BackTriple White — R1,000 →Triple Black — R1,000 →
Care
How to clean Air Force 1s
White AF1s stay bright and black pairs stay deep with ten minutes of hand cleaning after wear. Here's the routine — and the mistakes that ruin pairs, like the washing machine and direct sun.
What you need
- A soft damp cloth and a drop of mild soap or dish liquid.
- An old toothbrush for the soles.
- Paper towel or newspaper to stuff the shoes.
- About ten minutes. That's it — no special kit required.
The routine
- Knock out loose dirt. Tap the soles together outside, then dry-brush the outsole with the toothbrush.
- Wipe the leather. Damp cloth with a drop of mild soap — gentle circles over the upper. On Triple White you'll see scuffs lift immediately; on Triple Black keep it light so you don't dull the finish.
- Scrub the midsole and outsole. Toothbrush, soap and small circles. This is where white pairs look new again.
- Rinse-wipe. Clean damp cloth, no soap, over everything to lift soap residue.
- Stuff and dry. Paper inside, air-dry indoors, out of the sun, for 24 hours. Never a heater or a tumble dryer.
The mistakes that ruin AF1s
- The washing machine. It warps the sole and can yellow the midsole. Hand cleaning only.
- Direct sun or a heater. The fastest way to yellow white soles and melt glue. South African sun is intense — dry indoors.
- Bleach on leather. It dries and cracks the upper. Mild soap wins.
- Leaving mud to set. A quick wipe after wear takes seconds; set-in dirt doesn't.
Common questions
- Can you put Air Force 1s in the washing machine?
- No. A washing machine warps the sole and can yellow the midsole. Clean them by hand with a damp cloth and mild soap.
- How do you clean white Air Force 1s?
- Wipe the leather with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap after wear, brush the soles with an old toothbrush, stuff with paper and air-dry indoors.
- How do I stop the midsole from yellowing?
- Dry them indoors out of direct sunlight — SA sun is the main cause of yellowed soles — and store them away from windows.
- How often should I clean white Air Force 1s?
- A quick wipe after wear every few days keeps them bright. A deeper clean once a month or after visible scuffs is plenty.
