Insoles take more punishment than almost any other piece of footwear, yet most people never clean them until the smell becomes unbearable. By then the foam has compressed, the antimicrobial coating is shot, and you are essentially walking on bacteria culture. Knowing how to clean insoles the right way can add six months to a year of comfortable use to a $40 pair of orthotics or $15 sneaker liners. The method depends on the material — and using the wrong one can melt foam or warp leather permanently.
Step One: Identify the Material
Before water touches anything, figure out what you are working with. Memory foam, EVA foam, gel, cork, leather, and antimicrobial wool all behave differently when wet. Most modern sneaker insoles are EVA foam with a fabric top layer. Premium orthotics like Superfeet and Powerstep often use a polypropylene shell with a foam top — only the foam side should get wet, not the rigid shell.
Leather insoles, common in dress shoes, should never soak. Treat them like fine furniture, not laundry.
The Standard Method for Foam and Fabric Insoles
This works for 90 percent of athletic, casual, and work shoe insoles. You need warm water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and a clean towel.
- Remove insoles from shoes and shake out loose debris.
- Mix one teaspoon dish soap into two cups warm water (around 90 to 100 °F).
- Dip the toothbrush and scrub the top fabric layer in small circles. Do not soak.
- Wipe with a damp cloth to remove soap residue.
- Press a dry towel firmly against the insole to absorb moisture.
- Air dry for 24 to 48 hours, preferably on a screen for airflow on both sides.
Never put foam insoles in a dryer. Heat above 120 °F breaks down EVA and compresses memory foam permanently.
Killing Odor for Good
Soap cleans dirt but does not eliminate the bacteria causing the smell. After cleaning, sprinkle baking soda generously on dry insoles and leave overnight. Vacuum or shake out in the morning.
For severe cases, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Mist lightly, let sit five minutes, then blot dry. Vinegar disrupts the bacterial environment without damaging foam. Stubborn odors respond to a follow-up treatment with rubbing alcohol — wipe, then let evaporate completely before reinserting.
Leather Insoles
Leather insoles in dress shoes or boots need a different approach entirely. Water swells the leather and breaks the bond to the shoe.
- Wipe with a barely damp microfiber cloth — no soap.
- Apply a small amount of saddle soap with a soft brush.
- Buff dry immediately with a clean cloth.
- Once a month, condition with a leather balm to prevent cracking.
For odor control, drop in cedar shoe inserts overnight. Cedar absorbs moisture and neutralizes smell without contacting the leather directly.
Custom Orthotics and Premium Insoles
Custom orthotics from a podiatrist run $300 to $600 and last about three years with proper care. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but the general rule is wipe-only cleaning. Submerging them in water damages the molded shell.
Use a slightly damp cloth with a drop of mild soap on the top fabric. Avoid the rigid plastic underside entirely. Air dry away from heat sources.
What About the Washing Machine?
Some insoles can technically survive a gentle wash cycle in a mesh laundry bag, but I do not recommend it. The agitation breaks down adhesives between layers, and within two or three washes you see delamination. The five-minute hand-cleaning method outlined above takes less time than babying a wash cycle and protects your investment.
Exception: cheap dollar-store gel insoles. They are disposable anyway, so wash and replace as needed.
Non-Removable Insoles
Some shoes — Vans, Converse, many flats — have insoles glued in. For these, you clean in place.
- Use a damp cloth with mild soap.
- Scrub gently with a soft brush.
- Pat dry, then stuff the shoe with crumpled newspaper to absorb residual moisture.
- Replace newspaper after 12 hours and let air dry another full day.
Newspaper outperforms paper towels because it pulls moisture without falling apart.
When to Replace Instead of Clean
Cleaning has limits. Toss insoles when you see any of these:
- Visible compression — foam no longer springs back when pressed
- Cracks or tears in the foam or fabric
- Persistent odor after deep cleaning and full drying
- Heel cup is flattened or worn through
- You have logged more than 500 miles in athletic insoles
Replacement insoles range from $8 for generic foam to $55 for high-end Superfeet Green. Knowing how to clean insoles properly will buy you time, but they are a consumable item, not a forever purchase.
Prevention: The Easiest Cleaning Hack
Rotate two pairs of shoes daily. Insoles need 24 hours to dry between wears, and constant rotation reduces bacterial buildup by roughly half. Pair that with moisture-wicking socks — merino wool or synthetic blends — and you can stretch cleaning intervals from monthly to quarterly.
A $12 boot dryer is the best add-on for anyone who works outdoors or sweats heavily. Twenty minutes after each wear and your insoles last twice as long.
