Adidas Slides: Best Way To Clean Them

Despite the brand association with the Adidas name, Adidas slides are open-toe rubber pool shoes, as well as lounging.

Also known as the Adilette pool slide, they are a timeless classic, with three distinct white stripes across the top, and they never seem to go out of style. You might see them on athletes, swimmers, at the beach or just walking around town.

Although they are a casual and waterproof shoe, they still require cleaning like any other shoe and especially if they have been exposed to potentially staining materials or bacteria from sweat.

So how do you clean your slides regularly? Is there any way to safely remove a severe stain from these iconic slip-ons?

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What are Adidas slides?

Adidas slides are iconic open-toe rubber pool shoes, similar to a flip-flop with a distinctive single thick band that arches horizontally just below the toes of the foot. They can be easily slipped on and off, leading to the name Adidas slides.

They were originally designed, however, for the feet of soccer players, so that they could be protected in locker rooms. Slip-ons for locker rooms is common for athletes and aspiring sports people, because of the wet floor and often an unavoidable plethora of bacteria.

Now, Adidas slides are a common sight in public for their versatility and robust design. However, with their greater use they require more cleaning than ever, and regular maintenance will ensure they keep that distinct design.

So how can you clean your Adidas slides safely? Will cleaning damage the design itself?

What are Adidas Slides made out of?

Most Adidas Slides are composed mainly from two components. Polyurethane creates the upper band with the iconic three strips, whereas the sole of the shoe is created with ethylene-vinyl-acetate, also known as EVA.

Some consumers mistake this for rubber, however it is actually EVA, as this is an effective rubber imitation material.

However, there are some unique compositions for Adidas Slides, such as cork base, or a textured and finished leather top for the bands.

As a consequence, it is vital to be conscious of the material when cleaning, as not all Adidas shoes will take cleaning methods the same way and some materials will even be damaged by another cleaning method that appears simple and innocuous.

How often should I clean my Adidas Slides?

If you wear your Adidas Slides regularly, you should aim to clean them at least once a month.

This might sound very frequent, but if you consider the bacteria regularly on your feet and on the floor your feet may come into contact with, it makes good sense to clean them often.

Can I clean my Adidas Slides by taking them into the shower?

This is not advisable for a couple of reasons. Firstly, taking your shoes into the shower is unlikely to expose them to a full amount of water.

It also will not expose your Slides to a long soak, which can benefit your ability to scrub the grime and bacteria off of them, as well as keep the soap on them and apply scrubbing or light abrasion to remove any deeper-set dirt, grime and stains.

Aim to have a specialized soak for your Slides. In particular, do not wear your Slides into the shower if you have certain specialized materials on your Slides.

Although most are entirely made of rubber, those that are made of plastic, cork, or other specialized materials should certainly not be taken into the shower and should be given special attention when cleaning to prevent damage.

How do I clean my rubber Adidas pool slides?

If your Adidas Slides are made from rubber and plastic, they can be safely cleaned at home thanks to their generally waterproof composition.

Run them under water to loosen any dirt or grime. If possible, use a shower head or adjustable head to direct flow firmly to any problem areas.

Once the most abrupt examples of dirt have been removed, put them into a bucket, plastic tub, or sink, filled with warm to hot water. Add a few drops of dish washing liquid, avoiding fragrant additives. Lather the shoes, and let them soak bottom-up in the water for at least 30 minutes.

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Remove the Adidas Slides from the tub, shaking them off as you do. Rinse them off under the water again, removing all trace of soap.

If they look clean, shake off the water and dry them with a microfiber cloth. The microfibers will help to cut through any remaining dust and grime and remove it from the shoe, leaving you with clean stylish Adidas Slides.

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Can I put my Adidas Slides in the washing machine?

If your Adidas Slides are thin, and made just from rubber and plastic, you may be able to put them in the washing machine according to Adidas themselves.

However, if your sandals are larger, they may damage the washing machine drum. Additionally, if your Adidas Slides are larger or have detail in other materials, it may be more appropriate to wash them by hand for safety.

If the Adidas Slides are made of leather at all, be sure to clean them regularly to keep them from wearing down or changing color. However, avoid putting them in the washing machine, as this can severely damage the leather irreparably and ruin it.

How can I clean leather Adidas Slides?

To clean leather Adidas Slides, add some dish soap onto a damp rag or cloth, lathering the cloth until it is bubbly between your fingers. Then spread this over the leather gently, avoiding rubbing too hard but trying to get a light abrasion to remove dirt and grime.

Once you have applied this soapy layer, use another clean rag lightly dampened with water to wipe off the soapy layer. Microfiber cloths work well for this, as their unique fibrous forms can cut through grime and dirt.

Once the soap has been gently washed off, avoiding water-logging the material entirely, use a microfiber hand towel to buff and dry the leather completely.

