White shoes are the favorite choice of many beauties. Sneakers, sandals or white shoes have a special charm, in which restraint and conciseness are combined with festivity. The main disadvantage of such things is their soilability. Black stripes often appear on white shoes - traces of unsuccessful contact with rubber soles in public transport or on the street. Today, the women's website “Beautiful and Successful” will tell you how to remove black stripes on white shoes at home in several accessible ways.
Wet wipes
You can wipe off black marks that appear on white shoes using wet wipes only if they are fresh. If such a nuisance happened on the road, this method will help remove the unpleasant streaks.
Wet wipes should be cleansing wipes containing wine vinegar, sea salt, or stain remover, not disinfectant wipes. For example, Zero, LOC™, Vestar - household, L'ETOILE.
Also, special wipes for caring for leather interiors effectively wash away such contaminants. Take them and wash your shoes. This product gently cleanses and protects the skin from drying out and cracking.
Causes of black stripes on white soles
A person who buys an item he likes treats it carefully and carefully. Black lines on shoes, boots and sports shoes are often not dirt. The reason for this may be traces from the soles of someone else's shoes, which touched you in a large crowd of people. Or when driving along a section of the road where there are pieces of rubber.
Grass also leaves marks that are difficult to remove. Or careless use of a marker, felt-tip pen or fountain pen (the ink of which leaves marks).
This does not mean that you are careless. But to bring out such black strokes on light-colored shoes is now your responsibility to yourself.
Melamine sponge
A universal remedy is a melamine sponge. This is a special type of plastic that resembles an eraser in properties, but is much better in action. Melamine sponge works great to combat this problem.
It removes dirt, marker marks and other stains from shoes. This product is indispensable in the household. The melamine sponge helps to wipe off almost any dirt, which is why it is so popular.
How to remove black stripes from shoes? Wet the melamine sponge in clean water and press on both sides with your palms to squeeze out excess moisture. Rub the tip over the black mark.
Melamine sponges are very flexible with a firm texture, but it crumbles during use. Remove residue from the floor with a cloth or vacuum.
The sponge does not leave scratches, but melamine particles should not be allowed to enter the body.
How to remove stains from white patent leather shoes
However, for each type of material, a care method and special products should be selected. Lacquered material requires a special approach:
- Solvents and chemicals can only ruin the delicate surface.
- A guaranteed remedy is the use of milk. Next, it won’t hurt to rub the surface with a raw onion and polish it with a soft cloth.
- It is common to use egg white, which is rubbed into the stain.
- When the skin has already been cleaned, it should be dried without electrical appliances to prevent deformation of the material. It is better to fill the shoe with papers, which will absorb all the excess moisture.
Nail polish remover
You can wash your sneakers with any product that contains any solvent except acetone. This substance will not only remove the mark, but also damage the fabric.
Nail polish remover is the ideal way to clean sneakers, but even it can damage the paintwork if used incorrectly to remove stains.
Before using the liquid, apply it to an inconspicuous area. If the reaction is good, continue the procedure.
How to remove black stripes from shoes:
- Soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover.
- Wipe off any dirt.
- Rinse the treated surface with water.
It is convenient to use a cotton swab instead of a disk. It doesn't affect as much free space, and if damage does occur, it won't be as catastrophic.
How to wash white laces
There are at least a couple of ways to wash white laces. In a simple case (when the fabric has turned gray and does not require a special approach when cleaning), it is enough to wash the ribbons rubbed with laundry soap in a machine.
If the contamination is more obvious, you need to approach the process more thoroughly:
- Add a special stain remover for white items to a bowl of warm water.
- Soak the laces in the resulting solution. Leave it to “settle” overnight.
- Wash them by hand with soap or load them with other light-colored items into the machine drum and start the wash.
- After drying, make sure that the stains are gone. If not, it is better to repeat the procedure.
Milk
This simple home remedy can save your shoes from being thrown away. You just need to use milk; fermented milk products will not help here.
If you find dirt, streaks or black streaks, use this method.
How to clean patent leather shoes:
- Pour some milk into a separate container.
- Take a cotton pad or cotton cloth and treat the contaminated areas.
- After removing the black streaks, wash your shoes with soapy water because it is greasy.
- When patent leather shoes are completely dry, you need to lubricate them with an onion. Cut the vegetable in half and rub the cut on your shoes.
- Finally, polish with a flannel cloth.
This method is recommended to be used only for removing marks from light-colored items. You can also use milk to prepare new patent leather shoes for wearing.
Cleaning Suede Shoes
The question of how to remove black stripes from white suede sneakers not only on the sole, but also on the toe or tongue, can be solved using the following methods:
- Steam cleaning. This method will help remove many different types of contaminants from the surface of shoes. To clean suede sneakers or shoes, hold the product over a pan of boiling water or use a steamer to clean them. You can also use a regular iron with a steam generator for this. After steaming your shoes, you need to clean them with a special brush or an ordinary light-colored cloth.
