How to Clean Crocs

To clean Crocs, brush off loose dirt, then hand-wash the Croslite foam with mild dish soap in cool or lukewarm water — not hot, which can warp or shrink the foam. Scrub inside and out, rinse, and air-dry in the shade. White pairs brighten with a baking-soda paste; odors improve with overnight baking soda inside. Remove Jibbitz charms before washing. You can machine-wash on cold in a pinch, but never use a heat dryer. Here is how to clean classic, white, fuzzy, and fur-lined Crocs.

What you’ll need

• Soft brush or old toothbrush
• Mild dish soap
• Cool or lukewarm water (not hot)
• Baking soda for white pairs and odor
• Towel for blotting; shady spot to air-dry

Can Crocs go in the washing machine?

Hand washing is what Crocs recommends and is the safest default for the foam. Machine washing on a cold gentle cycle with a little detergent (alone or with towels) is an occasional option. Never put Crocs in the dryer — heat deforms Croslite. Air-dry only.

How to clean white Crocs

1. Remove charms. Rinse with cool water.
2. Mix dish soap into cool/lukewarm water in a bucket.
3. Soak 10–30 minutes (not longer sitting in hot water).
4. Scrub crevices with a toothbrush.
5. Rub a damp towel dipped in baking soda over dull spots until they lighten.
6. Rinse well; air-dry in shade.

Baking soda paste for stains

1. Brush off dry dirt.
2. Mix baking soda with a little water into a paste.
3. Work into stains; wait a few minutes; scrub gently.
4. Rinse thoroughly; air-dry.

Fuzzy, lined, and fur-lined Crocs

Keep the fuzzy liner from matting: remove the shoe body soil with a damp soapy cloth rather than drowning the liner. Spot-clean the lining with mild soap on a cloth; rinse wipe; blot with a towel. Air-dry fully — stuffing lightly with dry towels helps the liner dry without heat. Do not machine-dry fleece or faux fur.

How to clean Crocs that smell

1. Wash the exterior as above.
2. Sprinkle baking soda inside; leave overnight; shake out.
3. For stubborn odor, a brief wipe with diluted white vinegar on the footbed, then a clean water wipe, then full air-dry.

Soaking and “make them new” tips

Short cool soaks with mild soap are fine. Skip boiling water, dishwasher heated dry, bleach baths on colored pairs, and acetone. A magic eraser can lift scuffs on the foam after a spot test — do not grind hard or you dull the surface. Reinsert dry Jibbitz only when the shoes are fully dry.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put Crocs in the dishwasher?
Not recommended. Heat and harsh detergent risk warping. Hand wash instead.

Is bleach OK on white Crocs?
Avoid chlorine bleach as a routine whitener — it can degrade foam and irritate skin residue. Prefer soap, baking soda, and sun-safe air-drying.

How do I clean Jibbitz charms?
Wipe with mild soapy water; rinse; dry before popping them back in.

Final cautions

• No heat dryer, no hot water soaks
• Remove charms before washing
• Air-dry fuzzy liners completely
• Hand wash is the default; machine wash is occasional only

Crocs are a quick DIY clean; mud rooms and floors are a bigger job. Pro Housekeepers’ regular cleaning and deep cleaning keep entryways and living areas in shape — and how to clean hats covers another heat-sensitive accessory.