After finishing the process, it can be a good idea to recondition the leather to restore much-needed moisture to the material.

Conditioning the leather will also contribute to regular maintenance and the life span of the material, which is great for keeping your Slides in good condition on the day-to-day and preventing any future staining.

Untreated leather is more susceptible damage in general, but particularly absorbing unsavory colors or odors, so consider doing this regularly to prolong their life.

Be careful not to immerse leather in soap. The process of absorbing water into the leather and then the evaporation of the water can unfortunately cause expansion, which cracks the leather and warps it, along with shrinkage once the water evaporates, distorting the shape and look of the leather.

If you are wary of using dish soap, there are specialist soaps sold for leather specifically to wash your Slides. Follow the directions above, lathering gently, removing with some soap and then drying thoroughly.

Reconditioning afterwards will help the longevity of your sandals too.

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How can I remove sweat from Adidas Slides?

If you have found that your Adidas Slides have picked up a particularly odorous or sweaty scent, this can often be caused by bacteria living in sweat or bolstered by heat and usage.

A great practice to avoid the development of smell and begin combating it when it has developed is airing out your Slides regularly.

In particular, exposing them to the sun can use the sun’s natural properties to kill bacteria on your shoes as well as drying out any excess moisture, preventing mold or fungi from growing.

If this does not stop the development of sweat and smell on your Adidas Slides, there is a method that will generally work regardless of the material of the Adidas Slides.

Plain white distilled vinegar can be used, mixed with warm (not hot) water. Mix these together, with 1 teaspoon of vinegar for each cup of water.

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Use a clean cloth to distribute this, without dripping too much water (as this can damage the shoe) over the sole of the sandal, avoiding materials sensitive to water.

You can use a light amount of material for these areas if the smell is noticeable. Leave the mixture to dry.

If your Slides have a more porous sole that is made of a non-waterproof material, a different solution that can be useful is the employment of baking soda. Baking soda is a highly-absorbent and anti-bacterial chemical that can be easily used to remove smell in your sandals.

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Sprinkle baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, in the sole of your shoes and leave overnight. It is a harmless chemical, so the next day you can simply shake it out of your shoes.

Even fluffy, fibrous materials will benefit from baking soda without it damaging the material itself, so use this liberally to prevent smell buildup.

If smell is troublesome, add equal parts baking soda, baking powder (which also contains cream of tartar) and cornstarch to reduce smell and absorb odor and bacteria.

How to clean Cloudfoam Adidas Slides?

Cloudfoam Adidas Slides are beloved for their comfortable feel. However, although most Adidas Slides are waterproof, Cloudfoam Adidas Slides are not.

If you have Cloudfoam foot beds in your Adidas Slides, these should be cleaned by hand gently. Mix a solution of dish soap and water, and apply this with a cloth to the material carefully, not rubbing the water and soap in too hard.

After it has sat for a minute, gently rub it off with a wet microfiber cloth, following up with a dry microfiber cloth. It is important not to soak Cloudfoam foot beds, as they will quickly be damaged by too much water.

How to clean white Adidas Slides?

A common problem for those buying stylish white products is that the iconic white sheen of a brand-new item can be quickly ruined by wear, even casual everyday wear with maintenance.

Following the steps of cleaning your Slides regularly may reduce the impact of everyday impacts, dirt and bacteria on the appearance of your Slides, but that may not be enough if you are dealing with a distinctive white material.

How can you best treat this material for that color to stay bright?

First, rinse the slides to loosen dirt or mud when you begin cleaning. Run them under a faucet, shower-head or other adjustable forceful flow of water.

If you don’t have access to a suitable sink or bath, consider doing this outside with a house. 

Mix 1 part baking soda or bicarbonate of soda with 1.5 parts clothes or laundry detergent. Use stain-removing laundry detergent but do avoid using scented detergents, especially if you have irritable skin.

Bio detergents can be a bad choice especially for those with skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, so be careful when choosing. Mix in a bowl.

Apply this mixture to the white Adidas Slides or Adilette pool slides. Gently scrub this into the Slides with a soft bristle brush or a cleaning toothbrush, rubbing in circles as appropriate into little nooks to clean dirt out thoroughly.

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Let the mixture sit on the shoes for at least 15 minutes. The mixture should be lifting dirt out of the material, with the bicarbonate of soda in particular offering a whitening to the Slides.

Rinse your Slides under free flowing water such as a hose, shower-head or faucet. Ensure you remove all of the substances that you have applied, and your shoes should appear visibly whiter.

If you have sensitive skin, or you can unsure you have removed all the material, a good extra step can be to wash the Adidas Slides again with dish soap, water, and a microfiber cloth.

Be sure to dry the shoes with a microfiber cloth as well if possible, as this will cut through any remaining dust and dirt and provide a finally clean look to the sandal.