How to wash sneakers by hand to get rid of the smell, how to wash them by hand without streaks at home?

Timely, competent washing of sneakers preserves the attractive appearance of the product for as long as possible.

To ensure that the result is perfectly clean sneakers, it is important to familiarize yourself in advance with the basic recommendations on how to properly wash sports shoes by hand.

We'll tell you in this article how to properly wash sneakers by hand without streaks at home.

Preparing to wash by hand

The quality of washing largely depends on how the shoes are prepared for cleaning:

Adhered dirt is cleaned from the surface of the sneakers with a brush. It is important to remove dirt with gentle movements rather than vigorously rubbing. Otherwise, scratches may appear on shoes (especially leather ones).
Read also: How to remove super glue at home - from fingers and metal
Remove dirt from the sole under running water. It is necessary to carefully inspect the tread for stuck stones and other small objects. If necessary, they are removed with a knitting needle, knife or other sharp object.
The side edge of the white sole is cleared of black stripes. To do this, use a regular student eraser.
Stubborn, old stains on sneakers must be removed at the stage of preparation for washing. Otherwise, the cleaning effect may not be as desired. So grass and food stains can be easily cleaned with an oxygen stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide will help remove traces of blood.
Before washing, you must remove the laces and insoles (they are washed separately).

Removing stains

Cleaning stains from sneakers is not an easy task. You need to be prepared for the fact that the stains will not completely disappear. It depends on the material and degree of contamination. In any case, the stain can be significantly lightened.

Almost all white sneakers have yellow stains on them. This occurs due to getting wet during rain. They can be cleaned with liquid soap or shampoo. Simply apply the product to a soft-bristled brush and rub well. Laundry soap and powder will not lighten yellow spots; on the contrary, they will become brighter.

To remove stubborn dirt from white sneakers, you can use professional or home remedies

It is important to remember that traditional methods require preliminary testing. You should not apply the finished composition to the entire surface of the sneakers; it is better to start with a small area

Remove stains with liquid soap Use professional products

Professional products

The modern market offers a variety of stain removers. Particularly popular among them are:

Household oxygen bleach. Fabric sneakers quickly accumulate road dust and require deep cleaning. A substance with an aggressive composition may cause skin irritation or damage the material. Therefore, it is better to choose an oxygen analogue. Bleach is diluted in a small volume of water and applied to shoes. 10 minutes is enough for it to become whiter.
Stain remover. This product differs from bleach due to its local effect. With its help you can remove even stubborn stains. To clean a pair of fabric, you need to apply a small amount of liquid slightly diluted with water to the stain. The shoes are left for 10 minutes. After this, the dirt is wiped off with a brush and the surface is wiped with a sponge.
Micellar water. At home, you can clean your sneakers using makeup remover. Simply soak a cotton pad in micellar water and rub it onto the stain.
Sprays containing wax. Ideal for caring for sneakers made of leatherette and leather. This product is both cleaning and water-repellent.
Foam. It will be a lifesaver when you need to clean your sneakers without water. The substance is applied to the stain using a brush. Such products are suitable for washing clothes and bags.
Shampoo. Effectively removes fresh dirt. It is enough to dilute a few drops of shampoo with water.

The choice of means depends on the specific tasks. A universal stain remover has not yet been invented. You'll have to try several options to find the most effective one.

Household oxygen bleachStain removerMicellar waterFoam for shoesShampoo

Folk remedies

Craftsmen have come up with many ways to clean white sneakers at home. The following have stood the test of time:

Baking soda. The substance is mixed with water to a paste. The resulting substance is rubbed into the stain with a toothbrush. After a few minutes, remove the soda with a damp cloth.
A mixture of vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and washing powder. For the best effect, it is recommended to use three percent peroxide. Two tablespoons of vinegar with the same amount of powder are mixed with a teaspoon of soda and a tablespoon of peroxide. Rub into the contaminated area, leave for 15–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can do it easier by cleaning your sneakers with peroxide mixed with baking soda. The two-component composition will not become less effective.
Toothpaste. You can clean white sneakers at home with a paste without colored granules. It is applied to a dry brush and rubbed into the stain in a circular motion. Then wash off with foam rubber soaked in water.
Lemon juice. To whiten the entire surface area, you will need two tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with the same volume of water. Rub the product with a soft cloth.
Laundry soap. It effectively fights stubborn dirt. It is enough to rub the brush with soap, treat the material, and then rinse with warm water.
A mixture of milk and potato starch. Suitable for cleaning leather products. The components are mixed in a 1:1 ratio. Lubricate the surface with the resulting paste, then wipe with a damp cloth.
A solution of vinegar and acetone. The liquids are mixed in equal volumes and applied to the shoes using a soft cloth. The composition is washed off with warm water.

Soda A mixture of soda, bleach and vinegar Toothpaste Lemon juice Laundry soap A mixture of milk and potato starch A solution of vinegar and acetone

Which ones can and can't be washed?

Not all sneakers are washable. Depending on the type of material, a specific washing method and type of detergent are selected:

Textile sports shoes can be soaked or washed by hand using laundry soap, any washing powder or gel.
Leather sports shoes should be washed very carefully in a warm soapy solution. To wash leather sneakers, use baby or laundry soap.
White fabric sneakers are washed using oxygen bleaches or stain removers (can be soaked in warm water with added detergent).
Sneakers made of suede or nubuck are strictly prohibited from being washed. The velvety surface will be irrevocably damaged if it comes into contact with water. This type of shoe can only be cleaned with special spray cleaners or by using dry cleaning services.

How to do everything correctly so that there are no divorces?

Before you begin the washing process, you need to decide on the type of detergent and water temperature.

