How to clean white soles on sneakers and sneakers at home

03/20/2019 Note to the hostess

White moccasins, slip-ons, Converse, sandals and sneakers look very impressive and always remain in fashion. But one significant drawback often becomes the reason for a categorical refusal to purchase such shoes - they get dirty very quickly. And at the same time, it is not always possible to remove dirt and preserve its original appearance.

You won’t have to deny yourself the shoes you like and wear dull black shoes if you know how to clean shoes at home. The cleanser is made from the simplest ingredients and always works - learn the little secret and always look flawless.

Preparation

Before you start cleaning, you should find out how to properly care for shoes with white soles and how to clean them:

First you need to remove dirt and dust from the sole. This can be done with water, a sponge and liquid soap. After washing, the surface should be wiped dry. Sometimes this is enough for the sole to shine white again. If yellow or gray spots remain, you will have to use more aggressive agents.
The most effective tool in combating stains on white soles is an unnecessary toothbrush. It is able to penetrate the porous structure of the material and clean hard-to-reach places.
If acetone or another solvent is used for cleaning, wipe the surface with a white cloth. Otherwise, the substance will wash out the dyes from a rag of a different color, and colored stains will remain on the white sole.
It is advisable to rinse the sole with warm water. Temperatures that are too high or too low can damage the material.

It is strictly not recommended to clean the coating with chlorine-based bleaches. This will inevitably lead to yellowing of the surface. The sole may begin to dry out and crack. It will be almost impossible to correct the situation.

Cleaning suede

Suede is a delicate fabric. Finding an effective and safe way to clean these sneakers is almost impossible. You can try steaming the suede or dry cleaning it. Features of cleaning suede sneakers:

dry cleaning is carried out with a special brush; before work, you must make sure that the shoes are completely dry;
To steam, you need to boil water in a kettle and place your shoes under the steaming spout so that the steam raises the fluff and the dust can be removed more easily;
It’s best to take a special dry shampoo or foam, apply it to the outer surface, measure the required time, and then remove it with a dry cloth.

Eraser

A regular eraser effectively removes dirt from a white rubber surface. It must be perfectly clean. You will need to rub the stains with an eraser and then shake off the crumbs. If the area to be cleaned is large enough, you will have to be patient, since it is recommended to use the eraser slowly and carefully.

Instead of an eraser, you can use a melamine sponge, which is sold in hardware stores. It should be wetted and the dirt should be wiped off, periodically rinsing the sponge with running water. According to reviews from housewives, pollution disappears literally before our eyes.

Washing powder

Washing powder will help clean white soles. To do this you need:

Dilute the powder in water. Its concentration should be twice as high as when washing clothes.
Pour the resulting solution into a container that can accommodate sneakers or sneakers, so that it covers only the sole.
Place the shoes in a container with the solution.
Leave for 30 minutes.
Scrub the surface with an old toothbrush.
Wash off dirt and powder with running water, being careful to wet only the sole.

This method is suitable for cleaning high-quality shoes. The sole of cheap models may come off after soaking.

How to clean white sneakers at home?

In foreign films you can often see people wearing perfectly white sneakers. It's amazing how shoes don't get dirty - people don't buy new shoes every day. In a country where 9 months of the year the weather does not suggest wearing light-colored shoes, the question often arises of how to clean white sneakers at home. Dirt accumulates on sports shoes - the method of simply wiping with a rag no longer works. I would like to return the whiteness of my shoes, but I will have to work hard to achieve this.

Dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing liquid can cope with fresh stains. You will need to pour warm water into the container and add a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Then, using a discarded toothbrush, apply the solution to the surface to be cleaned and rub away the stains.

When there is no trace of dirt left, you should carefully wash the sole with running water.

Rules of care

Cleaning your sneakers properly is half the battle. It is important to dry them according to the rules. Experts give the following advice:

Leather sneakers are wiped with a dry cloth, then treated with shoe wax.
Textiles are left to air dry. Do not place shoes on a radiator, heater, or place them in bright sunshine. She may lose her shape.
Suede suffers from contact with water. If this happens, dry the surface with blotting movements.

To prevent shoes from losing their shape, you can stuff them with paper towels. The peels of oranges or other citrus fruits will help combat the unpleasant odor.

White sneakers will last longer if you don't wear them every day. Shoes accumulate moisture, which leads to odor and wear. Special products will help prevent contamination. The important thing to remember is that they need to be used daily.

Sneakers are easily damaged by machine washing. It is only suitable for artificial materials. Leather and suede shoes are cleaned by hand. You should wash your sneakers after returning home to prevent dirt from being absorbed. Suede is treated with a dry shoe brush. Even if you know how to clean sneakers correctly, failure to follow these simple recommendations will reduce all efforts to a minimum.

