How to Clean Pickleball Shoes Without Ruining Them

The safest default for cleaning pickleball shoes is simple: remove loose dirt, hand-clean the outsole and upper with mild soap and water, then air-dry them away from direct heat. Machine washing can be acceptable for some exact models, but only when the manufacturer explicitly allows it.

The goal is not just to make the shoes look better. Cleaning should preserve the things that matter on court: traction, shape, upper containment and material integrity.

Pickleball Shoe Cleaning at a Glance

Part	Best default	Avoid by default
Outsole	Dry brush, then mild soap + soft brush	Aggressive scraping or solvents
Upper	Damp cloth / soft brush + mild soap	Harsh chemicals or hard scrubbing
Laces	Remove and hand wash separately	Leaving grit packed into eyelets
Insoles	Remove, clean gently, dry fully	Putting them back damp
Drying	Air dry at room temperature	Dryer, radiator, direct high heat
Machine wash	Only if exact model instructions allow it	Assuming all pickleball shoes are machine-safe

Why Cleaning Matters for Court Performance

Dirt on a pickleball shoe is not only cosmetic.

Dust, clay residue, sand and small debris can sit inside the outsole pattern and change how the rubber contacts the court. That is especially relevant on smooth indoor floors where a relatively small amount of contamination can make traction feel inconsistent.

Current Selkirk shoe-care guidance recommends removing loose dirt after play and keeping outsoles clean as part of preserving traction and shoe life. adidas likewise notes that keeping court-shoe tread clean helps maintain traction.

That does not mean every slippery moment is caused by dirty shoes. Court dust, moisture and worn tread can create the same sensation. Our pickleball shoe lifespan guide explains how to separate dirt from actual wear.

Step 1: Let Mud or Wet Dirt Dry First

If the shoe is covered in wet grit or mud, do not immediately scrub it deeper into the mesh.

Let the loose contamination dry enough that you can remove most of it mechanically with a soft brush or cloth. Nike’s current cleaning guidance starts the same way: brush off loose dirt before adding cleaning solution.

This reduces how much dirty water you spread across the upper later.

Step 2: Remove the Laces and Insoles

Taking the shoe apart slightly makes cleaning more effective and drying faster.

• Remove laces so you can clean the tongue and eyelet area.
• Remove removable insoles so moisture is not trapped underneath them.
• Check the inside for grit or small debris.
• Keep track of left and right insoles if their shape differs.

Nike recommends cleaning removable insoles separately and making sure they are fully dry before putting them back.

Step 3: Dry-Brush the Outsole

Before using water, brush the tread pattern from several directions.

Pay attention to:

• forefoot grooves;
• pivot zones;
• heel tread;
• deep herringbone channels;
• edges where rubber meets the midsole.

If you play on clay or gritty outdoor acrylic, dry brushing first can remove a surprising amount of material without soaking the shoe.

Step 4: Use Mild Soap, Not a Chemical Experiment

For a normal cleaning, mild soap and water are enough.

Nike recommends a mild cleaning solution and warns that concentrated detergent can discolor or damage some materials. Selkirk’s shoe-care guidance similarly uses mild dish soap and gentle tools rather than aggressive cleaners.

A useful default is:

• lukewarm water;
• a small amount of mild soap;
• a soft toothbrush or shoe brush;
• a microfiber cloth.

Avoid bleach, solvent cleaners and very strong degreasers unless the exact shoe manufacturer specifically recommends them for that material.

Step 5: Clean the Outsole Without Destroying the Tread

Use the soft brush and mild solution to work through the outsole pattern.

You are trying to remove contamination—not grind away the rubber.

• Brush along and across the grooves.
• Wipe away dirty foam as you work.
• Use a damp cloth to remove remaining soap.
• Inspect the tread while it is clean.

This is also a good moment to check whether the shoe is merely dirty or actually worn. Smooth tread, rubber worn through to the midsole, or severe asymmetry are replacement issues, not cleaning issues.

Step 6: Clean the Upper More Gently Than the Outsole

The upper often contains mesh, welded overlays, TPU, synthetic leather, fabric or several materials at once.

Nike recommends gently brushing or blotting the upper rather than scrubbing aggressively. That is a good default for court shoes too.

• Use less water than you used on the outsole.
• Work one small section at a time.
• Blot rather than saturate.
• Use a cloth around glued seams and overlays.
• Stop if color begins transferring unusually.

The goal is not to make a performance shoe look factory-new at any cost. It is to clean it without weakening the structure that holds your foot during lateral movement.

Step 7: Wash Laces Separately

Laces collect sweat and dirt but are easy to clean away from the shoe.

• Soak or hand wash them in mild soapy water.
• Work dirt out with your fingers.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Air dry completely before relacing.

If the lace is badly frayed, cleaning will not restore its strength. Replace it instead.

Step 8: Clean Insoles Carefully

Removable insoles can hold sweat and odor even when the outside of the shoe looks clean.

Use a small amount of mild solution, wipe or brush gently, then remove excess moisture with a towel. Let them dry completely outside the shoe.

Do not reinstall damp insoles and immediately close the shoe in a bag.

