Rules and tips on how to wash white sneakers and maintain their original appearance

White sneakers are a trend in recent seasons. These shoes are very popular when playing sports and as an everyday option.

In order for sports shoes to maintain their appearance, you need to know the rules and features of washing sneakers.

In this article we will tell you how to wash white sneakers by hand and in an automatic washing machine so that they are snow-white and without yellow streaks.

Is it possible in an automatic washing machine, on what mode?

This washing method is the simplest and most convenient. If the washing machine settings include a separate mode for washing shoes, then it is recommended to use it. If it is not available, choose a delicate one.

Procedure:

1. Wash off dirt from sports shoes, paying attention to the soles.

2. 
   Place shoes in a washing bag and place in the drum.

3. Pour the detergent into the container provided for this purpose.
4. Set the temperature to no less than +30ºС and no more than +40ºС.
5. Disable spin.
6. Do not use dryer.
7. Start the washing machine.
8. After washing, take out the shoes.
9. Dry your sneakers.

When there is no special bag, you can use a non-fading light cotton pillowcase without prints or decor. Sneakers are placed in it, and the open edge is tightly tied or sewn up.

You need to add a couple of terry towels to the drum itself . For washing, it is preferable to use a detergent in liquid form.

These precautions are necessary to reduce the load on working parts and prevent breakdowns.

Manual removal of dirt

You can wash your sneakers by hand using water and washing gel. The following items will be needed:

• a basin of such a size that sneakers fit into it;
• washing gel.

For cleaning, you can use products designed for washing white laundry.

Cleaning procedure:

1. 
   Prepare your shoes.

2. Pour non-cold water into the basin (temperature about +40°C).
3. Dilute washing gel in water.
4. Dip your sneakers in water.
5. Wash shoes using a brush on the outside.
6. Clean the inside of the shoes with a brush.
7. Rinse your sneakers.
8. Dry.

Arsenal of cleaning products

Depends on the degree of contamination and the type of white shoes. For example, the minimum set for sneakers would be:

1. Soft cloth (rags) . With its help, you can delicately remove particles of debris and dust.
2. Household sponge . The soft side is convenient for wiping shoes after wet cleaning, while the hard side is useful for removing stubborn stains.
3. Old toothbrush . You can’t do without it if you are going to clean the white soles or white seams on sneakers.
4. Eraser . Regular white, like "Elephant". It scrubs away small spots and black stripes on the sole well and helps to restore the appearance of shine.
5. Shoe brush . The one used to polish smooth leather shoes is suitable. This brush does not have very hard bristles, so it will not scratch the surface.

A very effective thing is a melamine sponge. Essentially it is a foam material with abrasive properties. To clean white leather shoes at home, you need to break off a small piece of melamine sponge, lightly moisten it in water and walk over the surface like an eraser. Remove any remaining particles on the surface with a cloth.

Attention! Melamine is a slightly toxic substance, so it is advisable to use a melamine sponge with gloves. It should not be given to small children.

Do you need a bag?

The shoe washing bag is designed for high-quality washing of sneakers and protecting the washing machine from damage. If you need to wash 2 pairs of sneakers at a time, then you need to purchase 2 of these bags.

Their significant difference from conventional ones is special seals around the perimeter. They prevent sneakers from dangling loosely in the drum and soften the impact of shoes on the drum during the washing process.

The dimensions of such bags are always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. This information can be very important if the sneakers are too large.

Proper drying

To prevent shoes from becoming deformed, they should be dried properly . The inside of each sneaker should be filled with white paper that absorbs moisture well.

A prerequisite is to use only white paper, which will not stain the inside of the sneakers.

It is better to dry sports shoes outdoors . If it is not possible to organize this, then the sneakers are dried indoors, away from heating devices and open fire. As the paper inside the shoe becomes moist, it is changed periodically.

How to make them snow-white?

If soiling is severe, simple washing may not be effective. Proven recipes suitable for white sports shoes can help.

Toothpaste

For this you will need:

• old toothbrush;
• white toothpaste;
• water;
• rags.

Such cleaning can be carried out only in those areas where there are no decorative elements.

Procedure:

1. Squeeze a little toothpaste onto your brush.
2. Gently rub the paste into areas that need cleaning.
3. Wash off any remaining paste with a wet cloth.
4. Dry.

Removing yellow spots and stains from the surface

If there are yellow spots on the white surface, they should be treated separately. This method is good for cleaning leather sneakers, but it is unacceptable if there is a mesh.

For cleaning you will need:

• 
  hydrogen peroxide (or freshly squeezed lemon juice);

• table vinegar;
• regular washing powder;
• container for mixing components;
• Toothbrush;
• rag;
• water.

Preparation of the cleaning mixture:

1. Pour 2 tbsp into a container. washing powder.
2. Add equal amounts of vinegar and lemon juice to make a paste.

The well-mixed ingredients are rubbed into the stains with a brush. Wash off any remaining product from the surface of the shoe with a rag.

Soda

For white leather white sneakers, a baking soda based recipe will work. To implement it you will need:

• soda;
• vinegar;
• liquid soap;
• toothpaste.