- A solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. The components of the product are taken in a ratio of 1:2, a cotton pad is dipped in the resulting mixture and the surface of the product is wiped with it. After such cleaning, wipe the product with a damp cloth and leave to dry.
- A mixture of milk, hydrogen peroxide and soda. For a glass of milk you should take a couple of drops of ammonia and a pinch of soda. Moisten a cloth or sponge in the resulting product, clean the problem areas on the sneakers, then remove the remaining product with a damp cloth.
- Washing powder with bleaching function. Prepare a thick soap foam, apply it to the stains, rub with a brush or sponge, then remove the remaining soap with water.
Beautiful and Successful knows how to care for suede shoes >>
The shoe store will offer you effective professional care products.
Bleach
Remove dark marks on shoes using bleach or stain remover. Cleaning products should not contain chlorine as it destroys most fabrics.
Choose a delicate stain remover. For example, OXY or Vanish.
Algorithm of actions:
- Wear gloves when working with stain remover or bleach.
- Pour a little product onto the stained area and rub it with your hand. Do not use the cover as recommended for clothing. It may scratch the varnish surface. Therefore, it is necessary to wear gloves.
- Take a cotton cloth and lightly rub the surface of the shoe.
- Remove any remaining stain remover with water.
You should wear gloves at all times. If the sole also becomes covered with black stripes, use a stain remover.
How to care for patent leather at home
Lacquer-coated shoes need to be looked after from day one, otherwise they will quickly lose their shine and be irrevocably damaged. It is easier to prevent such a situation than to deal with its consequences. It must be remembered that patent leather shoes and boots are not intended for everyday use. The material from which they are made does not allow air to pass through, causing the feet to sweat and swell. After wearing, it takes time for the pair of shoes to dry and regain their shape.
Patent leather shoes require careful care, then they will serve you for many years
In order for your favorite shoes to serve you for more than one season, you need to observe the temperature regime when using them. Air temperatures below -10ºС contribute to a decrease in elasticity. Too hot weather with temperatures above +25°C, on the contrary, softens the varnish, which leads to fading and the formation of microcracks.
Do not use a shoe brush or universal polish, otherwise the glossy surface will become dull and scratches will appear on it.
Tooth powder or paste
Black stripes can be easily removed with toothpaste or powder. These products have whitening effects and make shoes more well-groomed.
Cleaning sneakers with this method is not difficult. You don't even have to make any special effort.
Just take a toothbrush, apply a little toothpaste to it (don't put too much, it will slip off your shoes and fall off more than it stays on), scrub gently with the brush.
After removing the black stripes, remove the remaining product with water and a cloth. The toothpaste foams a little but comes off quickly.
Final tips
- Start bleaching the soles of your shoes only after all dirt has been removed. Use gentler methods initially. Only in cases where they did not save the situation, proceed to hard methods.
- Sports shoes should only be rinsed with warm water. Fluid at too high or low temperatures will ruin it.
- Use bleach that does not contain chlorine or alcohol. Interaction with it may cause the surface of the sole to turn yellow, and then it will no longer be possible to wash it.
- A better effect can be achieved if the cloth is replaced with a toothbrush. Its fibers are more maneuverable and will be able to penetrate all hard-to-reach places.
- The final result will depend on how quickly you can remove dirt.
- A thin screwdriver will help to clean deep relief. Its tip will penetrate better into deep places.
- To keep your shoes clean longer, avoid wearing them in wet, rainy weather.
- Take care of your sneakers as often as possible, then you won’t have to waste time on unpleasant procedures.
If all methods are powerless against contamination, then the sole can simply be painted with special acrylic paint, or white paint intended for fabrics.
There are many ways to help clean shoe soles at home. But any care must be timely, then you can wear a pair for a long time and with pleasure.
Cream
There is no use in scrubbing off black stripes with shoe polish. This product does not help remove stains.
But if you're in a hurry and don't have time to get rid of dark spots, take shoe polish and just cover up the dirt. This will help hide the stained area.
Only in the evening be sure to remove the dirt. Otherwise, new spots will appear later, and this will take a lot of time.
Prevention
You can prevent the appearance of dark marks on the surface of light-colored shoes by treating the pair with products that repel such contaminants. For example, patent leather shoes will be saved from black streaks by polishing products applied to the surface.
In the case of white leather shoes, you need to ask the seller about the anti-contamination agent. In addition, you don’t need to think about whether or not to buy cream or wax for care, because you can’t do without them. Professionals recommend regularly monitoring the condition of your shoes and, after daily wear, washing, cleaning and covering them with care products. Such care will extend the life of your favorite boots and save you from unnecessary expenses.
