How To Clean White Sneakers Everything You Need To Know
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Im just going to say it. I never realized how bad dirty white sneakers looked until I was well into adulthood. And now, I shutter at all those scuffed, cracked, and overall dismal sneakers thrown into the back of my closet without any attempt to be cleaned.
But, there is hope for all you dirty white sneaker collectors out there. White sneakers are a classic staple to any wardrobe. Whether you opt for a classic converse, an athletic mesh white sneaker, or a trendy pair of Airforce 1s, your white sneakers deserve to be revived.
Before we dive in
Lets first start off with a metaphorical finger-wagging that we all let our white sneakers get this bad! But, going forward, I would be remiss if I didnt mention you can also prevent this kind of thing.
Prevent your shoes from dulling by using a stain and water repellant treatment before* you even wear them out. I like this one.
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What Method Should You Use To Clean Your White Mesh Sneakers
Its best to start with the most gentle technique and work up to the more in-depth options when youre cleaning your mesh sneakers. Dry brushing and spot cleaning are preferable to using bleach.
However, you can try using stronger chemicals if your shoes have stains that really bother you. You might want to do a spot test when youre using a new cleaner on your shoes just to make sure that it doesnt damage or discolor them.
Next time you buy new shoes , you might want to protect them using a product such as Scotchguard.
Have you tried any of these methods for how to clean your white mesh sneakers? If so, dont forget to snap a before and after picture, and let us know what worked for you.
Use Bleach For Heavy Stains
Bleach is like the knight in shining armor for tough stains. It has excellent results in cleaning both white shoes and clothes.
Butremember to use bleach very carefully. Its a potent chemical, and too much exposure can cause skin redness, burning, and breathing difficulties.
Therefore, you have to wear gloves, and you must be in a well-ventilated room.
If youve done this, heres how to clean white sneakers using bleach:
- Mix bleach with warm water . .
- Use a sponge or toothbrush to loosen surface stains. You can use a lot of pressure but focus on the soiled areas.
- Now, dampen a small microfiber towel in warm water.
- Squeeze out excess water from the towel.
- Gently dab the towel over the shoes. If youre cleaning sturdier shoes like boots, you can run them under the water tap.
- Finally, let the shoes dry for five to six hours in a well-ventilated room.
Afterward, your shoes will undoubtedly look brand new.
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Use Shoe Inserts To Help Keep Your Shoes Shape
This step is important especially if your shoes are leather and prone to getting creased across the toes.
If you dont have shoe inserts, newspapers or rolled-up towels will also work quite nicely.
Privileged: Taylor Swift wearing brand-new Nike sneakers with the soles still in a pristine white condition to each of her workouts
Also, we recommend that you check out this great video showing how to clean and wash white running shoes and sneakers.
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Here’s Exactly How To Clean White Shoes
Whether they’re canvas, leather, or mesh, these tips will keep those kicks clean.
White shoes are a closet staple. This versatile footwear works with nearly every type of outfit, making it an ideal choice for daily use. But scuffs, stains, and dirt can quickly make your bright white shoes look dingy and worn after just a few days. And, unfortunately, cleaning white shoes isn’t as simple as tossing them in the washing machine and dryer, which could damage the sneakers. To help keep your favorite footwear looking fresh, we’ve tested and approved these strategies on how to clean white shoes in a variety of materials. Whether they’re made of canvas, leather, or mesh, these step-by-step instructions for cleaning white shoes will have your footwear looking like new.
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How To Clean White Volleyball Shoes
The only method to clean the white area of your volleyball shoes is by rubbing it with white toothpaste. You can use this procedure after the detergent process as we have mentioned above. You can rub the white toothpaste on the white areas of your volleyball shoes to make them more white. All you will need for this procedure will be white toothpaste and a white and clean toothbrush.
How To Clean Canvas Sneakers
Canvas shoes like Chuck Taylors and Supergas can be difficult to clean because grime works its way into the shoes fabric. However, canvas can generally withstand a substantial amount of scrubbing, so most stains can be removed with a bit of work.
After mixing some dish soap and water, clean your shoes by scrubbing them with a toothbrush in small, circular motions. When youre done, wipe them down with a damp towel to clear off any remaining suds.
Let your shoes dry between rounds of cleaning. You wont be able to tell how much dirt remains if theyre still wet.
If your sneakers still have stains, try using a stain remover like Tide or OxiClean. Apply the stain remover, and let the liquid sit for about five minutes before dabbing with a damp cloth. I was initially hesitant to try something this aggressive, but sneaker-cleaning legend Jason Markk said its okay, so Im fine with it.
