Cleaning the New Balance 550

New Balance 550 Deep Clean

Welcome back to another episode of Shoe Care Academy. 

Today Jonny Bubbles is back to teach us how to clean one of this years most popular shoes, the New Balance 550. 

I know what you're thinking...a New Balance? YES! New Balance knocked it out of the park with the 550, and they've been flying off of shelves all year long. 

Thanks to KYX World, we've got our hands on this all-white New Balance 550, and are ready to give it the full Reshoevn8r treatment with our Deep Clean Signature Bundle. As you can tell, these things are pretty dirty, so you're in for a treat.

Read on to find out how you can receive a 20 percent discount on shoe rentals from KYX World. 

A true test of the effectiveness of our sneaker cleaner...let's get right into it. 

A Worthy Opponent

Cleaning all-white sneakers like the New Balance 550 can be a pain. Luckily for us, our Reshoenv8r Sneaker Cleaning Solution should be able to get these looking pretty clean. And if we need to, we can throw them in the washing machine thanks to our patented Sneaker Laundry System. 

Jonny started like he always does, by removing the laces and inserting the Adjustable Shoe Tree. 

Working through the Three Brush Pack, Jonny used the Soft Bristle Brush to clean the uppers, the Medium Bristle Brush to attack the deeper stains on the uppers and midsoles, and finally the Stiff Bristle Brush on the nasty outsoles. 

Washing White New Balance Sneakers in the Washing Machine

After the preliminary clean and wipe down, it's clear that these shoes aren't going to get much better until we throw them in the washing machine. 

Luckily for us, the Deep Clean Signature Bundle includes everything you need to wash your shoes in the washing machine. Jonny put the kicks into the included Sneaker Laundry Bag, and the laces in the pouch. Then he added a Sneaker Laundry pod, and put them in the washing machine for a full cycle. 

After putting your sneakers in the washing machine, it's important to let them air dry, rather than stick them in the dryer. This will allow them to dry evenly and will avoid unwanted water spots on the upper

A Brief History of the New Balance 550

Interestingly, (I didn't know this before hand) the New Balance 550 originally debuted back in the 1980s as a performance basketball shoe. It retailed for $45, and was designed by Steven Smith. Despite its popularity NOW, back then the New Balance 550 was short lived. The design lasted only a few years before it fizzled out and was put into hibernation. 

This was mostly due to the fact that basketball players had started using high-top basketball sneakers, and wanted shoes that provided ankle protection. But fast forward 40 years, and no one seems to mind the low-cut look of the New Balance 550. 

In fact, the New Balance 550 has taken the sneaker world by storm. Each subsequent New Balance 550 release ends with the same fateful result: a sold out button where the add to cart used to be. The resurgence by the underrated running brand from Boston has been amazing to see, and we're here for it.

New Balance 550: Why Buy?

Why buy the New Balance 550 in 2022? First of all, the colorways are seemingly endless. New Balance is popping out new colors of the New Balance 550 left and right, including some insane collaboration colorways with the biggest names in pop culture such as Joe FreshGoods, Rich Paul, and more. Here's our list of the Best New Balance 550 Colorways! 

The New Balance 550 is such a versatile silhouette, too. The wearable, low-profile design coupled with the popular chunky look is a must have in your sneaker rotation. But perhaps my favorite part about the New Balance 550, and the most compelling reason to pick up a pair or two, is the price. 

Most pairs of the New Balance 550 retail for just over $100, a far cry from the Retro Jordans of our age that constantly fetch over $200 at your local retail shops. Anytime you can pick up a shoe that's this wearable, this popular, and this trendy for around $100, RUN, don't walk to the store and grab yourself a few pairs. 

Before and After

With the New Balance 550 all clean and dry, all that's left is to lace these bad boys back up. 

It's clear that our sneaker cleaning kit did a tremendous job on this white pair of sneakers. In fact, these cleaned up so well that you can hardly tell they've ever been worn. 

We want to hear from you, are you rocking with the New Balance 550? Which colorway is your favorite? 

Thanks for stopping by our Shoe Care Academy. Our resident sneaker experts are eager to serve you and freshen up your prized kicks. Schedule a private Online Cleaning Consultation to receive instructions on how to clean your personal pair, or take advantage of our Online Cleaning Service to have our expert staff take care of it for you. 

As always, click on over to Youtube to check out even more cleaning videos, restorations, and other fun sneaker content. 

This video was sponsored by KYX World - use code 'CLEAN20' to get 20% off your first subscription. KYX World (KYX) is the premiere sneaker subscription experience, revolutionizing footwear culture by providing all-inclusive access to an expansive rotation of authentic, limited-release styles.