With festival season, holidays, football and nights out in full swing, our trainers are getting more wear than ever. From muddy festival fields and spilled drinks to everyday scuffs, keeping your favourite sneakers fresh through the summer can be a challenge.
Crep Protect has put together its expert guide to keeping sneakers looking their best – from protecting a new pair before you wear them to dealing with the inevitable damage afterwards.
THE ULTIMATE SNEAKER SURVIVAL GUIDE
1. Protect before you wear
One of the easiest ways to protect a new pair is to treat them before they hit the streets.
Crep Protect Spray (£12) creates an invisible hydrophobic layer that repels liquids and stains, with protection lasting up to four weeks depending on wear. It can be used on leather, nubuck, suede and canvas. Spray evenly from around 20cm away, allow to dry for 10 minutes, then apply a second coat.
2. Don't let small marks become permanent
For those inevitable scuffs and marks picked up during a day out, Crep Protect Shoe Cleaning Wipes (£8) are ideal for quick touch-ups when you're away from home. The dual-sided wipes have a smooth side for general cleaning and a textured side for tougher marks. They're suitable for quick cleaning, but suede and nubuck should be treated gently and only for non-stubborn marks.
3. Give them a proper clean when you get home
For a deeper clean, Crep Protect Foam Mini (£10) is a pocket-sized, water-free cleaning kit containing 50ml of cleaning foam, a built-in brush and a microfibre cloth.
Simply brush away loose dirt, unlock the pump, apply the foam to the built-in brush, work it into the sneaker in circular motions and wipe clean with the microfibre cloth. It's suitable for mesh, leather, canvas and most other sneaker materials; for suede and nubuck, Crep Protect recommends its dedicated Suede Reviver and Eraser instead.
THE THREE PRODUCTS TO KEEP YOUR SNEAKERS FRESH
CREP PROTECT SPRAY — £12
Best for: prevention & protection
Protects against liquids and stains.
Available from: JD Sports – Crep Protect Spray
CREP PROTECT SHOE CLEANING WIPES – £8
Best for: quick fixes & on-the-go cleaning
Perfect for removing everyday dirt and marks.
Available from: JD Sports – Crep Protect Wipes
CREP PROTECT FOAM MINI – £10
Best for: a deeper clean on the go
A compact foam, brush and microfibre cloth all-in-one.
Available from: JD Sports – Crep Protect Foam Mini
JD Sports currently lists all three products as part of its Crep Protect range.
THE GOLDEN RULES OF SNEAKER CARE
Protect new sneakers before their first outing.
Clean marks as soon as possible rather than letting dirt build up.
Use the right product for the material – suede and nubuck require different care to leather, canvas and mesh.
Never over-saturate your sneakers when using a protective spray.
Always test cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area first.
And finally, don't wait until your sneakers are beyond saving. A few minutes of regular care can make a huge difference to how long your favourite pair looks fresh.
Crep Protect is available from JD Sports and directly from Crep Protect.