Procedure:

1. Take all ingredients in approximately the same ratio.
2. Mix.
3. Clean the top of the sneakers with a brush.
4. Complete the process with normal washing and rinsing.
5. Dry your shoes.

Use of household chemicals

To whiten difficult stains on white sneakers, oxygen bleaches in powder form, for example, Vanish, can be used.

The dry component is diluted with water to a paste. A rag is moistened in the resulting composition and the stained area is treated. After cleaning is completed, the powder is washed off with water.

Radical whitening

If stains cannot be removed using any of the methods, you can use paint . This method is a good choice for sneakers made of genuine leather, but cannot be applied to leatherette and textiles.

To paint white shoes successfully, you must strictly follow the instructions on the paint.

This video will show you how to clean white sneakers:

How to clean eco-leather

This popular man-made material can be cleaned using any of the methods used for natural leather. But to get rid of stains from leatherette you can use:

• nail polish remover (treat problem areas with a cotton pad moistened with it, then wipe with a damp soft cloth);
• hydrogen peroxide to combat paint and blood stains (apply a cotton swab moistened with peroxide to the mark and remove the stain with gentle movements);
• lemon juice, if you need to get rid of a greasy stain or refresh the whiteness (moisten a cotton pad and wipe the surface, then blot with a dry cloth or napkin).

Cleaning products for white leatherette shoes - gallery

Using nail polish remover you can remove almost any dirt from leatherette shoes.

Hydrogen peroxide helps remove blood or paint stains

Lemon juice removes grease stains from light-colored eco-leather shoes

Of the three methods described, lemon juice can be called the most “harmless”, but you should not use nail polish remover or peroxide more than 1-2 times a month.

To maintain the shine and appearance of eco-leather shoes, use white or colorless cream. It fills the pores and prevents contaminants from penetrating into the material.

Cleaning the sole

Most white sneakers have a sole that is the same color as the upper. It accounts for even more pollution. The task of cleaning is complicated by the relief and porosity of the material. Simple recipes will help you restore your appearance.

Acetone with vinegar

To prepare the cleaning solution you will need the following components:

• acetone;
• vinegar.

Measure out both liquids in equal quantities and mix. The napkin should be moistened in the prepared solution and wipe the sole, paying more attention to heavily soiled areas. After treatment, rinse the sole.

Lemon acid

Dilute a tablespoon of citric acid in ½ glass of water . Wet a napkin in the prepared solution and treat the sole. After this, rinse the remaining product with water.

Oxygen bleach

For treatment, you can choose one of the oxygen-containing bleaches intended for washing clothes.

Operating procedure:

1. The selected product is diluted in water in accordance with the instructions.
2. So much prepared solution is poured into the basin so that when you place the sneakers in it, only the sole is in the water.
3. Leave for a couple of hours.
4. Clean the sole with a brush.
5. Rinse with clean water.

Potato starch with milk

A product that requires the following components will help
clean stubborn stains on white natural leather sneakers

• milk;
• starch.

Both components are mixed in equal volume. Apply the mixture to the shoes with a brush. After cleaning, the sneakers are rinsed and dried.

How and with what to whiten the white sole of sneakers, video recipes:

Homemade methods for cleaning patent leather

The first principle of caring for patent leather: cleansing and moisturizing are the key to beauty. After removing dirt, you need to moisturize your shoes with shoe conditioner. Light patent leather shoes can be washed using shaving foam:

• Apply foam to shoes, spread over the surface;
• let it dry completely;
• Use a damp cloth to remove any residue.

Shaving foam can restore the shine of white patent leather shoes

You can also use soap solution or white (table) vinegar:

• dilute 9% vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:10;
• apply with a cloth to shoes;
• rub dirty areas;
• remove any remaining vinegar with clean water;
• Wipe your shoes dry.

Vinegar is a strong remedy, so you shouldn’t overuse this cleaning method.

Care for white patent leather - video

Suede and light

Noble suede in white looks very attractive. But keeping such a pair clean is more difficult than a leather pair.

Dirt, dust and moisture are the enemies of white suede. If you happen to get caught in the rain while wearing such shoes, then you need to dry the sneakers thoroughly before cleaning them. To do this, the inside is stuffed with white paper.

Methods for cleaning white suede sneakers:

1. 
   Use a special brush for suede to clean the surface. This will not only lift the pile, but also remove dirt.

2. You can use a special cleaning foam for suede. It must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the spray body.
3. Individual stains can be removed by rubbing the surface with a regular eraser.
4. As a last resort, it can be treated with a soap solution to which a little ammonia has been added (1 tsp per liter of water).

When dealing with a white suede pair, you should avoid over-wetting the material and deforming the pile.

