Okay so I finally tackled cleaning my Ice Blue Kobe 6s today. Honestly, they were looking pretty sad, man. Had that faded blue, yellowing spots near the toe cap, and just dirt everywhere. Like, seriously grimy. Decided enough was enough.
First Things First
I went and grabbed my regular cleaning stuff, just the basics:
- Dish soap (the blue Dawn kind)
- An old toothbrush (soft bristles)
- A couple of white microfiber towels
- Regular tap water
- A small bowl
Didn’t bother with fancy sneaker cleaners. Figured simple is best for something like this.
Getting Down to Business
Took the laces off right away. Just tossed them in the bowl with some warm water and squeezed a drop of that dish soap in there. Swished them around real good and let them soak while I tackled the shoes.
Wet one of the microfiber towels under lukewarm water and wringed it out hard. Barely damp, not soaking wet. Started gently wiping down the whole upper – the soft parts of the blue, the fuse material. Just trying to get the loose dirt off first. Used my fingers to kind of knead the towel over the mesh areas, gentle-like. Didn’t rub crazy hard.
Then I dipped the toothbrush in a mix of warm water and like, two drops of dish soap. Seriously, just two drops! Swished it around to make some suds. Started lightly brushing the mesh parts. Focused on those dirty spots near the toe cap and along the sides. Little circles, man, gentle circles. Kept rinsing the brush out in clean water to keep the dirt from just sloshing back on.
For the bigger, tougher stains on the fuse? I put a tiny bit more soap on the brush, still damp, and went over them a bit more. Patience, right? Just little by little.
The Plastic Parts
Those got grubby quick. Took the damp microfiber towel again. Worked on the white icy parts around the sole – careful not to scratch them. It took some focused wiping. Saw some gunk in the seams near the sole edge. Used the edge of the toothbrush bristles, super gentle, to kind of flick it out. Still looking a bit yellowed? Yeah, not perfectly clear, but way better than before.
Final Touches & The Big Wait
Once I felt like I’d fought the good fight against the grime, I rinsed the entire shoe surface with the damp microfiber towel. Just wiped it down with clean water to get any leftover soap off. Then grabbed the other dry, clean microfiber towel and patted it all down. Absorbed as much water as possible.
Stuffed the toes loosely with some clean paper towels to help them keep shape. Left the laces drying flat on another towel.
Here’s the biggest part: I DIDN’T PUT THEM IN THE SUN. Heard too many horror stories about yellowing getting worse. Found a cool, dry spot inside near a vent – no direct heat, just air flow. Took the paper towels out after a few hours. Let them air dry naturally overnight. Seriously, just gotta walk away and let them be.
The Next Morning
Checked on them first thing. Dried completely? Good. Popped the dry laces back in. Wow. Seriously. The blue looked much brighter, the dirt was gone, those tough stains faded a lot. The soles aren’t brand new clear, but way less yellow than yesterday. Overall? They look alive again, way fresher.
Honestly, the biggest thing? Being gentle, using minimal soap, and the insane patience for air drying. No magic, just elbow grease and time. Feels good seeing them back looking clean!
