How to clean Crocs: classic clogs, lined Crocs and Jibbitz

Step by step: how to clean crocs

1. 1

   Remove Jibbitz and the liner

   Pop the Jibbitz charms out of the holes and drop them in a small bowl of soapy water. If your Crocs have a removable liner, take it out to clean separately. Dirt collects under the charms and the strap rivets.

2. 2

   Rinse off loose dirt

   Hold the Crocs under cold running water, or dunk them in a bucket, and rinse off sand, mud and grass. Knock out pebbles caught in the tread.

3. 3

   Make a cold soapy wash

   Add a few drops of mild dish soap to a sink or bucket of cold water. Crocs recommends mild soap and cold water for its Croslite foam; skip hot water.

4. 4

   Scrub inside and out

   Scrub the uppers, footbed and outsole with a soft brush in small circles. Use a toothbrush in the vent holes, around the strap rivets and along the heel cup, where sweat and grime build up. You should see the texture on the footbed come back.

5. 5

   Erase scuffs on light pairs

   For gray scuffs on white or pale Crocs, rub gently with a damp melamine sponge, then rinse. It is a fine abrasive, so use light pressure and check that it is not dulling the finish.

6. 6

   Rinse thoroughly

   Rinse under cold water until no soap is left in the holes or on the footbed. Soap left on the footbed makes it slippery and attracts dirt.

7. 7

   Air dry out of the sun

   Shake out the water, wipe with a towel, and leave the Crocs upside down in a shady, airy spot for an hour or two. A fan speeds things up. Do not use a dryer, heater or direct sun.

How to clean each type of Crocs

Classic all-foam clogs are the easiest; lined, canvas, suede-look and leather Crocs need gentler care. Crocs’ care FAQ gives separate instructions by material, summarized here.

Crocs also advises neutral detergents over enzyme-based or strong soaps on canvas and vegan suede, since those can cause yellowing, and says every style should be air dried only.

Why you should never use heat on Crocs

Heat shrinks and warps them. Crocs warns not to leave its shoes in extreme heat or hot cars, because the foam can shrink or deform, and says to air dry every style after cleaning.

• Skip the dishwasher. The hot wash and heated dry are exactly the kind of heat Crocs warns about.
• Skip the clothes dryer, radiators, space heaters and hair dryers.
• Do not leave them on a sunny deck, dashboard or beach towel all afternoon.
• To dry faster, use moving air instead: Nike’s shoe drying tips suggest a fan or an airy indoor spot out of direct sun.

There is no reliable way to un-shrink Crocs that have warped, so prevention is the whole game.

How to clean fuzzy Crocs and get rid of odor

Wash the shell like classic Crocs, then clean the lining with mild soap on a damp rag, and dry the lining completely before wearing. A damp lining is what makes lined Crocs smell.

For a sour smell, sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda inside each dry shoe and leave it overnight. Nike’s deodorizing method uses baking soda plus a light mist of diluted white vinegar, left for 12 hours and then wiped out, which also works on a fleece lining as long as it dries fully afterward. For more ideas on stubborn shoe odor, see how to clean sneakers.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing Crocs in hot water or running them through the dishwasher.
• Drying them in the sun, in the dryer or next to a heater.
• Leaving Crocs in a hot car, where they can shrink or warp.
• Using solvents or harsh cleaners on wedges and heels, which can loosen the glue.
• Forgetting to take Jibbitz out, so grime stays packed around each charm.
• Wearing lined Crocs before the lining is fully dry.