How to bleach the sole of sneakers

How to whiten the soles of sneakers at home using folk remedies

Cleaning soles with baking soda

Cleaning with washing powder

How to clean soles with lemon or citric acid

other methods

Video

As a result of wear, shoes become dirty and turn yellow, which significantly spoils their aesthetic appearance. That is why every housewife should know how to clean white soles. Simple but effective cleaning methods, home methods and compliance with preventive measures will help you cope with dirt and yellowness on sneakers or sneakers.

Shoes with white soles look beautiful and elegant, but they quickly become dirty, may turn yellow and lose their presentable appearance. Folk remedies and simple home methods will help you cope with the problem.

The article contains simple and effective methods that will help restore your shoes to their attractive appearance and former whiteness.

Features of sneaker materials

Nowadays, shoes with white soles made of wear-resistant rubber or synthetic materials - filight, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, phylon have become very fashionable. They give sneakers and sneakers strength and elasticity. The materials for the soles are highly resistant to aggressive environmental influences. Despite this, during wear they become covered with various stains, become yellowish or acquire an unpleasant shade of gray.

Sometimes the sole has grooves around the perimeter, which complicates the situation with cleaning the shoes. To ensure that white sneakers last as long as possible, you need to regularly clean not only the upper, but also the sole. The material from which it is made is of great importance. A soft, damp cloth is ideal for cleaning the leather, while the rubber sole can be cleaned with a regular eraser or melamine sponge.

To prevent yellowish stains from appearing on the white sole, it is important to regularly wash off all contaminants.

What types of pollution exist?

There are several types of contaminants to which the soles of our shoes are exposed.

Pollution that does not require the intervention of aggressive substances is gray stains or plaque that appears after a walk. They can be removed with a wet cloth or liquid soap and a brush (use a toothbrush for convenience).
Difficult to remove dirt (often with damage to the sole) - appears from mechanical impact on the shoes or it comes from the environment. This type includes the transformation of white to yellow, black scratches and, in principle, any change in color.

From the above, we can conclude that before buying this type of shoe, you should familiarize yourself with the cleaning methods presented below.

How to remove yellowness from white sneaker soles

Usually even the dirtiest shoes can be restored to their original appearance. To do this, just clean it well. You can try to do the same with old sneakers whose soles have acquired a yellowish tint. However, cleaning the yellow color is not always possible, even if you take your shoes to the dry cleaner. The result depends on how the spots appeared.

If the sole has acquired a yellow tint due to ingrained dirt or dust, then it will not be difficult to fix it.
But the sole can also turn yellow if you constantly dry your shoes on a radiator (or near it). Leaving your sneakers in bright sunlight for several days will have the same effect. The whiteness of such a sole can only be restored by painting it with white acrylic paint. The painting agent must not be water-based.

To make the dye stick more firmly, you can dry the sole with a hairdryer. The effect will be long lasting and will not disappoint your expectations.

Good acrylic will not wash off. It can be dried with a hot hairdryer to fix the dye.

If stains on the white sole appear from ingrained dirt, then they can be easily wiped off using household products.

You can buy cleaning products for sneakers and other shoes using the link in the Lamoda store.

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.

How to whiten the soles of sneakers at home

The use of folk remedies is an ideal way to independently clean shoes from dirt and yellowness. For this use:

toothpaste (powder);
hydrogen peroxide;
citric acid;
a mixture of soda and vinegar with water;
nail polish remover;
eraser or melamine sponge.

Toothpaste

For this method, it is better to choose a composition with a whitening effect without color additives.

Use a stiff bristle brush and toothpaste to clean the surface.
Wait 20 minutes.
Rinse shoes thoroughly in warm running water.

Hydrogen peroxide

Treat problem areas with hydrogen peroxide (3%). This solution will return the sole to its ideal white color and carefully remove any stains.

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent tool for whitening the soles of sneakers.

Lemon acid

Citric acid or lemon pulp will help remove the yellowish tint and gray deposits.

Rub the problem areas thoroughly with powder or pulp.
Leave for fifteen minutes.
Wash well with clean water.

