Can You Clean White Shoes With Bleach
Wondering if you can use bleach on white sneakers? The short answer: Yes, but its not your most gentle choice. In fact, the caveat with using bleach to clean white shoes is that you have to dilute it carefully. As for how much bleach to use to clean white shoes: It varies, but most shoe-care guides suggest mixing one part bleach for every five parts water. Any more bleach used will increase your risk of turning your white fabrics a strange yellow tone.
Its important to note that household bleach is not technically considered corrosive or toxic, though bleach exposure can cause irritation in the eyes, mouth, lungs, and on skin. You should also follow the standard bleach safety tips youd use anytime youre working with bleach for regular loads of laundry, which means staying in a well-ventilated area and protecting your eyes and skin from exposure.
To clean white shoes with bleach: Youll need bleach, a container, water, a toothbrush, and a fan or a nearby open window. Mix a small amount of bleach with at least five times as much water in a well-ventilated area. Dip your toothbrush in the diluted bleach solution and scrub the shoes gently. Rinse with warm water when youre finished, and then let the shoes air dry for at least several hours .
For Heavy Duty Marks Consult Cleaners
If the scuffing gets out of hand, its time to enlist the help of proper cleaners. Polychronakis has some go-to’s: “Gonzo and Lincoln EZ cleaner are good for both fabric and leather. Dawn dish soap also does wonders. She advises that if you’re working with a fabric style, clean the whole sneaker . This can easily be done with the cleaner, water, and an old-but-clean toothbrush all around the shoe. And then leave them to air dry .
Take Advantage Of Baking Soda Powder
You can take advantage of baking soda is an unorthodox but very effective method of whitening tennis shoes. There are many ways to use this powder, but you can refer to the following steps to apply it to your shoes.
- Step 1: Make a cleaning mixture of baking soda, water, and a little lemon or vinegar. The acid in the lemon or vinegar will react with the baking soda powder to create an effective shoe cleaning effect.
- Step 2: You need to prepare a specialized brush, or if you do not have one, you can replace it with a toothbrush. Use that brush to rub on shoes surface.
- Step 3: Wait for the mixture to dry for about 3-4 hours or until it comes off on its own. The glue that comes off will absorb both dirt and plaque on the shoes.
- Step 4: At this point, you can use another brush or soft towel to wipe away the remaining glue on the shoes.
Also Check: Is Dhgate Legit For Shoes
White Vinegar And Baking Soda To Clean White Sneakers
Another home remedy to clean white shoes is one of the most powerful and effective. Vinegar is an antibacterial and bleaching agent which not only keeps your whites whiter, but is very useful in removing bad smells. This is why vinegar is a product used for many different home cleaning tasks, being just as good at cleaning textiles as it is hard surfaces. Check out our article on how to clean your washing machine with white vinegar for more info.
Baking soda is also helpful in cleaning, but acts more specifically in removing fatty or oily stains from white trainers. Combine these two powerful ingredients to clean white tennis shoes using the following method:
Good Way To Clean Suede
Suede tennis shoes are very sensitive to washing in the washing machine, even the dryer. Were better off putting a tissue inside the shoe to keep its original shape after use.
If the shoes get wet, leave the shoes in until they are completely dry, then clean them later.
The included cleaning kit should also be suitable for the suede type of shoe. Accordingly, suede brush and suede remover are wise choices.
And the way to clean is also very easy when there is baking soda, you just need to sprinkle them on the stain of the shoes. Then, use a pre-prepared brush to scrub the stain.
The optimal time for the stain to be completely removed is 10-15 minutes. Finally, use a dry cloth to clean and air dry the shoes.
Read Also: How Long Do Hoka Running Shoes Last
How To Clean White Suede Sneakers
Learning how to clean white sneakers that are suede can be a little tricky. Suede stains pretty easily, but you have to be careful when removing stains because the fabric is very delicate. Use a dry paper towel to blot the stain. Make sure you dont rub it because that could spread the stain and make it worse. Then, use a soft cloth dipped in white vinegar to gently rub the stain out. If you have one, use a suede brush on the outside of the shoe once they are dry to get the original texture back.
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.
Recommended Reading: Can You Wash Dude Shoes
How To Whiten Tennis Shoes
Tennis shoes are notorious for being very easy to get dirty. This is mainly because most tennis shoes are made of materials that are highly susceptible to dirt. Another more important reason is that most tennis shoes are white in color. There is nothing worse than a pair of beautiful white tennis shoes slowly turning yellow over time. There are a variety of ways to return your dirty shoes to a bright white life. Check out these handy tips and tricks when you need to learn how to whiten your tennis shoes.
Breaking It Down Even Further
Exactly how to clean common sneaker types from canvas to leather .
White Mesh ShoesSince mesh is so delicate, avoid using bleach which can ruin the fabric. Instead, this is a job for a sneaker cleaner or a bit of mild dish soap cut with warm water. Gently brush the cleaner all over your dirty sneakers. Rinse your shoes under cold water when youre done. If theres still discoloring, try spraying the spot with white vinegar before letting it dry in the sun for about an hour.
White Running SneaksFirst, get rid of any dirt, mud, or gunk with a shoe brush or old toothbrush. Then, using a sponge, cloth, or brush, apply a small amount of sneaker cleaner to the dirty parts. With tough stains, keep repeating until theyre gone.