Into the washing machine?
A hotly debated topic is whether you should toss your shoes into the wash. Some have done this successfully. But dont discount stories of shoes disintegrating in the washing machine . So proceed with caution because its not a gentle process.
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How To Clean Your Running Shoes
Because there are so many brands and styles there are lots of different rules about cleaning your running shoes. The first step is to find out what the manufacturer of your shoes specifically recommends. Some materials simply cannot get wet, so cleaning them may not be an option! However, here are some general guidelines on how to clean running shoes.
So now you know how to clean your running shoes and keep them lookingand smellingon point!
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How To Clean White Running Sneakers
Whether you wear them to the office or to the gym , the biggest thing right now in running sneakers are super-slick all-white, knit-upper versions. Nike’s got its Flyknit technology, while Adidas has got Primeknit, but both companies can’t seem to make enough all-white sneakers to keep up with demand.
And while the style of an all-white sneaker of the future looks great when it’s got that new-car smell, it’s also the most susceptible to stains that can bring even the most casual sneaker collectors to tears. Even we were convinced that an errant drop of mud or a rogue squirt of ketchup meant the end for our favorite footwear. But the greatest innovations often come in times of desperation, and they’ve led us to this: You should clean your white running sneakers by putting them in the washing machine with bleach. Yes, it really works, and yes, you might look like a crazy person to your fellow laundromat goersbut you can’t argue with these results. Here’s everything you need to know about this miracle process.
1. Clean all non-knit surfaces with sneaker cleaner, or with soap and water.You’re going to want to get any excess dirt that can be scrubbed off of leather or rubber out first. If you have any questions, check out our guide to cleaning white leather sneakers here.
3. Measure out 1/4 cup of bleach.There’s really not a whole lot of science behind that number, but it’s about half of what we’d use for a load of bed sheets, so it seemed right.
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How To Clean Flyknit Shoes
Nike Flyknit shoes are made to become a game-changer due to their lightweight, strong and breathable structure. This material can also be used for the edge of kicks. However, Whatever the shoe material is, its definitely going to get dirty. Here are some tips for how to clean flyknit shoes for making them look great again.
Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
3% hydrogen peroxide not only removes stains and brightens whites, but it also disinfects your shoes from harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. You can make a paste by mixing two parts baking soda with one part hydrogen peroxide. Use an old toothbrush to apply the mixture to the soles and uppers of your shoes. Wait 30 minutes before rinsing or leave them to air-dry in the sun and brush away the paste once theyre dry.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Mildew Off Shoes
Tip How To Care For Your White Mesh Shoes To Last Longer:
1. Always use a protective product for waterproofing before putting on your shoes for the first time. It forms a shield against water, dirt, and stains.2. Always dry the shoes with a towel if the weather has been wet and moist, so they stay fresher longer.3. Get good shoe care products. Special ones for just white mesh hoes are available.4. Brush clean your sneakers regularly. The more often the better, but preferably at least once a week.5. If you can afford it, get two pairs of shoes to switch between. Then they have time to breathe and stay fresher longer.6. If they get wet, stuff them with a newspaper to remove all moisture. It also helps the shoes stay in shape.7. If you have jeans that tarnished their cooler on the shoes, tape the inside of the jeans! It will not be visible, nothing will be destroyed, but it will prevent the color from reaching the shoes!
8. Buy new shoelaces. New shoelaces are a cheap investment that definitely makes a difference and makes your sneakers look whiter.
1 thought on How To Clean White Nike Mesh Shoes Without Ruining Them
How To Clean Coffee And Other External Stains
If youve got some kind of external stain on your kicks , you need to treat it ASAP so the stain isnt absorbed into the material. You can make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda, Rademaker says. Let that paste sit on the stain for five to 10 minutesthe vinegar will break it down and the baking soda will soak up the excess moisturethen brush over the area with your cleaning solution.
Check the urge to go totally HAM on that stain if your shoes are knit, though. This is a common shoe cleaning mistake. Knits are soft and pliable, which makes them more fragile than the other fabrics, Ornelas says. Be as gentle to these shoes as you are to your clothesi.e. dont pull at or distort the shoe in your rush to get the stain out. Brush it gently with your cleaning solution, then let air dry.
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How To Wash Nike Shoes The Right Way
Its not uncommon for your shoes to get dirty, especially if youre training or exercising outdoors. For instance, mud and grass can easily get on the outer fabric. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can get them to look new again!
Are Nike Shoes Machine Washable?
The short answer is yesyou can put them in the washing machine. There are several things that you want to do before throwing them in, though. For starters, you want to remove the shoelaces from your shoes wash them separately by putting them in a mesh lingerie bag .