It is more convenient to apply citric acid with a toothbrush and it is better not to dilute it with water.

A mixture of baking soda, vinegar and water

There are three options for using baking soda and vinegar to remove stains from rubber.

Wipe problem areas with a solution of vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:3.
Prepare a paste of vinegar and soda in a ratio of 1.5:1, apply it with a sponge to the sole. When the mixture dries, wash it off with warm water.
Thoroughly rub dirt with baking soda using a damp brush, removing dirt from all grooves on the rubber, and then rinse the shoes with water.

Nail polish remover or acetone

When using these products, excellent results are achieved, but they have a strong odor, which complicates the work. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the integrity of the sole. Therefore, before cleaning, it is necessary to carry out a quick test: apply the liquid to an inconspicuous small area. If no damage appears, you can use the product.

Soak a cotton pad with acetone.
Gently wipe the surface.
Wash shoes thoroughly with clean water.

When using acetone, you need to take a white cloth, since the paint on colored fabric can dissolve under the influence of the products and stain the shoes.

Eraser or melamine sponge

You need to use a white eraser that does not leave streaks on the surface when erasing.

Use an eraser to process the corrugated sole, not missing a single indentation, thoroughly removing yellowness, dirt and black stripes.
When finished, wipe the product with a clean soft cloth.

There is no need to use water with this cleaning method. For one pair of shoes, you need to take a fairly large eraser, and if the surface of the sole is uneven, you will also need small pieces to clean the thinnest grooves. The hard side of the eraser can damage the structure of the material and leave unwanted marks. For this reason, you only need to use its soft side.

Using a melamine sponge is much easier: wet the sponge, wring it out and wipe the shoes with it. It is softer than an eraser and more pleasant for the hands, but is still a harsher product. This does not guarantee perfect cleanliness if the yellowness is deeply ingrained into the sole, but the shoes will look much whiter.

How to remove stains from grease, glue, marker, paint on the sole of sneakers

Heavy stains, such as marks from paint, markers, pens, grease or shoe glue, can be removed using the following methods:

a solution of soda and lemon juice;
ammonia.

Cleaning procedure:

Treat the problem area with a solution of baking soda and lemon juice. After this, wash your shoes thoroughly in clean warm water.
Mix 250 ml of water with ammonia (1 teaspoon). Treat the stain with the solution and wait ten minutes. After this, wipe the shoes with a dry soft cloth.

Nail polish remover (Acetone)

Often, willy-nilly, you notice black scratches on a pair of shoes. When conventional remedies such as baking soda do not help, gentle remedies come into play.

The acetone contained in nail polish remover can easily remove even grass stains.

But, do not forget that if the rubber is not of high quality, then acetone can damage it. Be sure to rinse the steam with water to stop the effects of the substance.

Clean the soles of sneakers using household chemicals

Household chemicals make it much easier to achieve your goal - to erase all dirt and remove yellowness. Whatever chemical you choose, shoes must first be prepared for cleaning:

remove the top layer of dried dirt using a damp cloth;
mechanically clean the sole from large pieces of debris;
wash in warm soapy water.

It is better to use safe and simple remedies first, and if they do not work, then stronger ones.

First, try just washing with dishwashing detergent or laundry soap.

Grate the soap and dilute it with water to form a paste-like mass.
Using a brush, apply the paste to the sole and rub the stains.
Let stand for about an hour and rinse well in running water.

Dishwashing liquid is used in the same way.

Laundry soap makes a good product for caring for white soles.

Using laundry detergents

Washing powder does a good job of removing yellowness from soles. To do this, use a mixture of it with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.

Mix the powder with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in equal proportions.
Apply the resulting mixture with a brush to the surface of the sole.
Wait 15 minutes.
Wash with plenty of clean water.

Oxygen-containing laundry detergents contain sodium percarbonate and other similar chemical compounds that easily break down and release oxygen during use. Under its influence, contaminants are oxidized and purified. In this case, no damage is caused to things.

Soak the soles of sneakers (not higher) in this product for two hours.
Wash thoroughly with plain water.