Leather sneakers need to be waxed

Fabric sneakers should only be dried outdoors.

To prevent shoes from losing their shape, they need to be stuffed with paper towels.

In the fight against unpleasant odor, you need to put lemon or orange peels in your shoes.

Hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide is known for its whitening properties. You can use it to remove yellow and gray stains from a white surface.

It is necessary to moisten a cotton pad with hydrogen peroxide and wipe the sole several times. Leave for 10-15 minutes and wipe off any remaining substance with a damp cloth.

Chlorhexidine can also be used as it has similar properties.

If traces of dirt remain, you can bleach them with soda. To do this, pour a little regular baking soda onto a damp cloth and rub the rubber coating.

Cleaning process depending on material

To clean light-colored sneakers from stubborn dirt at home, you need to consider the type of material. Textiles and leather require different care. Leather shoes will not “survive” machine washing, but fabric ones can be soaked.

Textile

Textile is a durable material that withstands moisture well. Therefore, you can clean it from dirt by washing. Its method depends on the quality of the shoes. If the sole is glued well, you can put the pair in the machine. The main thing is to properly prepare your sneakers. Before loading, shoes are soaked in warm water with bleach added. The dirt will come off in a couple of hours.

To prevent metal parts from damaging the drum, the products are placed in a special mesh. Some cars do not have a “Shoes” mode. Then select the “Manual” or “Delicate” program. Cleaning white sneakers from dirt using powder will not work. It is better to pour stain remover or bleach into the drum.

Running models need to be machine washed. The mesh on the surface becomes clogged with dirt and is difficult to clean. If the quality of the shoes is in doubt, you should try the following method: put a plastic bag on your hand and wrap it with paper towels. The resulting structure is placed in a sneaker. It will collect moisture, protecting your shoes from getting wet. The mesh is carefully cleaned with a sponge and a small amount of stain remover. If you can’t wash off the dirt, you should take your shoes to a dry cleaner. You can clean the mesh on your sneakers several times, then it will turn grey.

Shoes of low quality are washed by hand so as not to damage their shape. It is recommended to clean synthetic material with laundry soap, textiles with stain remover or bleach. The pair is soaked before washing. Warm water (30–40 degrees) is taken into a basin and detergent is added. The products are immersed in the composition and left for about half an hour.

After half an hour, change the water and add bleach. A fresh solution is applied to the fabric and any remaining dirt is removed with a brush. After the stains are completely gone, the solution is washed off with a sponge soaked in water. Shoes need to be wiped until the fabric stops foaming. Hand washing is a convenient way to clean white sneakers.

Soak for a couple of hours in water with bleach

If you just put shoes in the machine, you can ruin them

Sneakers need to be washed in a special mesh

If you clean by hand, paper towels and a bag will protect your shoes from excess moisture.

Synthetics are cleaned with laundry soap

Textiles are soaked in bleach

Leather and leatherette

White leather sneakers are easy to clean. It is enough to wipe off the dirt with a damp cloth soaked in a soap solution. If the shoes are used for a long time, the surface becomes yellow and the stains become embedded. In this case, it will be almost impossible to wash leather sneakers. To return them to a well-groomed appearance, you need to cover the surface with shoe paint.

Sneakers made of fabric cannot be cleaned with paint; it will form a “dead layer” on them.

Wipe with a cloth and soapy water

Shoe paint will help to update the color and remove yellowness.

Suede and nubuck

Suede is a capricious material. It requires delicate handling. Wet cleaning of sneakers made from such raw materials will be destructive. They cannot be washed under the tap or soaked. It is better to use one of the following means:

Steam bath. Water vapor removes dirt and straightens lint. The shoes are held over a boiling pan until they become slightly damp. Then wipe the suede with a soft cloth.
An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Add a teaspoon of each substance to a glass of heated water. Gently wipe the suede with a cloth dipped in liquid. Using peroxide and alcohol, you can wash away deep stains in a matter of minutes.
A solution of detergent and ammonia in a ratio of 1:5.
Powder of crushed chalk, talc and tooth powder. The mixture is applied to the stains, gently rubbing in with a brush.
A set of products for cleaning sneakers and preventative care. To keep suede looking attractive, you need to take care of it daily. In addition to cleaning products, it is useful to use water-repellent emulsions.

Suede does not tolerate contact with water well. It is always preferable to clean your sneakers than to wash them. Wet treatment is only justified in cases of severe contamination.

