How To Clean Espadrilles: The Complete Guide To Jute And Canvas Care

Cleaning espadrilles requires a targeted, dual-method approach to safely treat delicate canvas or suede uppers while preserving the structurally sensitive braided jute sole. To clean espadrilles successfully, hand-wash uppers with a mild detergent solution and spot-clean the jute using a dry-extraction baking soda paste, avoiding water saturation to prevent fiber rot and adhesive failure. Never machine-wash or submerge espadrilles, and always air-dry them away from direct heat to maintain their original shape and integrity.

Pre-Cleaning Preparation, Materials, and Fabric Science

Before initiating the cleaning process, understanding the unique material composition of an espadrille is essential. The classic espadrille is a hybrid shoe featuring an upper made of woven textile (typically cotton canvas, linen, or suede) and a sole constructed from braided jute rope. Jute is a natural vegetable fiber composed primarily of cellulose and lignin. While highly durable under dry conditions, jute is hydrophilic—meaning it readily absorbs water. When saturated, jute fibers swell, lose up to 60% of their tensile strength, dissolve the water-soluble adhesives holding the sole together, and become a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

To clean espadrilles without compromising their structural integrity, you must treat the upper and the jute sole as two entirely distinct components requiring different chemical and physical cleaning actions.

Essential Cleaning Kit & Project Parameters

• Soft-Bristle Brush: A horsehair brush or a soft-bristle toothbrush for delicate canvas and jute fibers.
• Medium-Stiff Utility Brush: For scrubbing away stubborn dried mud from the under-sole.
• Microfiber Cloths: Minimum of three clean, lint-free white microfiber cloths to prevent dye transfer.
• Mild Detergent / Shoe Cleaner: A pH-neutral, dye-free liquid laundry detergent, Castile soap, or specialized sneaker cleaner.
• Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda): For dry-cleaning, odor absorption, and stain extraction on jute.
• Distilled White Vinegar: An acidic agent to break down salt stains, neutralize alkali residues, and kill mold spores.
• White Paper Towels or Tissue Paper: For stuffing the shoes during the drying phase to absorb internal moisture and retain shoe shape.
• Estimated Budget: $10–$25 depending on products already owned.
• Active Labor Time: 20–40 minutes.
• Total Drying Duration: 12–24 hours (highly dependent on ambient humidity).

The Step-by-Step Espadrille Restoration Protocol

Follow these precise steps to clean your espadrilles. Ensure that you work in a clean, well-lit space with plenty of room to let the shoes dry flat.

Step 1: Dry Brushing and Structural Debris Removal

Before introducing any moisture, you must remove loose soil, dust, and dried mud from the surface of the shoe. If you apply liquid to a dusty shoe, you will create a muddy slurry that penetrates deep into the weave of the canvas and jute, causing permanent gray or brown discoloration.

1. Hold the shoe over a trash bin or outdoors.
2. Use a dry, medium-stiff utility brush to clean the rubber outsole first, clearing away packed dirt from the tread.
3. Switch to a soft horsehair brush or a clean toothbrush for the upper fabric and the jute rope.
4. Brush the canvas in circular motions to lift dust from the weave.
5. Brush the braided jute sole strictly along the direction of the braid. Avoid brushing across the braid or using excessive force, which damages and frays the delicate vegetable fibers.

Pro-Tip: If the shoes have caked-on mud, let them dry completely in a warm room first. Trying to scrape or brush wet mud will smear the dirt deeper into the porous cotton and jute fibers.

Step 2: Formulating and Applying the Upper Canvas Cleaning Solution

Once the dry debris is completely gone, prepare a mild surfactant solution to lift surface stains, sweat, and oils from the canvas or fabric upper.