Correct temperature:

leather sneakers should be washed in water no higher than +30 C (hot water will cause the leather to begin to deform);
White textile shoes can be washed at a water temperature not exceeding +40C.

The general rule for choosing a temperature regime is: do not use water above 40-50C. Ignoring this requirement may result in unsticking at the junction of the upper and sole.

The right detergent:

Textile sneakers with mesh can be easily washed with ordinary laundry soap, powder, or liquid washing gel. But for colored shoes you cannot use soap or powder with a bleaching effect.
Leather sneakers are washed in soapy solutions at low temperatures.

Regardless of what material the sneakers are made of, it is strictly forbidden to use chlorine-containing and alkaline preparations (for example, Whiteness bleach) when washing.

The shoes have been pre-prepared, the choice of detergent has been made, you can proceed directly to the washing process:

The shoes are completely immersed in the soap solution for thirty minutes. Along with the sneakers, the laces and insoles are placed in the basin.
After soaking, the laces and insoles are thoroughly soaped and rubbed with a brush on both sides.
After soaking, rub the sneakers thoroughly with a soft brush or foam sponge.
First of all, rub the sole, smoothly moving to the top of the sneaker. Particular attention is paid to the inside (this is where a lot of bacteria, sweat, and dirt accumulate).
The washing process does not take much time. Not taking into account the soaking time, after just five to ten minutes of active rubbing with a brush or sponge, the sneakers again acquire a shiny, clean look. After the washing process is completed, the shoes must be carefully wrung out (avoiding strong bends in the soles) and proceed to the next stage - rinsing.
Sneakers are rinsed with special care, changing the water several times. Ignoring these conditions can cause unattractive yellow streaks.

To give your sneakers a pleasant scent, add one capful of fabric softener to the rinse water.

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.

Dry cleaning at home

Cleaning shoes using special products, without water, is called dry washing (this care method is actively used for suede and nubuck).

Algorithm of actions:

pre-prepared shoes are sprinkled inside and outside with talcum powder, crushed activated carbon powder, and sea salt;
after two to three hours, carefully clean the shoes with a soft brush or sponge.

As an option, sneakers made of nubuck or suede are treated with special sprays. The active foam reagent binds dirt particles and removes them from the pile. After treatment, you need to wait until the foam dries, and then use gentle movements to treat the shoes with a brush or sponge.

An eraser will help lift the crushed pile of sneakers. It is enough to run it over the dry surface of the shoe to clean and lift the fibers of nubuck or suede.

Main causes of pollution

Dirty shoes always look untidy.
Well-cleaned shoes have always been considered one of the main signs of a well-mannered and cultured person, so everyone tries to monitor the neatness of their different types, including sneakers. And yet it is very difficult to keep them clean with frequent wear. The main causes of pollution include:

street dust, slush, various dirt - outside;
traces and smell of sweat - from the inside.

Regular cleaning, which should be done at least twice a month, helps to quickly get rid of both. Otherwise, dirt and sweat begin to soak into the fabric and become difficult to remove completely.

What can I do to get rid of the smell?

You can eliminate unpleasant odor 100% using the following tips:

Before washing, shoes must be treated with a solution of citric acid. The dry powder is dissolved with water to a thick paste, then rubbed into the lining and upper of the sneaker.
Salt will help eliminate the unpleasant odor. A teaspoon of salt is dissolved in 250 ml of water, after which the shoes are treated with the resulting solution.
Crushed bay leaves placed in your sneakers overnight will help quickly remove unpleasant odors. In the same way, you can refresh your shoes using crushed activated carbon and orange peels.

When treating sneakers with solutions against unpleasant odors, special attention must be paid to the insole - the main reservoir of germs and bacteria.

How to dry?

To prevent sneakers from losing their shape after washing, it is very important to follow all the recommendations for proper drying:

At the end of washing, the shoes are placed on the side of the bathtub or washbasin with the toes down (in this position, the water drains from the sneakers faster).
To prevent shoes from losing their shape during the drying process, they are filled with paper balls made from napkins and toilet paper. Sports shoes are stuffed quite tightly, but without stretching upward.
After twenty or thirty minutes, the paper balls need to be changed (they get wet very quickly and cease to fulfill their function as an accumulator of excess liquid).
Sneakers are set out to dry in a well-ventilated place, protected from direct sunlight.

Absolutely forbidden:

use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process (sudden changes in temperature can deform the upper of sports shoes);
expose sneakers to a hot radiator (the sole may become deformed).

An electric dryer will help speed up the shoe drying process.

Tips and prohibitions

Dry wipes, newspaper or paper towels stuffed inside will help maintain the shape of sports shoes after washing.
You can speed up the drying process by exposing your shoes to the open air.
Frequent washing can quickly deteriorate the appearance of the product.
It is necessary to wash shoes if the upper is significantly dirty or if an unpleasant odor appears. Local dirt can be easily removed by partially washing the shoes.
If there are stains left after washing, ammonia or soda solution will help remove them.
Regular treatment with special water-repellent sprays will help keep sports shoes clean.

Daily care for textile shoes

If you have shoes, sneakers or sneakers with a floral print, at first you can limit yourself to mechanical cleaning of the uppers. It is very convenient to clean the top of the shoe from debris and dirt with a dry brush, and carefully wash the sole with a rag. An alternative to a dry brush is a slightly damp cloth.

Textile colored or white moccasins with minor stains can be cleaned with damp baby wipes.

Despite their innocent purpose, baby wipes have a powerful cleansing effect, and by regularly wiping the inside of sneakers or sneakers with them, we can get rid of the unpleasant odor inherent in sports shoes.

Such labor-intensive care is appropriate when traveling or transport, when it is not possible to wash your shoes.