known for its sought-after collaborations and slogan, "Reach Beyond". The collection of Mizuno trainers at Stuarts London includes designs for running and athleisure styles perfect for weekend wear. If you are here to learn how to clean your Mizuno trainers, we have a step-by-step guide for you to follow and bring your Mizunos back to life.
How to Clean Mizuno Trainers
- Step 1 - Scrub away the surface dirt
- Step 2 - Dry brush the midsole
- Step 3 - Remove the laces from the trainer
- Step 4 - Apply a suitable cleaning solution with an acrylic brush
- Step 5 - Dry using a microfibre towel
- Step 6 - Use a soft bristle brush on any suede areas
- Step 7 - Repeat the process for the mesh areas of the shoes
- Step 8 - Recondition the suede
- Step 9 - Cleaning the laces
- Step 10 - One final suede touch-up
What you'll need:
- Cleaning solution
- Soft bristle brush
- Acrylic bristle brush
- Suede brush
- Suede eraser
- 2 x Microfibre towels
Step 1 - Scrub away the surface dirt
Before giving any trainers a deep clean, getting rid of the surface dirt is important. To do this, gently scrub the trainer's upper with a suede brush. This will allow you to dislodge any debris and surface-level dirt that may have built up on your trainers.
Step 2 - Dry brush the midsole
Using a soft bristle brush, go along the midsole to remove any surface dirt lingering in the grooves. You can use a sweeping back-and-forth motion but try to push any debris away and downwards from the shoes.
Step 3 - Remove the laces from the trainer
Untie the laces and remove them from the shoes; this will make a deep clean easier, and you can focus on cleaning up the shoe strings later to get a full, fresh look.
TOP TIP: When cleaning shoes, always start from the bottom and work your way up to the top. This will mean none of the dirt on the shoes' bottom will stain or mark the uppers.
Step 4 - Apply a suitable cleaning solution with an acrylic brush
Grab a bowl of water, dip your brush into it and shake to ensure it is not too wet. Apply your cleaning solution onto the brush directly, dab it back into the bowl and shake loosely.
Using a circular motion, scrub the soles of the shoes. You should start to see foam around the shoes fairly quickly. Keep going with your circular motion until the full bottom of the shoe is covered in foam.
Ensure that the solution is foaming when you apply; the more it foams, the more dirt will be removed.
Step 5 - Dry using a microfibre towel
Grab a microfibre towel and dry across the shoe's midsole using firm pressure. The aim is to remove as much dirt as possible with your wipe-down.
Repeat this process where necessary.
Step 6 - Use a soft bristle brush on any suede areas
When cleaning the upper of your shoes, it is important to clean section by section. To identify how sections construct a shoe, you should look to compartmentalise the material sections that make up the shoe. This will make cleaning easier, and you can focus on each section and its specific needs.
Place your hand into the shoe using the same process as above with the water, solution and brush to ensure the fabrics are taut. Scrub each section until it foams and then dry with a microfibre cloth.
Press the microfibre cloth into the shoe's surface to ensure the material absorbs all the solution. As suede is a material that can become damaged if water stained, it is important to clean using the microfibre cloth as quickly as possible.
Step 7 - Repeat the process for the mesh areas of the shoes
When cleaning trainers with mesh, a handy tip to try is to fold up a microfibre towel and place it on the inside of the shoe. This will allow any excess foam, cleaning fluid, or dirt to be soaked on the other side. Repeat the process as mentioned above on the mesh segments of the shoes.
Work out any of the excess dirt with your finger wrapped into a microfibre towel to ensure all the dirt is lifted.
TOP TIP: Only use a soft brush when cleaning delicate materials; these brushes handle softer fabrics, whereas hard brushes tackle more durable materials, such as those on the shoe's sole.
Step 8 - Recondition the suede
After cleaning the suede parts of the shoe, it will look darker and harder. Don't worry; we must recondition the material to restore it to its original glory.
We can fluff the suede back up using a suede brush and eraser. Using a one-way motion, apply the suede eraser onto the material and repeat in the same direction using the suede brush. Repeat in the opposite direction until you have enough coverage on the suede.
Using the suede brush, you can then go over the full area in a back-and-forth motion.
Step 9 - Cleaning the laces
Using the bowl of water you used to clean the shoes, pop your laces into the mixture and then squeeze out all of the excess fluid so that they feel damp. Apply a drop of cleaning solution to the palm of your hand with the laces and give them a firm rub so that they foam up.
Grab a microfibre towel, pinch the lace and pull them through so that the towel soaks up all dirt and moisture. Pop the laces back into the mixture or in a fresh bowl to eliminate any leftover solution. Repeat the towel pinching process to dry.
Ensure the laces are fully dry before popping them back into the shoes.
Step 10 - One final suede touch-up
Once your trainers have fully dried, you may notice the suede looks darker. Repeat step eight to restore it to its original glory.
Can Mizuno shoes go in the washing machine?
We would advise against putting your Mizuno trainers in the washing machine. Many parts of Mizuno shoes are crafted with different types of materials, and to ensure you don't do irreparable damage to the shoes, it is best to use the process outlined above to give a thorough clean.
Shop Mizuno at Stuarts London
Looking for a pair of Mizuno trainers? Look no further. Our range showcases some of the best designs from the collection, including off-duty styled sneakers you can add straight to your everyday wardrobe. If you are searching for the style featured in the video above, grab your pair of Mizuno Wave Rider _ - Nim Cloud today. After all, you know exactly how to keep them in the best possible condition.
Shop Mizuno Trainers