Suede is the reason people ruin a pair of GEL-1130s. They search for how to clean ASICS GEL-1130, find a generic guide written for mesh and synthetic uppers, wet the whole shoe, and end up with suede that dries stiff, patchy and a shade darker. The mesh and the white midsole clean like any other retro runner. The suede does not, and the suede is what makes the shoe look the way it does.
This is for anyone who has paid £139.99 to £169.99 for a pair and wants the suede to still have its nap in a year. If you are still deciding on the shoe, our complete UK guide to the GEL-1130 covers fit, price and colourways.
Why suede changes the method
On the Kayano 14 the overlays are leather and synthetic, which wipe clean with a damp cloth. The GEL-1130 at Tempo uses suede over mesh. Suede is the underside of the hide, brushed up into a nap of short fibres. That nap is what makes it fussy.
- Water flattens the nap and leaves tide marks. Wet suede dries with a hard edge where the water stopped, and the fibres mat down.
- Soap sits in the fibres. A lather that rinses out of mesh stays in suede and dries as a pale, crusty patch.
- Dirt sits on top rather than in. The good news. Most marks are surface dust and scuffs, and they come off dry.
So the shoe splits into three jobs: suede (dry), mesh (damp), midsole (a proper scrub). Do them in that order so you are not dripping soapy water onto suede you have already brushed. If you have read our Kayano 14 cleaning guide, the suede is the new part.
What you need
- A suede brush (brass or nylon bristles, or crepe rubber)
- A suede eraser (a clean pencil eraser does in a pinch)
- A soft-bristled brush for the mesh
- An old toothbrush for the midsole grooves
- Mild soap (well-diluted washing-up liquid or a purpose-made trainer cleaner)
- Two bowls of cold water, one for washing and one for rinsing
- Two microfibre cloths, one damp and one dry
- A melamine sponge (magic eraser), for the midsole only
- Kitchen paper or newspaper for stuffing while drying
- A suede and nubuck protector spray
Cold water only. Warm water softens the midsole glue and sets stains into the mesh. Trainer care kits sit in our accessories collection.
Suede step by step
- Take the laces and insoles out. You clean those separately.
- Let any mud dry completely. Wet mud smears into the nap. Dry mud brushes off. Leave a muddy shoe overnight before you touch it.
- Dry brush the whole suede panel. One direction, light pressure, following the grain. This lifts dust and shows you what is actually a stain. Most of the time it does most of the work.
- Use the suede eraser on marks. Scuffs, rub marks and small dark spots respond to it. Short gentle strokes, then brush away the crumbs. If a mark is not lifting after a few passes, it needs the next step.
- For a stubborn stain, go damp, not wet. Wring a cloth almost dry in cold water and dab the whole panel, not just the mark, so it dries evenly without a tide line. No soap. Let it dry fully.
- Brush the nap back up. Once dry, work the suede brush in small circles, then finish in one direction. This restores the even finish.
- Apply protector spray. By an open window, an even light coat from the distance on the label. Let it dry.
Never soak suede, never scrub it wet, never use a magic eraser on it. If you take one thing from this guide, take that.
Mesh and midsole
Mesh
The mesh is an open weave, so dirt works into the fabric. A few drops of mild soap in cold water for a light lather. Dip the soft brush, shake off the excess, and work in small circles across the mesh only, clear of the suede edges. Wipe off with a cloth wrung out in clean cold water, then press dry. If water runs onto the suede, dab the whole panel straight away so it dries even.
Midsole
The midsole is lower-profile than the Kayano 14's but it is still white foam with grooves, and it takes the same abuse from kerbs and bus steps. Dip the toothbrush in the soapy water and scrub the foam and grooves, working around the GEL windows at the heel. Wipe with the damp cloth. For rubber transfer or a scuff that will not lift, use the melamine sponge, damp, lightly. It works by abrasion, so sparingly, midsole only. Finish by brushing grit out of the outsole tread.
The White Silver GEL-1130 most rewards this stage, because its mesh and midsole show grey the fastest.