Stain remover

You should use a product for white fabrics so as not to disturb the structure of the sole material.

Rub the sole with stain remover using a stiff bristle brush.
Leave the shoes for 3-4 hours.
Rinse the product thoroughly with warm water.

Yellowness from the sole is removed with a stain remover for white fabrics

If the rubber on the sole of your sneakers has turned yellow

Bleach will help make the condition of the white sole almost perfect. But it is advisable to use oxygen-containing products. They cope with almost all types of stains: grass stains, iodine and brilliant green, blood.

The reaction of materials to chemical cleaners may vary. To make sure that the chosen product is safe for the sole, you need to apply it to a small, inconspicuous area of the surface and wait a couple of hours. If no cracks or holes form, then you can safely begin work.

Prepare a solution of bleach and water in a 1:2 ratio in a wide basin.
Place the shoes in the basin so that the solution covers the sole without touching the top.
Leave the sneakers for an hour and then check to see if the shoes have bleached.
If the result is achieved, thoroughly rinse the solution from the sole; if not, put the shoes back in the basin for a while.
Relief depressions, microcracks and curves can be additionally cleaned with a brush, removing remaining stains of dirt and yellowness.

When using liquid oxygen bleach, simply apply a thin layer and wait three hours. Then remove any remaining dirt using a soft, damp cloth and rinse the shoes with warm water.

For practically new shoes, you can use bleaching laundry detergent.

Mix the powder with water to form a paste.
Apply the resulting mixture to the sole and wait half an hour.
Treat the product with a stiff bristle brush, removing dirt.
Rinse everything off with water and wipe the shoes with a clean soft cloth.

You can buy cleaning products for sneakers and other shoes using the link in the Lamoda store.

Working with detergents

If gentle bleaching methods do not help, detergents are used: dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, washing powder. Alternatively, use tooth powder or toothpaste.

Dishwashing liquid

If the rubber part has not become very dirty, then dishwashing detergent will help quickly return it to its original whiteness. Prepare for work:

a bowl of warm water;
dishwashing liquid;
sponge

Algorithm:

Dissolve a small amount of dishwashing detergent in a bowl of warm water.
Dip a sponge into the soapy mixture and wash the contaminated sole with it.
The more vigorously the rubber is rubbed, the whiter it looks.
Washed white sneakers are rinsed with water and wiped dry with a rag.

Laundry soap

This product will quickly remove dirt from the white soles of your shoes. For work use:

laundry soap;
sponge;
a bowl of warm water.

Algorithm:

Dissolve shavings of laundry soap in a bowl of water.
The white sole of the sneaker is immersed in a soap solution for several hours.
The liquid should only cover the polyurethane and not touch the upper of the shoe.
After a few hours, the couple is removed from the soap solution, the contaminated areas are thoroughly washed with a sponge, rinsed with water, and dried.

Second option: do not leave shoes in the soap solution. Their rubber base is washed with a brush rubbed with laundry soap. The procedure is repeated several times until the rubber is completely whitened.

Washing powder

The rubber soles of shoes are bleached with washing powder. Take:

1 part washing powder;
2 parts hot water;
capacity for two shoes;
hard brush.

Washing powder is poured into hot water and mixed thoroughly. The sneakers are placed in a prepared container and filled with soapy water. The solution should only cover the white polyurethane and not touch the top of the shoe. After half an hour, scrub off the dirt with a stiff brush, wash off the remaining powder with water, and dry.

Dentifrice

The white sole of the sneaker is washed with teeth cleaning powder. To do this prepare:

brush;
dentifrice;
dry rag.

Dip a damp brush into tooth powder and wash the sneakers. The powder can be replaced with toothpaste with a whitening effect.

Is it worth trying to wash stains on the soles of sneakers in a washing machine?

The easiest way to clean your favorite shoes is by washing them in the machine. This method does not always give the expected result, and sometimes it can be completely useless and unsafe for shoes. After machine washing, sneakers tear and lose shape much faster.

In addition, there is a danger that the snow-white sole will acquire a yellowish tint and begin to peel off. However, if you still decide to go with a washing machine, then you need to follow a few simple rules.