White Canvas KicksEveryones got a pair of beat-up Chuck Taylors, right? Good thing theyre made of a cotton-canvas thats super easy to clean. Just brush it with sneaker cleaner thats mixed with lukewarm water and leave them out to dry. Or, you can create a homemade cleaning paste with baking soda and an equal amount of half water and half hydrogen peroxide. Apply the mixture all over your shoes with a brush and let them sit for four hours. The mixture will have hardened and you can just shake off the hard bits and wipe off any remainder with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Also Check: Does Vans Make Steel Toe Shoes
How To Clean Sneakers With Detergent
Now that you have a cleaning brush, get out your gentle detergent. From laundry to dishwashing, liquid detergents are made for the toughest stains and know how to clean white sneakers with the same voracity. Mix one teaspoon of detergent with one cup of warm water. Dip your toothbrush in the soapy water and scrub your canvas and/or leather sneakers in a side-to-side motion. Continually dip the toothbrush in the cleaning mixture until the shoe is so fresh and so clean-clean. Wipe off the excess soapy water with a fresh towel or damp sponge and let your sneakers air dry completely. You may have to do this more than once for your desired result, but trust us, it will be worth it.
Bring Your Shoes Back To White With Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and is perfect when you need to know how to clean white canvas shoes and other white fabrics. When you follow up peroxide with a trip through the washer, your shoes will be spotless. Because peroxide will bleach any fabrics it encounters, you should only use it to clean light-colored shoes and fabrics.
- Old toothbrush
Fill the bottle with peroxide and spray any stains until thoroughly damp. Scrub the stains and gunk with an old toothbrush. Make sure the toothbrush is clean and has no toothpaste residue.
Let the peroxide sit on the stains for at least ten minutes. Remove the shoelaces, and send the shoes through a warm-water gentle wash cycle. Let your shoes air dry.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Best Dress Shoes For Wide Feet
Wipe Your White Sneakers After Every Wear
If the white sneakers arent stained, you probably want to consider wiping them to keep them pure white. Simply start off by gently brushing off dirt with a dry toothbrush, then use a mild cleaner to wipe them. You could use a makeup wipe or use a wet white cloth with a drop of mild soap to wipe the shoes.
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.
Read Also: Stinky Tennis Shoes Remedy
Using The Washing Machine
Micellar Water Helps Too
Micellar water is traditionally a makeup removing product. However, you can use it for many other creative purposes, cleaning white shoes being one.
There are only two steps to this method. Firstly, pour some micellar water onto a clean cloth. Secondly, rub the cloth on your shoes until theyre clean.
Its that simple. Micellar water is a great hack for white leather, suede, or rubber shoes.
The water absorbs all dirt and leaves a spectacular white finish. Therefore, its an excellent hack for shining white shoes as well.
However, be warned it doesnt work well for deeper stains like oil or ink.
Don’t Miss: Where Can You Buy Nobull Shoes
Get Tough Stains Out With Nail Polish Remover
Not all stains on your canvas shoes are going to be grease or food-based stains, of course. Youll sometimes run across grime that cleaning white shoes with baking soda cant remove.
When you need a little extra cleaning action, give nail polish remover, also called acetone, a shot. Acetone breaks down compounds into components, which makes them easier to clean away.
- Clean cloth or paper towel
- A bowl of warm water
- Cotton balls
Dip the cotton balls in nail polish remover, and blot the stains. Replace the cotton balls whenever they become stained. Once the stain is out, dip a cloth in warm water, and clean off any lingering acetone.
This recipe will likely be the most successful to get paint off shoes, if you have encountered this problem. It will work on latex, acrylic, and even oil-based paint, most of the time. If some paint remains, you may want to try a commercial product to get the rest of the stain out.
A Sneaker Pro On Keeping Your White Kicks So Fresh & So Clean
Classic, go-with-every-look white sneakers are wardrobe staples in practically every shoe lovers closet. If youre like us, you probably have more than a few pairs. And chances are, theyve probably seen brighter, whiter days. Were talking scuff marks, sole streaks, discoloring, grimy laces you know how it goes. But it doesnt mean your white kicks are ruined for good.
For some serious sneaker-maintenance schooling, we reached out to Johnny Fajardo, sneaker whiz over at innovative shoe-care company Sneaker LAB, to share some of his best insider tricks for cleaning white sneakers. The man personally sets aside an hour out of his weekend to tend to his shoe collection, so you know he knows whats up. It’s actually quite a relaxing experienceit’s my only time to de-stress, clear my mind, and disconnect from my phone, emails, and electronics, he laughs.
His top pointers, below.
Protect Right Outta the BoxThe key to keeping white kicks looking brand new, Fajardo says, is to apply a sneaker protector as soon as you unbox them. The spray forms an invisible layer that protects them from dirt, stains, and liquids, he says. Sneaker LAB makes a great one, but generally the rule is to look for a protector that repels liquids and is safe for your shoes material. Adds Fajardo: And remember to reapply every other week.
Enjoy your sneakers, wear them without fear of scuffs, and have confidence that nearly any stain is treatable.
- Johnny Fajardo, Sneaker LAB
Read Also: How To Get Bleach Stains Out Of White Shoes
Scrubbing Your Shoes With Soap And Water
Tip: If your white shoelaces are stained, take them out of your shoes and scrub them with your toothbrush separately.