Step 9: Air-Dry—Do Not Cook the Shoe

Heat is one of the easiest ways to turn a successful cleaning into a damaged shoe.

Nike, adidas and ASICS all recommend air drying athletic shoes and avoiding direct high heat. Dryers can deform materials or stress adhesives and foams.

Use this drying routine:

• open the tongue;
• remove laces and insoles;
• place the shoes in a ventilated room;
• keep them away from radiators and dryers;
• stuff lightly with clean paper if you want to help maintain shape and absorb moisture;
• wait until the entire shoe is dry before playing.

ASICS specifically recommends air drying away from direct heat or sun in its current shoe-care guidance.

Can You Put Pickleball Shoes in the Washing Machine?

Sometimes—but do not assume.

This is where generic shoe advice can mislead you.

Selkirk’s general 2026 shoe-care article says to keep shoes out of washing machines and dryers. But some individual Selkirk CourtStrike product pages explicitly say the shoe can be washed on a delicate cycle after removing the insoles, then air dried.

That is exactly why the safest rule is:

Follow the care instructions for your exact model. If the manufacturer does not explicitly permit machine washing, hand cleaning is the safer default.

Nike likewise recommends hand cleaning as its default and says machine washing can damage some shoes.

Never Put Court Shoes in the Dryer

Even when an exact shoe allows a delicate washing-machine cycle, that does not mean the dryer is safe.

Direct heat can affect:

• adhesives;
• foam structure;
• upper shape;
• synthetic overlays;
• rubber bonds.

Air dry unless the manufacturer says otherwise.

How Often Should You Clean Pickleball Shoes?

Do not use a rigid calendar. Clean based on contamination and court type.

A practical routine is:

Situation	What to do
After normal clean indoor play	Inspect outsole; wipe only if needed
After dusty indoor court	Brush/wipe outsole before next session
After outdoor acrylic	Remove grit and debris; inspect wear
After clay / dirt contamination	Dry-brush thoroughly, then deeper clean if needed
After a sweaty long session	Open shoe, remove insoles if damp, air out fully
After visible stains or mud	Full hand-clean routine

Selkirk recommends regular outsole cleaning and general shoe maintenance rather than waiting until the shoe is heavily contaminated.

Indoor Shoes Need a Different Kind of Cleanliness

If you play on hardwood or smooth gym flooring, keeping the outsole clean can matter more than making the upper look spotless.

Dust picked up walking through hallways, parking areas or outdoor paths can reduce the consistency of traction once you step onto the court.

A useful habit is to keep your dedicated indoor pair in the bag and put them on at the venue instead of wearing them outside.

adidas’ current court-shoe guidance makes a similar point: reserving court shoes for court use helps preserve tread and performance.

For surface-specific footwear, see our indoor vs outdoor pickleball shoes guide.

Outdoor Shoes Need More Grit Removal

Outdoor acrylic can create a different maintenance problem: abrasive dust and grit.

That material can pack into tread or sit around the upper/outsole bond. Removing it regularly also gives you a clearer view of how much actual outsole rubber remains.

That matters because a dirty tread can look worn, and a worn tread can look merely dirty until you clean it.

What About Smell?

Odor is usually better managed with drying and airflow than by repeatedly soaking the whole shoe.

• Remove damp insoles after long sessions.
• Open the tongue and loosen laces.
• Do not leave sweaty shoes sealed in a closed bag overnight.
• Wash removable insoles when needed.
• Allow everything to dry completely before repacking.

If an insole remains badly degraded or smelly despite cleaning, replacement may make more sense than repeatedly washing it.

Cleaning Does Not Restore Worn-Out Traction

Cleaning can remove contamination. It cannot rebuild rubber that has been worn smooth.

After cleaning, inspect:

• whether tread grooves are still present;
• whether the outsole is worn through;
• whether one side has worn much faster than the other;
• whether the upper has stretched or separated;
• whether the shoe sits level on a flat surface.

If several of those checks fail, use our when to replace pickleball shoes guide rather than trying to clean the shoe back to life.

A Five-Minute Post-Session Routine

1. Knock off loose grit.
2. Brush the outsole if debris is packed into tread.
3. Wipe the upper if visibly dirty.
4. Open the tongue and loosen the laces.
5. Remove damp insoles after very sweaty sessions.
6. Air the shoes before putting them back in a closed bag.

This routine prevents many sessions from turning into one major deep-clean job.

Bottom Line

Clean pickleball shoes gently and with traction in mind. Dry-brush loose dirt, use mild soap and a soft brush or cloth, clean laces and insoles separately, and air-dry the shoe away from direct heat.

Do not assume a washing machine is safe just because another brand or model allows it. Check the exact care instructions. And remember that cleaning removes contamination—it does not reverse outsole wear, compressed cushioning or a stretched upper.

For the rest of the footwear decision, use our guides to pickleball shoe fit, pickleball vs tennis shoes and shoe lifespan.

Sources

• Selkirk: How to Properly Clean and Maintain Pickleball Shoes
• Selkirk: Current Pickleball Shoe Care Guidance
• Nike: How to Clean Shoes
• ASICS: Shoe Care Tips
• adidas: Tennis Shoe Cleaning Guidance