How To Clean White Leather Sneakers
For leather shoes â like white Adidas or Nike sneakers â follow a similar method:
For tough stains on white leather shoes: Dip a wet brush in baking soda and rub gently. Wipe with a clean, wet cloth and air dry.
How To Clean White Shoes And Trainers
White shoes are notoriously difficult to keep clean, the more you wear your beloved pair the dirtier they can become.
One accidental step in a puddle can turn the entire fabric from glistening white to a murky gray.
If you are planning to revive your trainers it is important to note different materials require different care, and stains can come from all manner of places.
Newsweek asked the experts how to clean white shoes and trainers, so you can restore your kicks to their former glory.
What You’ll Need To Clean White Shoes
The first item that should be on your list of must-haves for cleaning white shoes is a toothbrush. Using a bristled toothbrush is an easy way to get to those hard to reach places. Use light and straightforward motions to brush away the dirt and add some pressure for stubborn stains. Youll need warm water and soap to get the dirt out, but if that doesnt work, youll need to add bleach, toothpaste or baking soda.
One thing that you should never do is throw your shoes into the washing machine. If you throw them in with laundry or even by themselves, youll make the stains even worse, or permanently damage your shoes. The cleaning motion of a washing machine is harsh on shoes, whether leather or canvas and can cause tears, leather breakdown and loose threads. Throw your white shoes in the washer, and theyll never look the same again.
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Lets Not Forget About White Toothpaste
Last but not least, white toothpaste is a classic shoe-cleaning hack. Again, its very straightforward.
You just have to squeeze some toothpaste onto an old toothbrush and start rubbing your shoes. .
Of course, you should concentrate on dirty areas. Butmake sure all areas are covered evenly. When youre done, let the shoes dry for 15-20 minutes.
In the end, just wipe the toothpaste off with a damp cloth.
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.
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Wash Them In A Washing Machine
This remedy is fairly well known by now, but until you try it, it sounds like a great way to ruin a home appliance. For those of you whose still havent put them in, believe us, it works really, really well. Take the laces and insoles out of your shoes, then toss the laces and the shoes inside a washing bag together. Set it to Hot/Cold, and wash using detergent or bleach . When theyre done washing, let them air dry, and then voilagood as new!
Keeping The Soles Of Your Shoes White
Manufacturers make shoe soles out of rubber, polyurethane, and plastic materials. To withstand the constant friction with your feet, this part of your shoe is studier than the rest, making cleaning it a bit easier.
Cleaning the white sole of your shoes is simple with a Magic Eraser. Thoroughly wet the Magic Eraser with water and rub the sole of your shoes.
You may want to use a toothbrush to clean your sole more thoroughly, depending on the level of buildup on the sole.
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Watch: How To Clean White Sneakers
Although a sweet new pair of fresh white kicks look a million bucks when you first wear them, all it takes is that first little scuff and all of a sudden those once-fresh sneakers are looking a little grubby. However, we have some handy hacks that’ll have those white shoes looking like new again in no time.
How To Clean The Sole Of White Shoes
More times than not, the soles of your shoes are rubber and show a lot of scuff marks. So, even if you have sparkling white shoes after a good clean, scuffed soles can undermine all your efforts.
To remedy this, youâll need:
- Magic Eraser,
Sure, you can use a toothbrush with soap and water, but a Magic Eraser makes cleaning the soles of white shoes childâs play.
Simply dampen a portion of the eraser and set about scrubbing your shoesâ soles. The eraser should remove any and all stains and scuffs with relatively low effort.
If you arenât sold on a Magic Eraser, or you donât have one to hand, try the same baking soda mixture we laid out above or good old-fashioned soap and water. With enough elbow grease, youâll usually get most scuffs and marks out!
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How Do I Protect My White Shoes From Getting Dirty In The First Place
Before you step outside, your best bet is to spray your shoes with a stain and liquid repellant, such as the popular Jason Markk Repel Spray. This is especially important if you have canvas shoes. These sprays build a protective layer between the world and your shoe, making spot cleaning easier.
Ferguson warns that without a barrier, dirt will seep into the surface and leave a stain. The spray generally lasts three to four weekswhen liquids no longer roll off your sneaks, its time to respray. Even if your shoes are protected, youll want to try to clean the offending spot as soon as it happens, or it may leave a permanent stain.
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.
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Spot Cleaning White Shoes With Bleach
If your white shoes have sections with other colors in them, we dont recommend an all-over bleach soak to prevent the different colors from running.
Instead, spot clean the dirty areas of your white shoes with an old toothbrush and diluted bleach.