1. In a small bowl, mix 250 milliliters (about 1 cup) of lukewarm water with 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) of mild, pH-neutral liquid detergent or Castile soap. Stir gently to avoid creating excessive foam.
2. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solution and wring it out thoroughly. The cloth should be damp, not dripping wet.
3. Gently work the damp cloth over the canvas upper in small, circular patterns. Focus on high-contact zones such as the heel collar, the toe box, and the instep.
4. For stubborn spot stains (such as grass, grease, or food), apply a single drop of the concentrated detergent directly to a soft toothbrush. Gently tap and brush the stain, working from the outside of the stain inward to avoid spreading it.

Warning: If your espadrilles feature suede or nubuck uppers, do not use water and detergent. Water permanently stains suede and ruins its soft nap. Instead, use a specialized suede eraser to rub away stains, followed by a suede brush to restore the texture.

Step 3: Cleaning and Deodorizing the Braided Jute Sole

The jute sole requires a dry or low-moisture cleaning technique. Because jute cannot tolerate soaking, you will use a paste made of baking soda to absorb oils and pull dirt out of the rope braids.

1. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl to form a thick, gritty paste.
2. Dip a soft-bristle toothbrush into the paste, coating the bristles evenly.
3. Apply the paste directly to the dirty sections of the jute rope. Gently work the paste into the crevices of the braid using light, circular motions.
4. Let the baking soda paste sit on the jute sole for 15 to 20 minutes. As the paste dries, the sodium bicarbonate will pull oils, dirt, and odor-causing molecules out of the organic fibers.

Pro-Tip: If your jute soles have developed a musty smell from moisture or sweat, add 3-5 drops of tea tree essential oil to your baking soda paste. Tea tree oil acts as a natural, mild antifungal and antibacterial agent that sanitizes the fibers without damaging them.

Step 4: Rinsing, Neutralizing, and Lifting Residues

Once the cleaning agents have done their work, you must remove the dirt-laden soap and baking soda from the shoes without using a running tap.

1. Take a fresh microfiber cloth and dampen it with clean, lukewarm water. Wring it out until it is barely damp.
2. Wipe down the canvas upper repeatedly, rinsing the cloth in clean water and wringing it out between passes, until all soap residue is completely lifted.
3. To rinse the jute sole, let the baking soda paste dry until it is powdery. Use a dry, clean, stiff brush to sweep the dried paste out of the rope braids.
4. For any remaining stubborn baking soda residue on the jute, dampen a clean cloth with a 1:1 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. Dab the jute lightly. The vinegar will neutralize the alkaline baking soda, causing a slight fizzing reaction that lifts the remaining dirt to the surface where it can be blotted away with a dry towel.

Warning: Never submerge espadrilles in a bucket of water or rinse them under a running faucet. Excess water will dissolve the internal glues holding the shoe together, causing the jute rope to unravel and the rubber sole to peel away.

Step 5: Shaping and Drying the Footwear

Proper drying is the most critical step in maintaining the shape, size, and health of your espadrilles. Drying them too fast with heat can warp the glue, while drying them too slowly can cause mold.

1. Blot the entire shoe—both the upper and the sole—with a dry, plush bath towel to absorb as much surface moisture as possible.
2. Crumple up clean, white paper towels or unprinted packing paper and stuff them firmly into the toe boxes and heels of the espadrilles. This absorbs internal dampness and prevents the canvas from shrinking or wrinkling as it dries.
3. Place the shoes flat on a clean towel in a warm, dry room with excellent air circulation. Running a ceiling fan or placing the shoes near a dehumidifier will safely speed up the drying process.
4. Allow the shoes to dry completely for at least 12 to 24 hours before wearing or storing them.

Warning: Do not use newspaper to stuff your shoes, as the black ink will bleed onto the canvas and ruin them. Never place espadrilles in a tumble dryer, near a radiator, or in direct hot sunlight, as extreme heat shrinks jute fibers and melts rubber adhesive.

Espadrille Material Care and Cleaning Compatibility

The table below outlines the safe cleaning parameters, tools, and risk profiles for the different materials commonly used in espadrille construction.