Before loading sneakers or sneakers into the washing machine, you must remove the insoles, laces and other removable parts.
It is necessary to remove adhering dirt with a brush and soapy water and dry. The sole tread should be especially carefully cleaned of small stones and sand, as their entry into the machine can damage the drum, pipe and filter.
It is strictly forbidden to soak shoes before washing. When dried, it will lose its shape.
It is better to set the delicate mode with minimal speed and additional rinsing. The spinning and drying must be turned off, otherwise the sneakers will get wet and come apart.
The optimal water temperature is 40 °C.
Shoes should be washed in a special bag, and some other things should be placed in the drum to soften the shock during rotation.

It is better to dry sneakers after machine washing in the usual way at room temperature, stuffing them with crumpled newspapers. The paper will prevent deformation during drying and absorb excess moisture. You can also dry your shoes using special dryers.

When the shoes are completely dry, apply a water-repellent agent to them. It is strictly forbidden to dry sneakers and sneakers on a heating radiator or with a hair dryer . This can lead to deformation, the sole will turn yellow and it will be more difficult to bleach it.

Washing in a washing machine

This method will help you remove dust not only from the sole, but also from the surface.

To do this you need:

Make sure your washing machine has the ability to wash sports shoes. If it is missing, look at the label at what temperature this pair of shoes is allowed to be washed.
In addition to the powder, add a little bleach, or a special capsule for white.
After washing, do not leave your shoes to dry in the open sun - this is dangerous, as the shoes may become damaged. It is better to choose a place that will be well ventilated. An excellent option would be to place a pair on the windowsill and fill it with newspapers, which will begin to absorb moisture and the sneakers will dry faster.

Bleach

The most effective recipe for whitening is bleach. Please note that this method is quite dangerous. Firstly, you can ruin your shoes. Secondly, you can damage things nearby if splashes fly away. Moreover, it is necessary to carry out work with gloves.

Let's look at the sequence of actions:

Prepare the place where the process will take place. Make sure there are no important household items nearby.
Make a solution (it is very important that it is concentrated). You need to pour the solution into a basin. There should be enough solution so that it covers only the sole of the sneakers.
You need to leave the steam for 30-40 minutes.
Upon return, rinse them with running water and send them to dry.

How to prepare shoes for cleaning

To successfully “reanimate” white sports shoes, you need to approach the process correctly. The first thing you need to do is to “disassemble” the product into its components. Simply put, remove the insoles and laces. It is better to wash them separately using laundry soap or special bleach.

Dust and dirt that have not yet become embedded should be removed as soon as possible using a dry brush or ordinary sponge.

Advice: if a lot of dirt has stuck to your sneakers or sneakers, it is better to wait until it dries and only then begin the stain removal procedure.

Whitening with toothpaste

Toothpaste is suitable not only for brushing your teeth, but also for cleaning your snow-white sneakers.

Carefully treat the required area with the paste, bringing it to a foamy state.
Wait 5-10 minutes.
Rinse with water.
Leave your shoes to dry.

Cleaning with bleach powder

This method is suitable for the case when you notice changes on the surface of your sneakers after a walk. You can use either washing powder or bleaching powder.

Follow the following algorithm:

Pour some powder into some container.
Take a dishwashing sponge (clean), which is available in every home (or some people use an old toothbrush), dip it in the product and start applying it to the dirty areas.
Leave for 5-10 minutes.

Rinse with cool water. It is important that the water is not very hot, otherwise you risk ruining your shoes.

Inventive owners who have the same problem have invented another method:

Pour the powder into a container large enough to fit your sneaker (you can take a basin).
Fill it with water until a paste forms.
After 20-30 minutes, remove the pair by rubbing it with a brush.
Rinse with water.

other methods

How to wash white soles, other than household chemicals?

Melamine sponge

Remove dirt on the surface using soap or powder.

Cut a small piece of melamine sponge, moisten it with water, and wipe off any remaining stains. Black stripes on the sole can be removed with melamine without prior preparation. When it comes into contact with moisture, the sponge foams and copes with complex stains.