Note: Its highly recommended that you wash the shoes by themselves its not a good idea to put them in with your clothes as they can get damaged. However, you can put a few towels in to balance out the weight.
Carefully put your shoes and laces in the washer. Pour the normal portion of ACTIVE detergent into the machine. If necessary, you can also add a cup of white vinegarthat will help to get rid of some of the odor. Baking soda works too.
When To Clean Your Running Shoes
There isnt really a set time frame in which you should be cleaning your shoes it depends more on the kind of running youre doing.
If youre on the trail, its a good bet that your shoes are picking up all kinds of mud and dirt. Of course, thats not fun to look at but the bigger problem with mud is a loss of traction. Carrying a big ol cake of mud on your soles can put you at risk for slips and injuries. If youre on the trail often, you should clean your shoes regularly to make sure they dont impede your run. Youre not really going to encounter much dirt and mud if youre a road runner, so your cleaning regimen may be based around combatting bad smells.
The general rule for when to clean running shoes is to do so when you notice a change in the way they feel, like if youre carrying mud that outweighs your footwear, or if you start to notice that theyre beginning to smell.
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Cleaning White Tennis Shoes With Bleach
This cleaning process is an ideal method for use on white fabric tennis shoes. It is essential to use this cleaning method in an area that has proper ventilation and that you do not overdo it with the bleach.
Applying too much bleach to your shoes while cleaning them could cause them to turn yellow. Following proper shoe care by using these instructions will restore those sneakers to brand new.
- Nitrile gloves
Wearing the nitrile gloves to protect your hands from irritation, carefully mix the warm water and bleach in a container. Remove the shoelaces and insoles. Dip the old toothbrush into the bleach solution and gently scrub the shoes in a circular motion to loosen grime.
Begin at the fabric and work your way to the soles. Rinse the shoes under a faucet of cold water and allow the shoes to air dry.
Cleaning white shoe strings can be done in a mesh bag in the washer or you can scrub them with the solution above to get them nice and bright again.
How To Clean White Tennis Shoes
They often made running shoes and white tennis shoes with mesh, rubber, foam, and other synthetic materials. Since machine washing can be rough on synthetics, you can often make your shoes last longer and stay whiter by hand washing them.
- Take out the insoles and shoelaces, wash them in the sink, and let them air dry.
- Use a toothbrush to remove excess dirt and mud from the shoes, soles, and tongues.
- Add two tablespoons of clothes detergent to a bowl of warm water.
- Scrub stained areas with baking soda and a toothbrush.
- Dip the toothbrush in the bowl and start scrubbing, but be gentle when youre scrubbing a mesh area so you dont rip a thread.
- Scrub off scuffs and stains from the soles with a Magic Eraser.
- Use a clean damp cloth to wipe down the shoes and remove any residue.
- Let the shoes air dry and enjoy that new white shoes feeling once again!
So now you know how to clean white shoes and keep them looking good. Want to learn more about how to get rid of dirt, stains, and germs around the house? Check out our extensive library of DIY cleaning and disinfecting guides. Whether you tackle dirt and germs on your own or let us help out with one of our popular residential cleaning services, The Maids wants every home to be a clean and healthy place. Find out about affordable, flexible house cleaning in your neighborhood when you get your free estimate.
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Deodorize Your Shoes With Baking Soda
Another problem your favorite white kicks can encounter is unpleasant odor. Everyone knows funky shoe smell, and it can be embarrassing. Fortunately, baking soda is your friend for both the outside of your white shoes and the inside. Baking soda absorbs odors, something you might already know about from putting a box in your fridge and freezer. It can do the same thing to deodorize your shoes.
- Measure 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda for each shoe. You need enough to cover the entire insole. Bigger shoes may require additional baking soda.
- Pour the baking soda into the heel of each shoe.
- Tilt the shoe forward and backward and shake from side to side to evenly distribute the baking soda in the shoe. Its okay if there are lumps and clumps. Use a liberal amount to ensure adequate coverage.
- Wait a few hours, preferably overnight. The baking soda will kill odor-causing bacteria and absorb odors. Extra-stinky shoes may require 24 hours.
- Over a trashcan or the sink, tap the shoe to remove the remaining baking soda from the inside. Shake to remove as much as possible. If a small amount remains, it wont hurt you or your shoes.
Look for the ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda Shaker that you can keep in your closet to use on your shoes when you notice theyve gotten a little funky. You can deodorize your shoes as often as once per week if needed, but only deodorize leather shoes once per month as the baking soda can also absorb oils in the leather.
