The Best Way to Clean Your Jordan 1s

Fan favorite Reshoevn8r staffer Jordan is back to show you how to clean the Air Jordan 1 Shadow 2.0.

Since its release in 1985, the Air Jordan 1 has been a fan favorite. Now more than ever, the classic silhouette has a tight grip on both the new and longtime sneakerheads. 

There’s no arguing that the Jordan 1 is one of the most popular sneakers of all time. It seems that with each new release, the cult following only grows and grows.

Don’t be caught out in dirty Jordan 1s. If you're lucky enough to snag your favorite pair, you gonna need the tools and knowhow to properly take care of them. 

Follow along as Jordan teaches you the tips and tricks to clean your pair of Air Jordan 1s...

Let's get it. 

Light Work

First things first, let’s insert the Adjustable Shoe Tree and remove the laces.  Now the real work can begin.

Put two squirts of Reshoevn8r Cleaning Solution in your bowl of water, and use the Soft Bristle Brush to give the uppers a good scrub. The 1.0 version of the Shadow Jordan 1 had a leather upper, but these are made primarily of nubuck.

The cleaning solution is gentle enough to clean nubuck without damaging it, so we are okay to use it on this pair of Jordan 1s. 

After giving these a solid scrub with the Soft Bristle Brush, Jordan is ready to attack the tougher stains and midsole of this sick pair of Jordan 1s with the Medium Bristle Brush. The Medium Bristle Brush did a good job, and the midsole is starting to look white again instead of that dingy brown and gray. 

Now we can move to the Stiff Brush. Jordan used the Stiff Bristle Brush to break down some remaining midsole stains, as well as clean the entire outsole. The stiff bristles are great at picking out any dirt and debris stuck in the outsole. 

Pro Tip: When cleaning a suede or nubuck shoe, be sure to let it air dry out in the sun for an even dry, this will save you the time of cleaning it over again like Jordan did. This will help you avoid getting water spots on the material. 

Make your Nubuck New

The Brass Bristle Brush is great for restoring suede and nubuck. Jordan gave these a light brushing with the Brass Bristle Brush in order to bring this beautiful nubuck back to life. We’re going for buttery soft, not crunchy.  

No one likes crunchy nubuck. 

With the nubuck all clean and lush, we’re all good to lace these up for a final before-and-after comparison.

A Brief History Lesson

The Shadow colorway of the Air Jordan 1 was first released back in 1985, the same year that the Jordan 1 made its debut. That makes the Shadow colorway one of the OG colorways, which is pretty special.

However, the 2.0 version isn’t quite the same as the OG. As mentioned earlier, the materials are different and the 2.0 version is much lighter in color as compared to the OG and 1.0 releases. 

Regardless, these are still fire. Inspired by an OG colorway with a modern twist. What’s not to like?

The Best Way to Clean Jordan 1s: Exhibit A 

Jordan absolutely brought these Jordan 1s back to life. The difference between the before and after is nuts. 

Cleaning your Jordan 1s is that simple. Reshoevn8r showed out once again, and further established itself as the best sneaker cleaner in the world.

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to clean your Jordan 1s. From leather to suede, nubuck to mesh, Reshoevn8r will keep your Jordans looking fresh.

That's all for now. Click on over to Youtube for more cleaning tutorials and sneaker restorations. 

Thanks for stopping by our Shoe Care Academy. Our resident sneaker experts are eager to serve you and freshen up your prized kicks. Schedule a private Online Cleaning Consultation to receive instructions on how to clean your personal pair, or take advantage of our Online Cleaning Service to have our expert staff take care of it for you.