Sneakers are considered the most comfortable shoes for both sports and everyday wear. But if they are white and rag, they require special care because they quickly get dirty. So you will have to wash them often.
We’ll figure out how to do this in order to preserve the original appearance of the shoes for as long as possible.
How to wash white sneakers made of fabric (rag) from dirt, how to clean them without washing? Tips and recommendations are in the article.
Is it possible?
Before you start washing white rag sneakers, you should understand which way is best to do it - by hand or by machine. The first option is more economical and safer for shoes, the second is less labor-intensive.
As a rule, sports shoes made of fabric, unlike leather ones, are not as durable. In this regard, most manufacturers recommend hand washing.
Despite the fact that you will then have to spend a lot of time and effort, there is a higher chance that your favorite sneakers will be safe.
Cleaning textile shoes in a washing machine should be done as a last resort and with extreme caution so as not to spoil their appearance.
It all depends on the quality - if it is low, then the sole may come off and the shape may change, not for the better. Read more about the rules for washing sneakers here.
In the washing machine
Before loading sneakers into the washing machine, they are prepared accordingly:
Clean the sole from dirt. An unnecessary toothbrush is suitable for this. If the dirt is small, then wipe the shoes from below with a damp cloth and rinse under the tap.- If any persistent stains are found, remove them using a stain remover or some improvised means.
- Take out the laces and insoles. They are usually washed separately.
- Place the sneakers in a special washing bag and load them into the washing machine.
Then pour washing powder (it is preferable to take children's powder - it has no additives) into the appropriate compartment, or better yet, pour in liquid detergent. In the first case, you will still need to pour conditioner into the other compartment so that the powder residues are washed out well.
Set the appropriate “Sports Shoes” mode (some machines have it) . If this is not available, the “For Delicates” and “Hand Wash” programs will serve as an alternative.
The optimal temperature is from 30 to 35 ᵒС. In this case, spinning and drying are not needed - they are turned off.
Along with the sneakers, 1-2 old towels are loaded into the drum of the washing machine to fill the voids. This will protect the drum from damage and the shoes from deformation.
We use a bag
In order not to break the washing machine or spoil textile shoes, you need to use special bags. Just don’t confuse them with similar ones, but for things.
A few recommendations for choosing a bag for washing shoes:
Made of fairly dense material, but with good water permeability.
A thin bag will not last long and will tear after just a few washes. If it is mesh, then the holes should be small so that if the small decor comes off, it does not fall out.- The presence of strong seams. There should be no threads sticking out on the sides.
- The presence of hard or foam inserts. In the second case, they must be evenly distributed over the entire area of the product.
Preparing for cleaning
Before starting cleansing procedures, you should prepare everything you need to carry them out. For this purpose, you should use a sponge, brush, and a container of water. It is also recommended to take a dry cloth. It is desirable that it be made of microfiber.
Before washing your shoes, be sure to thoroughly clean the soles. It is also definitely worth disassembling the product into its components. To do this, it is recommended to remove the insoles and laces. It's better to wash them separately.
Contaminants that have not yet become embedded in the shoes should be removed with a dry brush or sponge. If a lot of dirt has accumulated on your sneakers, it is recommended to wait until it dries.
Handwash
Cleaning white textile sneakers manually guarantees a good result, but subject to a number of conditions.
You can use different products for washing:
- dry or liquid (powders, gels, shampoos);
- lemon juice;
- soda;
- table vinegar.
Since white sneakers get dirty more than dark ones, regular washing powder does not always help. It removes most of the dirt, but yellow stains and stubborn stains sometimes remain.
To avoid such consequences, it is recommended to combine washing powder with vinegar or citric acid (for 100 g of powder, 3 tablespoons of vinegar/acid + a little water is enough). Only when working with these products do you wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.
Further actions will be as follows:
The resulting slurry is applied to all shoes, including the sole.- After waiting for half an hour, start cleaning the sneakers with a stiff brush.
- At the end of the procedure, wash the shoes under running water.
- Place the sneakers in fresh air to dry.
It is convenient to wash the laces in the following way: wrap it around your fist, moisten it with water, lather it with laundry soap and begin to rub it with a toothbrush. Or you can spin them in the washing machine.
Just don’t put them together with colored things so that they don’t paint over them. It is also advisable to place the laces in a bag, otherwise the tips may come off , which can damage the drum.
It is important to rinse your shoes thoroughly so that no detergent remains in the fabric. Otherwise, yellow streaks will remain.
Fighting difficult stains
If your efforts do not bring the desired result, you can try one of the following options:
- Gasoline helps a lot against stains - soak a sponge in it and apply it to the stain, and after 5-10 minutes remove it;
- a mixture of vinegar, citric acid and powder is also effective - apply it to the stain and leave for 5 minutes;
- Ammonia will whiten white sneakers - treat the stains until they go away.
- Vaseline helps to clean the tops of shoes, as well as the soles - apply it to the stain, rubbing it into the fabric.
Advice It is not advisable to use chlorine bleaches. A couple of such treatments and the fabric will turn gray or yellowish.
What to do if the dirt is deeply ingrained?
When the dirt is so strong that standard washing cannot cope with it, then they resort to the following method:
Mix shampoo or washing powder, table vinegar and citric acid (juice) in a ratio of 3:2:1. You should get a homogeneous mass.- The resulting composition is applied to the fabric surface of the sneaker and wait for 20 minutes.