Laces and insoles
Laces go in a bowl of warm soapy water for twenty minutes, then a rub, a rinse and a hang to dry. If they are past saving, a fresh pair of flat laces is the cheapest way to make the whole shoe look newer.
Insoles get a wipe with the damp soapy cloth, then a rinse wipe. Do not submerge them; the foam takes days to dry. If they smell, a dusting of bicarbonate of soda overnight does more than any spray.
Drying
Stuff each shoe loosely with kitchen paper or newspaper so it holds its shape and draws moisture out. Change the paper after a couple of hours. Leave the shoes somewhere airy at room temperature.
- Not on a radiator. Heat shrinks suede and weakens the glue.
- Not in direct sun. UV yellows white foam and fades suede unevenly.
- Not in a tumble dryer, ever.
- Not with a hairdryer. Same problem as the radiator, faster.
Allow a full day. Once dry, brush the nap up one last time and apply protector spray if you skipped it earlier.
Prevention and how often
Protector spray before first wear is the single most useful thing you can do, and it takes two minutes. Reapply after every proper clean and every couple of months of regular wear.
- Weekly: a thirty-second dry brush of the suede and a wipe of the midsole.
- Monthly, or when they look tired: the full routine above.
- After rain: stuff with paper, dry naturally, brush the nap once dry. Never put them away wet.
Suede and rain do not get on. If the forecast is bad and you have another pair, wear the other pair. Rotating also lets each dry out fully between wears. Our GEL-1130 review covers how the build holds up over time.
Colourway notes
The three colourways clean differently. Our Sharkskin vs White Silver vs Cream Black comparison covers how they look; this is how they wear.
| Colourway | What shows | Care priority |
|---|---|---|
| Sharkskin (grey suede and mesh) | Very little. Grey hides dust and light scuffs. | Midsole scrub, occasional dry brush. The most forgiving. |
| White Silver (tonal white with silver) | Everything on the midsole and mesh. Grey builds on white mesh fast. | Regular mesh wash and midsole clean. |
| Cream Black (cream with black) | More than you would hope. Cream suede shows scuffs and water marks, and the black trim makes the cream look grubbier by contrast. | Protector spray before first wear. Weekly dry brush. |
The Sharkskin GEL-1130 is the pair to buy if you know you will not keep up with cleaning. The Cream Black GEL-1130 is where the protector spray matters most: a tide mark on cream is far more visible than on grey, and you will regret skipping it the first time it rains.
What not to do
- Do not put them in a washing machine. Suede comes out matted and stiff.
- Do not soak the suede or use soap on it. Damp cloth at most, over the whole panel.
- Do not use a magic eraser on suede or mesh. Midsole only.
- Do not use bleach. It yellows the midsole and strips colour from cream suede.
- Do not use warm or hot water anywhere.
- Do not dry them on a radiator, in sun, or with a hairdryer.
- Do not scrub suede in circles while it is wet.
- Do not put them away wet or muddy.
The GEL-NYC has suede overlays too, so much of this crosses over. Our guide to cleaning the GEL-NYC covers the leather sections the 1130 does not have.
Quick answers
Can you put ASICS GEL-1130 in the washing machine?
No. The suede will mat and stiffen, and the heat and agitation weaken the midsole bond. Clean by hand.
How do you clean suede on the GEL-1130?
Dry brush first, suede eraser for marks, and a barely damp cloth over the whole panel only if a stain will not lift. Dry, brush the nap back up, then protector spray.
How do you get the white midsole white again?
Toothbrush and mild soap in cold water for general grime. A damp melamine sponge, used lightly, for scuffs and rubber transfer. Keep it off the suede and mesh.
Which GEL-1130 colourway is easiest to keep clean?
Sharkskin. White Silver shows dirt on mesh and midsole; Cream Black shows marks on the cream suede and needs protector spray from day one.
Buy the pair, and buy the spray
With ten minutes of care a month the GEL-1130 will look right for a long time. All three colourways are in our ASICS trainers collection, in men's UK sizing, with free UK delivery over £100 and same day dispatch on orders before 2PM. The full ASICS range covers anything to wear with them. Klarna and Clearpay are available at checkout.