How To Clean White Shoes Without Bleach: Canvas Leather And Mesh Sneakers
- Columbia University
- Syracuse University
White shoes and sneakers are a staple in most closets: the ideal versatile shoes that go with almost every outfit and look greatas long as they’re perfectly clean.
If your favorite pair of white shoes is looking dingy, stained, or dirty, follow one of these tried-and-true methods to clean them using baking soda and other eco-friendly household products.
Remove Dirt And Scuff Marks
Wet a clean cloth and rub it over the soap to create a lather. Clean the leather by working on a small section at a time with a gentle, circular motion. Begin at the toes and continue working along the sides and heel.
Remove tough scuff marks using baking soda, which is a gentle abrasive cleaner. Sprinkle baking soda on a cleaning cloth and gently rub the mark until it disappears.
How To Clean White Rubber Soles
Its easy for scuff marks and dirt steaks to make their way onto white rubber soles. Heres what to do for when that time comes.
Tools and Materials Needed
- Hand towels
Step 1: Mix the Cleaning Solution
Mix three tablespoons of baking soda with three tablespoons of distilled water in a mixing bowl until a thick paste is formed.
Step 2: Scrub the Rubber
Use the toothbrush to apply the cleaning solution to the rubber portion of your white shoes. Scrub in circles to loosen stuck-on debris and pesky stains.
Step 3: Wipe Clean and Dry
Use a wet towel to wipe away the paste. Then wipe dry with another clean towel.
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Washing Shoes In A Washing Machine
If youre going to put shoes through the washing machine with bleach, reconsider that decision! Instead of bleach, try putting a cup of white vinegar into the wash after the contents are soaked with water and allow it to finish its cycle. White vinegar has similar bleaching properties . Wash the shoes in a mesh laundry bag with a few towels to balance the load, then let air dry.
Never, ever combine bleach and vinegar for cleaning purposes, even if diluted in the washing machine, as the combination creates highly toxic gasses in the home.
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Fabric Shoes
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Can I Use Oxiclean On My Vans
You can use OxiClean on white canvas Vans, but not suede or leather.
To use OxiClean, make a solution in your sink according to the manufacturer instructions. Use an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush to work the solution into the exterior. Rinse with a cool clean cloth. Air dry the shoes, stuffed with paper, in a warm spot away from direct sunlight.
Let Your Runners Air Dry Out Of Direct Sunlight
This can cause them to turn yellow. Dont be tempted to bung them in the dryer.
Now your leather runners are looking fresh again, heres how to keep them looking white for longer
- Use a protector. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Stop your runners from getting filthy in the first place by using a spray-on stain-and-water repellent. Make sure that you top up every few weeks.
- Spot clean on the regular. Try to catch any stains and scuffs soon after they occur with a baby wipe this will save you having to try to remove baked-in stains weeks down the line.
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How To Clean White Mesh Shoes In 5 Steps
If white shoes notoriously attract dirt and mesh shoes absorb virtually any substance they come into contact with, then white mesh shoes are the perfect storm. Fortunately, keeping your favorite white mesh shoes clean may be easier than you think. From your favorite summer slip-ons to the latest athletic footwear, you only need a few simple materials to keep them looking good as new. Learn how to clean white mesh shoes in just five simple steps below and get some outfit inspiration along the way. Then, of course, shop our favorites because it wouldn’t be a Who What Wear story without some items to add to your cart.
How To Clean White Shoes
There’s nothing quite as annoying as scuffing a brand new pair of white shoes. The tiniest spec feels dramatized to epic proportions you can nearly see it from the moon, right?
Well, fear not! TODAY Style has you covered with different ways to brighten, whiten and clean your white shoes with advice from top cleaning experts.
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Cleaning Suede Fabric Shoes
Suede is a type of leather. It is the brushed underside of the animal hide. It is a lot more delicate than full-grain leather which comes from the outer skin of the hide.
Its best to use a specialized suede brush and cleaner on suede shoes. You can find out more about suede and how to clean and care for it in our article Nubuck vs Suede.
Cleaning White Fabric Shoes
White fabric shoes are undoubtedly more prone to getting dirty than any others. You can guarantee the minute you step out of the door with them on, things will conspire against you being able to keep them clean.
