How to clean Birkenstocks without damaging the cork

To clean Birkenstocks, brush loose dirt off the suede footbed, scrub it gently with a soft brush and a small amount of mild soapy water or a baking soda paste, wipe the straps with a method that suits their material, and let the sandals air dry at room temperature. Never soak the cork footbed or dry it with heat, and reseal the exposed cork edges when they start to look dry and dull.

The whole job takes about 20 to 30 minutes of work plus drying time, which is usually overnight.

What you'll need

• A soft brush (a suede brush, soft nail brush, or old soft toothbrush)
• Mild liquid soap, such as a gentle dish soap
• Baking soda (optional, for stains and odor)
• Two clean cloths
• A suede eraser for suede or nubuck straps (optional)
• Cork sealer (optional, for the cork edges)

Birkenstock and other shoe-care brands sell cleaning kits that usually combine a cleaner, a brush, and a cork sealer. They're handy, but the household supplies above handle routine cleaning.

Know which materials your pair has

Most Birkenstock-style sandals combine a cork and latex footbed, a suede footbed lining, a rubbery outsole, and straps made from one of several materials. Check the product listing or the inside of the strap if you're not sure. The straps are usually one of:

• Birko-Flor, the brand's synthetic material, which wipes clean easily
• Smooth or oiled leather
• Suede or nubuck, which has a soft, fuzzy surface
• EVA, a lightweight foam used on the all-foam versions

All-EVA Birkenstocks are a different case. They're made to get wet, so you can wash them with soap and water and rinse them off.

Step-by-step: cleaning the footbed

1. Knock out sand and grit, then brush the whole footbed in one direction with a dry soft brush to lift loose dirt and raise the suede nap.
2. Mix a few drops of mild soap into a cup of cool water.
3. Dip the brush, tap off the excess so it's damp rather than dripping, and scrub the footbed in small circles. Work on the darkest areas, usually the heel and the toe grip.
4. For stubborn stains or odor, mix baking soda with a little water into a paste, spread a thin layer on the stained area, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then gently brush it off.
5. Wipe the footbed with a clean, barely damp cloth to remove soap and baking soda.
6. Blot with a dry cloth, then brush the suede once more in one direction.
7. Let the sandals air dry at room temperature, out of direct sun and away from heaters, for at least several hours or overnight.

Some darkening from foot oils is normal and won't fully come out. The goal is a clean, fresh footbed, not one that looks brand new.

Cleaning the straps by material

For Birko-Flor and smooth leather, wipe the straps with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water, then with a clean damp cloth, and dry them with a towel. For leather, a leather conditioner made for shoes can be applied once dry to keep it from stiffening.

For suede and nubuck, use a dry suede brush first, then a suede eraser on scuffs and spots. Keep water to a minimum, since suede can stain and stiffen if it gets soaked.

For EVA straps, soap and water are fine.

How to reseal the cork

The cork around the edge of the footbed is coated at the factory, and that coating wears away over time. When the cork looks dry, pale, or crumbly at the edges, brush a thin coat of cork sealer onto the exposed cork only, keeping it off the suede and straps. Let it dry fully before wearing, following the drying time on the product. Resealing helps keep the cork from drying out and cracking.

What not to do

• Don't put Birkenstocks with cork footbeds in the washing machine or dishwasher.
• Don't submerge or soak the footbed. Water can weaken the cork and the glue that holds the layers together.
• Don't dry them on a radiator, in a clothes dryer, with a hair dryer, or in hot sun. Heat can warp the footbed and crack the cork.
• Don't use bleach or harsh household cleaners on suede or leather.

How often should you clean Birkenstocks?

Brush the footbed dry every few weeks if you wear the sandals often, and do a full clean whenever the footbed looks dark or the sandals start to smell. Check the cork edges at the start of each season and reseal if they look dry.

How to keep Birkenstocks from smelling

Odor comes from sweat and bacteria soaking into the footbed. Let the sandals dry out completely between wears, rotate with another pair in hot weather, and sprinkle a little baking soda on the footbed overnight, then brush it off in the morning. Wearing them with clean, dry feet helps more than any product. For rubber and foam sandals, our guide to cleaning flip-flops and removing odor covers methods that would be too wet for cork.

What if my Birkenstocks got soaked?

Blot off as much water as you can with a towel, stuff the area around the footbed with paper towels if the straps are wet, and let the sandals dry slowly at room temperature. Don't speed it up with heat. Once dry, brush the suede to restore the nap and check whether the cork edges need sealing.