- After the allotted time has passed, begin cleaning with a brush, then rinse under the tap.
- Load into the washing machine and run on manual mode.
Purchased chemicals
Ready-made chemicals that are highly effective will help get rid of contaminants.
Washing powder
This is an all-purpose cleaner that helps clean cloth and other sneakers. It is recommended to use the powder in the form of a liquid slurry. To do this, mix the substance with water.
Bleaches
Such products can only be used for fabric shoes made from cotton or linen. When in contact with other substances, chlorine becomes more aggressive. If the sneakers are made of another material, the use of bleach is prohibited.
How to clean the sole of cloth sneakers?
As for cleaning the soles, use one of the suggested means:
- Stationery eraser . Apply it to the moistened sole and wipe it with a dry cloth.
- Acetone. Dip a cotton pad into it and begin removing stains.
- Lemon juice . The rubber is treated and after a quarter of an hour it will become snow-white again.
- Petrolatum. The best remedy for yellow spots. Apply the juice locally to the stains and wipe with a dry cloth after 15-20 minutes.
- Medical alcohol . Soak a cotton swab in it and wipe away dirty stains from the white sole.
- Laundry soap . Rub the bottom and edge with it, then bring it completely clean by brushing with a toothbrush.
- Petrol. Apply the liquid to problem areas using cotton wool, without touching the tissue. After 10-15 minutes, use any stain remover.
Toothpaste
How to clean white canvas sneakers with toothpaste? Excellent results can be achieved using regular toothpaste with a whitening effect. Such a remedy is available in every home. First you need to clean the shoes from dry dirt, remove the insoles and unlace them, and then wash them in the usual way. To enhance the whitening effect, you can add a couple of drops of lemon to your tooth powder or paste.
After this, the product must be applied to a brush or a piece of foam rubber, then rubbed over the entire surface of the sneakers. You should also spread the mixture on the sole and leave for 20 minutes. Then rinse the product well; in case of heavy contamination, repeat the procedure several times. Let the water run off and hang the sneakers to dry.
How to dry?
If your sneakers turn yellow after washing, the reason may be:
improper drying;- remaining powder in the fabric that was poorly washed;
- rinsing shoes in very cold or hot water;
- incorrectly selected detergent;
- low quality product.
The first option is the most common. To return the shoes to their original snow-white appearance, rinse them again in cool water and dry them properly.
The latter means the following: they attach the sneakers with clothespins to a rope and leave them hanging to dry so that the water can drain freely. It is ideal if the shoes are dried on the street or balcony, but not in the sun .
It is unacceptable to dry white textile sneakers on heating appliances. They will dry quickly, but the result is unlikely to please you. Sneakers without rubber tips can be stuffed with white paper to maintain their shape.
Features of cleaning different materials
When choosing a cleaning composition, be sure to take into account the type of material from which the shoes are made.
Suede
This is a fairly delicate material that needs to be cleaned very carefully. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the product.
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Vinegar
This impregnation gives the sneakers a more saturated color and perfectly masks stains. It is recommended to moisten a sponge in the liquid and treat the sneakers. Dry the shoes and brush them with a special brush.
Steam
Using this method you can clean light suede sneakers. First, you need to bring the water to a boil, then place a grate over the container and place the contaminated steam on top of it. Leave for 5 minutes, then treat with a rubber brush.
Wet cleaning
This product should not be used on cheap shoes. To implement this method, you need to make a solution based on 50 grams of laundry soap and 3 liters of warm water. Place sneakers in it. After 10 seconds, pull out and treat with a soft brush. Finally, rinse.
White suede
To clean such material you will need 20 grams of soda, 10 milliliters of ammonia and a little milk. Apply the mixture to your sneakers and leave it for 3 hours. Then treat the material with vinegar and wipe with a special brush.
Leather
For leather sneakers, you should choose the right cleaning method. Today, many effective methods are known.
Milk and potato starch solution
These substances should be mixed in equal parts. Treat a leather product. After drying, the remaining starch should be wiped off with a rag.
baking powder
Baking powder will help get rid of old stains on leather shoes. It is poured exclusively onto soiled areas. Then you should apply a couple of drops of water.
Converse
To quickly clean these sneakers, you can use laundry soap. To do this, you should soak the Converse in cool water, then rub it with soap and clean it. Finally, rinse in cool water.
Leatherette
To clean this artificial material, you can use hydrogen peroxide. Lemon juice or nail polish remover is also a great option.
In what cases should you contact a dry cleaner?
You shouldn’t try to clean your favorite white sneakers on your own in every possible way if the dirt is very ingrained and doesn’t come off the first time. In any case, there will be one outcome - the item will have to be thrown away.
It is more rational to go to a dry cleaner, where professionals will competently approach the process of cleaning shoes and return them to their original appearance.
The cost of such a dry cleaning service depends on the degree of contamination of the shoes, the type of material and other aspects, but on average it is 1000-1500 rubles.
Tips and prohibitions
To make white sneakers easier to wash, you should follow a number of tips:
try to wipe their shoes with a damp cloth after each return from a street walk;- do not wear white shoes in slush and rain;
- Before using this or that product, it is advisable to check its effect on the fabric by applying it to a separate area;
- liquid products are applied to the cloth surface only with a white cloth;
- When cleaning textile sneakers, do not use oil-based products (gasoline, kerosene).