It could be your tennis shoes, sneakers, or the latest pair of Converse or Vans. Knowing how to clean them will keep them bright and white longer.
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Fill The Water Container
Arrange a decent container and fill it with water. Keep in mind, the temperature of the water should be high. At the same time, they should not disturb its texture. Generally, shoes made of cloth can bear higher temperatures very happily. So, you do not need to be extra conscious of this practice.
After filling some good amount of water, add detergent or dishwasher for cleaning activity.
How To Clean White Canvas Shoes
Canvas shoes are comfortable, affordable, and low maintenance. Just slip them on or tie them up and youre ready to go that is, until you notice your once-white shoes have now turned a dingy gray. Luckily, there are two effective ways we recommend cleaning white canvas shoes that will take your kicks from blemished to bright!
Before learning how to clean white canvas sneakers, you will need these common household items:
- One or five-gallon bucket
- Cleaning brush or an old toothbrush with medium bristles
- Access to a washer and dryer
Make sure to always knock off any heavy dirt from the bottom of your shoes before cleaning. If your canvas shoes have mixed fabrics , they should not be cleaned in the washer, but they can be hand washed with fabric shampoo . Before starting, always check the label of your shoes for cleaning instructions.
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To Machine Wash Or To Not Machine Wash
The verdict is mixed on whether you should toss sneakers into the washing machine. Some experts fear the machine’s drums will loosen and the shoe’s construction will be compromised, but lifestyle expert Denise Wild has a hack to help avoid this.
“Remove the insoles and shoelaces and throw your canvas shoes in a cool-water, low-spin cycle with some white towels or rags if you want to lessen agitation,” she said. She also recommends applying an enzyme-based spot treatment with a rubber-bristled brush.
I like rubber bristles for cleaning shoes because theyre stronger and firmer than toothbrush bristles, so they really give a good scrub,” she explained. The bristles are larger, so theyre not pushing dirt into the fibers of the fabric. And it’s easy to find! You can buy one at the pet store theyre sold for getting pet hair out of upholstery and carpets.
Consider a mesh bag to prevent laces from tangling.
How To Clean White Sneakers With Baking Soda
Baking soda helps break up soil particles, which is why Chatelaines former senior marketing manager, Jennifer Bairos Hofer, recommends making a paste out of baking soda and water and using it to scrub stains when you need to spot clean.
Toronto sneaker blogger Meredydd Hardie agrees that baking soda works. She cautions to use this method on white fabrics only, as baking soda can discolour non-white shoes.
Stan Smith sneakers, $110, adidas.ca
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How Do You Clean White Shoes Without Damaging Them
If youâre concerned about ruining your shoes, we recommend two things: spot test your cleaning method and stay away from bleach. Soap and water or both baking soda methods weâve outlined will be your best bet without being too abrasive.
Staying away from bleach may sound counterintuitive. And sometimes, bleach is the best way to really make white shoes dazzling, but some materials react poorly with bleach often resulting in a yellow stain. This is when a swatch test will help out! But if in doubt, forego using bleach and opt for another cleaning method.
Considerations Before Cleaning Your White Shoes
There are a few important aspects to take into consideration before you start any of the cleaning protocols below.
The first step in cleaning your white shoes should always be to remove the excess dirt. The best way to do this is to brush it off while it’s drygetting dried dirt wet will turn it into a muddy mess.
Leather shoes need a different cleaning and whitening method than canvas. Knit or mesh materials like those found in some athletic shoes also need special consideration, so take note of what your shoes are made of to figure out the best way to clean and whiten them up.
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Using Bleach On Your White Mesh Sneakers
You can use bleach to wash your white mesh shoes in the washing machine, but theres not a lot of science to back it up. In fact, bleach can damage the delicate fabric.
If you have a stubborn stain that wont come out using the other methods that weve listed here, you can try using bleach at your own risk.
One Other Thing: Dont Ever Put Your Runners In The Washing Machine
Contrary to popular belief, never put your trainers in the washing machine . Your washing machine will be much too rough on your trainers, even on the gentle setting. We never recommend you clean trainers in a washing machine. Play it safe and stick with the hand-washing methods weve outlined above.