Causes of loss of white color

It is very difficult to protect white shoes from getting dirty. An aggressive environment awaits her literally everywhere. Before you try to get rid of stains, you need to find out the cause of their occurrence:

• Leather dress shoes suffer from the ingress of water, dust and dirt; they often bear marks from the black soles of someone else’s or even your own shoes; they can be scratched by stones or knocked off by curbs;
• sports shoes - sneakers, sneakers made of leather and leatherette - are susceptible to the appearance of creases into which dust and dirt become clogged;
• rag shoes, sneakers, sandals can darken after the first exit into the city, where there is a lot of smoke from cars and just street dust;
• The white stitching threads and edging of any shoe darken not only from dirt, but also from care products.

Tip: contamination can be avoided or minimized by treating new shoes with special products. This can be a colorless nourishing cream, dirt- and water-repellent impregnations. Actually, impregnation is the first thing you should provide to a new couple before their first appearance.

White shoes look very beautiful, but require special care

There are various ways to restore white shoes to their original appearance. You can entrust your item to professionals or do it yourself.

Sneaker dry cleaning

You can maintain your shoes in a well-groomed condition yourself, or by turning to dry cleaning services. Special sneaker dry cleaners can be found in many large cities.

Often, for the convenience of customers, such establishments offer courier delivery services. You can search for shoe dry cleaners on the Internet by searching for “sneaker dry cleaner.”

Such enterprises provide a whole range of services:

• cleaning;
• disinfection;
• deodorization;
• restoration, etc.

In addition to sneakers, you can also take other shoes to a sneaker dry cleaner.

Depending on the list of services provided, the price is determined. Standard cleaning will cost from 1,500 rubles . If additional painting of all sneakers or individual elements, gluing, replacement of laces is required, then the amount will be higher.

Recommendations from experts

The following recommendations will help you wash your white sports shoes better

1. If there are black stripes or stains on the leather upper, you can remove them using an eraser.
2. When starting any type of washing, you need to prepare your sneakers - clean them from dirt, remove the laces and insoles.
3. Colored laces should not be washed with white shoes as they may stain them.
4. It is recommended to wear gloves when manually cleaning shoes, especially in cases where recipes include citric acid and vinegar.
5. When washing sneakers, don’t forget to clean the laces and insoles. They can be easily washed by hand using soap.
6. Textile sneakers and sneakers cannot be washed in hot water, as the material may shrink.
7. Do not use cleaning products containing chlorine.
8. When washing sneakers, it is better not to use fabric softener, as it can cause stains.

For white sneakers with colored elements and inserts, it is advisable to use only hand washing, which allows you to keep the process under control.

The nuances of whitening

Not all shoes can be bleached using standard methods. In some cases, it is necessary to approach cleaning with greater care and responsibility.

What part of your sneakers do you want to bleach?

sole

Insoles and laces

Leather products

You cannot wash leather sneakers using conventional methods, as excess moisture and detergents will deform and dry out the leather, after which it will not be easy to restore the product to its original form.

• It is recommended to clean shoes only with special brushes or sponges;
• You can whiten the skin using a weak solution of baby soap or ammonia in case of severe contamination;
• Each time after cleaning, the surface of the sneaker must be lubricated with castor oil or a special impregnation agent.

To make sneakers last longer, you need to use products that repel dirt and water.

White Suede Trainers and Sneakers

Light suede sneakers will suit almost any fashionable look, but cleaning dirt from the surface is not as easy as it seems.

Avoid contact of suede shoes with water. It is not advisable to use regular washing, as this will leave characteristic stains.

It is better to dry sneakers after rain naturally, and then provide special care.

• To clean suede from dust, you need to treat the dry surface with a special brush, moving in one direction.
• If there is dirt or oily stains, special products, such as a spray, are suitable for removing them. Shake the can until a thick foam forms, then spread it onto a sponge, wipe the contaminated areas without pressing and moving in one direction;
• At the end of the procedure, dry the shoes naturally.

Bleaching white textile shoes

You can bleach light textile sneakers using white laundry soap. It is necessary to moisten a soft cloth in a soapy solution, then wipe small dirty areas. If large areas are dirty, it is better not to use such cleaning to avoid the formation of streaks.

• To clean the surface of the sneaker, you need to blot it with light, non-pressing movements, after it becomes damp, start washing.
• If possible, you should use special textile products that will clean not only the inside, but also the outside of the shoes.
• Particular attention is required to the toes and heel, as these areas become dirty faster than others.
• After cleaning the dirt, draw water at room temperature and rinse the sneakers thoroughly. At the same time, try not to immerse the entire product in water, tilt and rinse only the contaminated areas.
• It is better to dry your shoes on the balcony or near an open window. To avoid deformation, you can put folded sheets of loose paper inside.

How to bleach mesh on sneakers

Mesh on sneakers often becomes a problem as it quickly accumulates dirt and requires regular cleaning. Based on the quality of the material, you should choose a convenient cleaning method.

• To whiten the mesh, you can use the classic method with laundry soap and a not very hard brush. In this case, you need to make sure that water does not get inside. After foam forms, carefully remove it with a microfiber cloth.
• If the sneakers are of high quality, you can resort to machine washing, choosing bleaching powder for delicate items. It is not recommended to use the procedure frequently, as over time the material begins to deteriorate.

Do not use peroxide to clean the mesh on sneakers. Its active substances can destroy fabric fibers.