Common Espadrille Damage Scenarios and Restoration Remedies

Frayed Jute Fibers on the Sole

• Root Cause: Excessive friction from harsh scrubbing, walking on rough gravel surfaces, or natural wear breaking down the delicate, twist-spun vegetable fibers of the rope sole.
• Actionable Fix: Carefully snip away any loose, dangling jute threads using a sharp pair of embroidery scissors. Do not pull on loose threads, as this can unravel the braid. Apply a very thin layer of flexible, clear fabric glue or shoe adhesive (such as Barge Cement or Shoe Goo) along the frayed area. Use a toothpick or your finger to smooth down the loose fibers back into the direction of the braid, and allow the adhesive to cure for 12 to 24 hours.

Musty Odors and Fungal Mildew Growth

• Root Cause: Leaving the shoes wet for too long, storing them in a damp wardrobe, or excessive foot perspiration allowing mold and mildew to thrive in the porous jute fibers.
• Actionable Fix: Lightly mist the dry jute sole and the interior of the shoe with a 1:1 mixture of distilled white vinegar and rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Do not soak the shoes. The alcohol and vinegar will sanitize the fibers and kill fungal spores. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda inside the shoe, let it sit overnight to absorb remaining moisture and odors, then shake or vacuum it out the next morning.

Waterlines and Salt Stains on Fabric Uppers

• Root Cause: Uneven drying of the canvas upper or exposure to puddles, which causes minerals and dirt to migrate to the edge of the wet spot, leaving a dark, stiff ring as the water evaporates.
• Actionable Fix: Re-wet the entire canvas upper evenly with a lightly damp microfiber cloth so there are no dry-to-wet borders. Mix a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water. Use a soft brush to gently scrub the stained waterline. Blot the entire upper with a dry towel to lift the dissolved minerals, stuff the shoes with white paper towels, and let them dry uniformly.

Separating Jute Sole from the Rubber Outsole

• Root Cause: Water exposure dissolving the water-soluble contact cement used to fuse the vulcanized rubber outsole to the braided jute midsole.
• Actionable Fix: Clean any dirt out of the gap using a dry brush. Apply a high-quality, flexible, waterproof contact adhesive designed for shoes (such as Barge All-Purpose Cement) to both the exposed jute and the rubber surface. Let the glue sit for 3 to 5 minutes until it is tacky to the touch. Press the surfaces firmly together, and clamp them or place heavy books on top of the shoe for 24 hours to secure the bond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put espadrilles in the washing machine?

No, you should never put espadrilles in a washing machine. The mechanical agitation of the washing machine combined with complete water immersion will dissolve the structural adhesives, cause the braided jute rope to swell, warp, and unravel, and permanently ruin the shape of the shoes.

How do you get mud out of jute soles?

Allow the mud to dry completely first, as wet mud will smear deeper into the porous jute fibers. Once dry, use a stiff-bristle toothbrush to brush away the dried mud, working strictly along the natural twist of the rope. If a stain remains, spot-treat it with a thick baking soda and water paste, let it dry, and brush it away.

How do you dry wet espadrilles fast?

To dry wet espadrilles safely and quickly, stuff them tightly with dry, unprinted white paper towels to draw out moisture from the inside, and place them in front of an electric fan or a dehumidifier in a well-ventilated room. Never use direct heat sources like hair dryers, tumble dryers, or radiators, as extreme heat will shrink the jute and melt the sole adhesives.

How do you clean white canvas espadrilles without turning them yellow?

Yellowing occurs when detergent residue or minerals are left in the canvas and react with sunlight during drying. To prevent this, rinse the canvas thoroughly with a damp microfiber cloth to remove all soap residue, avoid using bleach which degrades the fibers, and air-dry the shoes indoors away from direct UV rays.

Step Up Your Footwear Care Routine

Properly maintaining your espadrilles preserves their classic, breezy aesthetic and extends their lifespan for many summers to come. To shield your freshly cleaned shoes from future spills and water damage, apply a premium water and stain repellent spray formulated for canvas and fabric uppers.