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Wash And Blot The Uppers
Use the mild solution and a soft-bristled brush, toothbrush, or a soft damp cloth to clean the uppers. Take your time and don’t scrub too hard.
When you’re satisfied with the look, use a dry microfiber towel or soft cloth to blot and lift as much soapy moisture and dirt as possible. Repeat if necessary. Try to avoid drying by rubbing as it can wear down the shoe fabric or spread any remaining small bits of dirt.
How To Make Shoes White Again
With all of these methods, make sure you start by removing any big chunks of dirt with a soft brush, clean out the treads and remove any shoelaces. That way, no matter how you make shoes white again, the cleaners can go to work on the tough stuff.
Machine washing
Hand wash with baking soda
Hand wash with all-purpose cleaner
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How To Wash White Shoes
The following method works well if youre cleaning tennis shoes, running shoes, and even certain types of leather footwear. But even manufacturers seem divided on the best way to clean your footwear before getting started, check the care label or online to make sure your white shoes are washable, especially if theyre leather.
Heres how to wash white shoes in your washer:
- If your shoes have laces, pull them out and put them in a mesh bag. If they are exceptionally dirty or worn, this is a good time to replace them.
- Remove the insoles and scrub them with a damp cloth and baking soda. Rinse them in the sink and let them air dry.
- Rinse the outside of your shoes in the sink to remove dirt and debris.
- Use a toothbrush and baking soda to scrub stains.
- Put the shoes in the mesh bag with the shoelaces and put the bag in the washer with dirty towels and regular laundry detergent.
- Wash with warm water on the gentle cycle, then choose the extra rinse cycle.
- Remove the shoes from the washer and shake off extra water.
- Stuff your shoes loosely with white cotton washcloths or white tissue paper to aid in drying and help them keep their shape.
- Let your laces and shoes air dry in a well-ventilated space or outside.
How To Clean White Shoes5 Min Read
Its a wonderful feeling to unbox a brand new pair of white shoesand the first time you wear them, you feel awesome. But just like white T-shirts, white dresses, and white pants, the crisp, clean look of white shoes has an Achilles heel: stains and dirt. Thats why you need to learn how to clean white shoes like a proso you can keep enjoying your footwears pristine appearance!
Weve all had our share of spills and stains on our clothes, but none sound the alarm like stains on white clothes and shoes. After all, your shoes are at the bottom of the spill totem pole anything you spill has a good chance of landing around your feet. But accidents aside, your white shoes also have to endure dirt, grass, and anything else you walk through regularly.
Whether youre cleaning white shoes made with leather, canvas, or synthetic materials, were going to show you the best way to clean white shoes, how to get stains out of white shoes, and keep them looking newer, longer.
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The Secret To Keeping Your White Runners White And Bright
Keeping your white runners crisp and clean seems to be one of the hardest tricks of all until now! While the a-list might be able to purchase a new pair of sleek white trainers when they get theirs dirty, how can we mere mortals ensure our shoes stay looking pristine especially when we want to wear them hard and use them for years?
Well, where theres a will, theres a way! Try out these step-by-step tips for cleaning white runners, and keeping them clean, white and looking like new. There are actually a lot of factors to consider, such as what material theyre made of . But weve got tricks to help you get rid of scuff marks, discolouration, grime and much more for all fabrics so you can keep wearing those well-worn kicks on repeat.
Spot Clean White Canvas Shoes
For white canvas espadrilles or shoes that cannot go in the washer, spot clean by mixing one teaspoon of laundry detergent in one quart of warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth in the solution and scrub away the soil on the inside and outside of the shoes.
Complete the cleaning process by dipping another cloth in plain water and wiping away any soapy residue.
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Whiten Your Shoes With Dish Soap
Dish soap is another go-to for millions of homemakers. The same qualities that make dish soap so effective at fighting grime and grease on your silverware and eating surfaces make it perfect for breaking up greasy stains on your nice white sneakers. Use this method to attack especially oily spots or to clean dirt off white shoes and make them bright again.
- A bowl of warm water
Apply dish soap to stained spots on your shoes. Dip the toothbrush in warm water, and gently scrub the stains. Re-wet the toothbrush often, and rinse the shoes if needed. Repeat until you eradicate the stains.