- Old toothbrush
Mix your ingredients and wait for the mixture to stop fizzing before dipping your toothbrush into the paste.
Once applied to your shoes, this paste dries out quickly, so work fast to spread the paste around the stained areas of your shoes. Wipe away any excess paste and rinse your shoes before allowing them to air dry.
How To Clean White Shoes So They Look New
One of the greatest mysteries around the home is how to clean white shoes. Useful and practical as they may be, white shoes are notoriously hard to keep looking fresh and pristine after being taken out of the box. Thats why we searched high and low to find the best tips for cleaning white shoes, so that you can master this task once and for all. From bleach to baking soda to toothpaste, heres a look at some of the best ways to keep your white shoes in great shape.
Remember, while its possible to figure out how to clean white shoes, it does take a little extra time and commitment along with a few brilliant cleaning shortcuts. If youre up for the challenge, the results are worth it. A little effort can go a long way!
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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.
Can You Put White Sneakers In The Washing Machine
Yes, you can put white sneakers in the washing machine. This should be avoided with Nike shoes or any shoes that have a stiffer structure. Here is the best way to machine wash sneakers:1. Clean off any debris or mud using a soft brush, like this one.2. Remove shoelaces3. Place your sneakers and separate shoelaces in a mesh laundry bag. This will prevent them from tangling. If you dont have a mesh bag I highly recommend getting one or at a minimum using a pillowcase that is knotted at the top. This will also protect your washing machine. 4. Use a gentle liquid detergent, about half as much as you would use for a normal load. Note- sneakers should be washed in a load on their own, or with something like towels. 5. Use a gentle cycle with cold water. The delicate cycle on most washing machines will work well. 6. Air dry in a well-ventilated location, do not put them in the dryer!
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Protecting Your White Shoes
Your white shoes will inevitably get dirty at some point. However, you can extend the time between washes by protecting your white footwear. First, remove any obvious dirt with a soft brush and take out the shoelaces. If youâre starting with a clean pair of shoes, simply remove the shoelaces.
Next, youâll want to use a protective, spray-on waterproofing solution. Follow the instructions on the can before you get started. This puts an added protective coating on your white canvas shoes, extending the time between cleanings. Let your shoes dry completely in the sun before wearing them.
Scrub Your Shoes With Soapy Water
- Take any liquid dish soap for cleaning your shoes.
- Use about 1 teaspoon of soap so the water is foamy but still clear.
- Stir the solution with a toothbrush.
- You can also use half a cup of white vinegar as a substitute for soap.
- Scrub stains with a stiff-bristled toothbrush in small circular motions on the surface of your shoes focusing mainly on the darker stained areas.
- Do not forget to take out the laces and scrub them separately.
- Pat dry excess water with a paper towel or a cloth.
- Avoid wiping the towel across the shoe’s fabric as it might spread the dirt across the fabric again.
- Allow your shoes to air dry for 2-3 hours.
Tip: Clean your shoes at night so you can leave them to dry overnight.
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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
How To Whiten Shoelaces
Shoelaces are often difficult to clean if you dont know how to do it right. Most shoelaces are made of fabric, and you can use bleach to clean them.
To clean shoes and shoelaces effectively, you need to disassemble the shoelaces and clean them separately. Now you need to dilute the bleach solution and soak the shoelaces in it for about 5 minutes.
Then you can lift the shoelace to test its brightness. If you feel satisfied, you can wash them with regular detergent in the washing machine or by hand. Shoelaces after washing you can dry or let dry naturally.
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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 Shoes Leather
Micellar water
Magic eraser
Leather is a little more delicate, so you need to take care how you clean these. First of all, never machine wash, follow these steps instead:
1. Follow the first step as for canvas shoes, removing the laces and removing any initial dry dirt.
2. Next, use a shoe tree to help them hold their shape as you clean, or alternatively you can just stuff each shoe with paper towels.
3. Then use one of the following cleaning methods to remove stains:
4. Rinse your solution away with a damp microfiber cloth.
5. Fill your leather shoes with fresh paper towels to help absorb the moisture as they dry.
6. Leave to dry completely before wearing again.
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Using A Magic Eraser To Clean White Shoes
Magic Erasers are handy cleaning tools with a foam-like texture that effectively cleans a variety of stains and buildup. By simply adding water to the Magic Eraser, its ready to aid you in your cleaning project.
After thoroughly wetting your Magic Eraser, begin wiping and gently scrubbing dirt and stains away from the sides and top of your shoes.
Due to the rough texture of the Magic Eraser, use it only with sneakers or tennis shoes as the surface may damage a suede shoe or leather shoe.