Steam bath

An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia

A solution of detergent and ammonia

Powder of crushed chalk, talc and tooth powder

Water-repellent emulsions
Nubuck is a polished leather with a fine fleecy structure. It looks like suede and requires careful handling. The easiest way to ruin light-colored shoes. To avoid premature wear, you need to know how to clean white nubuck sneakers. It is enough to follow simple rules:

Surface dirt is removed using a soft rag or brush.
Fresh stains can be easily cleaned with a nubuck eraser.
Wet cleaning is carried out without pressure or friction. The stain is blotted with a wrung out rag and dried. Remaining dirt is brushed off and dried again.
Nubuck sneakers cannot be placed on a radiator. A well-ventilated area is suitable for drying.

Nubuck shoes require gentle cleaning. You should not experiment with traditional methods; it is better to use factory-made products.

Surface dirt is removed using a soft rag or brush.

Fresh stains can be easily cleaned with a nubuck eraser.

Wet cleaning is carried out without pressure or friction

A balcony is suitable for drying

Polished leather

To wash light patent leather sneakers, it is advisable to use toothpaste. Simply apply it to the surface and lightly rub with a soft brush. Hard ones may leave scratches.

Patent leather sneakers can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. It is enough to wipe the coating and “walk” over it with a polishing cloth. Unfortunately, not every sneaker cleaner is suitable for these types of shoes. Stain remover and bleach can destroy the finish. It is recommended to clean it with soapy water or toothpaste.

It is best to use wet wipes for shoes

Boric acid

Another assistant in the fight against stains on white surfaces is boric acid. Required:

dissolve 100 g of table salt in 3 liters of boiling water and wait for the salt to dissolve;
cool the solution to room temperature;
add 160 ml of boric acid to the resulting mixture;
moisten a white rag with the prepared solution and wipe the contaminated areas;
Rinse the sole with running water and wipe dry.

You can also pour the solution into a large container and place sneakers or sneakers there so that only the sole is in the liquid. After 15 minutes, take out the shoes and rinse the surface.

All manipulations with boric acid should be carried out in a ventilated area, using a protective mask and rubber gloves.

Lemon acid

Citric acid, like peroxide, has bleaching properties.

Cleaning steps:

wet the sole;
sprinkle the surface to be cleaned with citric acid powder;
rub dirt with a sponge or brush;
wait 5-10 minutes depending on the contamination;
Shake the citric acid into the sink and wash the sole under running water.

If you don't have citric acid on hand, you can use lemon juice. You will need to squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and moisten a cotton pad with it. Then wipe the surface and leave for 10-15 minutes. After this, thoroughly rinse the lemon juice with water and wipe the sole with a dry cloth.

How to make a homemade cleaner for white leather sneakers?

You can make a good sneaker cleaner at home. To do this, you will need vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice (optional), and washing powder. Mix all this and apply evenly to the surface of the sneaker. Then simply wash and wipe with a cloth with clean water.

If you have cleaned your sneakers and do not want your shoes to become dirty again soon, we advise you to use products to protect your shoes from various factors: moisture, dirt, dust. These include creams, sprays, and special shoe wax. They are all available and sold in specialized stores. Also remember that when cleaning we advise you to follow our recommendations - everything will definitely go “smoothly”, and your shoes will be whiter than white.

We also remind you that you can buy comfortable Fila sneakers in Ukraine today. Just click on the link above and place your order today.

Acetone

The most effective but aggressive means for cleaning soles is acetone or nail polish remover. It should be used only if other methods have not worked.

Acetone works well on black streaks, grass marks and fuel oil marks. When cleaning, you can only use a white cloth, as a colored one can stain the white coating.

It is necessary to moisten a cotton pad with acetone and wipe the rubber coating. Do not touch the fabric upper of the shoe. Then you should thoroughly rinse off the substance and wipe the surface with a dry towel.

Recommendations from experts

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

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

How to remove resin from the sole?

In the spring, with the arrival of warmth, poplar or linden resin can be found on the white sole. This sticky substance is secreted by tree buds even before the leaves appear. Getting rid of resin is not easy, but there are several proven ways:

Mechanical impact. First, you need to try to clean off the resin with a stick or a dull knife. This must be done carefully, moving from the periphery to the center, so as not to increase the area of contamination.
Kerosene. You can apply purified kerosene to a rag and rub the tar stain until it disappears completely. If there is a yellow mark left on the white sole, you should wipe it with hydrogen peroxide.
Formic alcohol. This product is sold in pharmacies and is inexpensive. They need to dampen a soft cloth and treat the contaminated areas. Then thoroughly rinse off the alcohol with water and wipe the sole dry.

Substances that can be found in almost any housewife will help restore the soles to their former whiteness. It is important to clean regularly, and then you will not have to spend a lot of time removing stubborn dirt.