White shoes do look good when they are new and clean. Unfortunately, these shoes are very easy to get dirty even when used normally. To maintain its appearance, you should clean white shoes frequently. Manually cleaning shoes is the best way to preserve the material. Meanwhile, you can also try a variety of cleaning solutions such as soapy water, baking soda, bleach, and toothpaste. Once you're done cleaning, your shoes will look like new again!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Rubbing Shoes with Soap and Water
Step 1. Mix dish soap with 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water
You can use any dish soap to clean your shoes. Use about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of soap so that the resulting solution is quite foamy, but still clear. Stir the soap solution with a toothbrush to mix well.
- Soap and water are suitable for cleaning all types of shoes, including white leather shoes.
- If you don't want to use dish soap, you can substitute 1/2 cup (120 ml) of vinegar.
Step 2. Clean the shoe sole and rubber with a magic eraser cleaning sponge
Dip this sponge in the soap solution then wring it out. Swipe the sponge back and forth across the leather, rubber, or plastic parts of the shoe. Keep rubbing the magic eraser sponge until all the stains and scuff marks on the shoes are gone.
You can find magic eraser cleaning sponges in the cleaning products area of your local convenience store
Step 3. Scrub the stains on the shoes with a stiff-bristled toothbrush
Dip the head of the toothbrush in water to wet the bristles. Rub the toothbrush in a circular motion over the surface of the shoe, especially in areas that are very dirty. Apply a little pressure as you rub the brush so that the soap solution soaks into the shoe material.
So that you don't get confused, don't put the toothbrush used to clean shoes in the bathroom
Tip:
if your white shoelaces are also stained, remove these laces from the shoes and clean them with a separate toothbrush.
Step 4. Pat the towel against the surface of the shoe to remove any excess water
Use a cloth or kitchen paper to remove soapy water and dirt from the surface of the shoes. Do not rub a towel on the surface of the shoe because it can actually make the dirty area wider.
Don't try to dry your shoes with just a towel. Simply lift the remaining soap solution off the surface of the shoe
Step 5. Let the shoes dry on their own
After patting the towel, place the shoes in a wide ventilated area of the house. That way, the shoes can dry perfectly. Leave the shoes for at least 2-3 hours before putting them back on.
Try cleaning your shoes at night so you can let them dry overnight
Method 2 of 4: Using Liquid Bleach
Step 1. Dilute 1 part bleach with 5 parts water
Choose a wide ventilated room in your house and mix the bleach and water in a small container. Be careful, don't use more bleach than the above ratio or your white shoes will turn yellow.
- Bleach is best suited for cleaning white shoes from fabrics.
- Wear nitrile gloves while cleaning shoes with bleach to prevent skin irritation.
Step 2. Rub the toothbrush in a circular motion to loosen the stain
Dip a toothbrush in the bleach solution then use it to scrub your shoes. Focus on very dirty and stained areas while lightly pressing the toothbrush against the fabric surface of the shoe. The stains on the shoes should start to lift.
Start by cleaning the fabric of the shoe before moving on to a harder surface, such as the sole
Step 3. Remove the remaining bleach solution from the shoes with a damp towel
Wet a soft microfiber towel with clean warm water then wring it out until it is damp. Gently press the towel against the surface of the shoe.
You can also remove the insole and then wet the shoe with running water
Step 4. Allow the shoes to dry in a wide ventilated room
Leave the shoes in the room for at least 5-6 hours before putting them back on. Try to let the shoes dry overnight to dry completely if possible.
Place a fan in front of the shoe to speed up the drying process
Method 3 of 4: Using Baking Soda
Step 1. Mix baking soda, vinegar and hot water to form a paste
Stir the mixture of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) hot water, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon (15 grams) baking soda in a bowl. Keep stirring this mixture until it forms a thick paste. The baking soda and vinegar will start to foam and bubble as they react.
- Baking soda is best used for cleaning canvas, mesh, or cloth shoes.
- If the resulting paste is too runny, add another 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking soda.
Step 2. Rub the baking soda paste onto the surface of the shoe with a toothbrush
Dip the head of the toothbrush in the baking soda paste and then rub it into the fabric of the shoe. Press the toothbrush while cleaning so that the paste is absorbed by the shoe cloth. Coat the entire outer surface of the shoe with baking soda paste.
Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly when you're done so that the remaining paste doesn't dry on the bristles
Step 3. Let the baking soda paste sit on the shoe for 3-4 hours
Place the shoes in direct sunlight to allow the baking soda paste to dry and harden. Leave the shoes outside until the dry baking soda paste can be removed with your fingernails.
If you can't hang your shoes outdoors, simply place them near a sunny window or in a well-ventilated area
Step 4. Clap the shoes together and use a dry brush to clean the dried baking soda paste
Tap the soles of both shoes so that the baking soda paste breaks and falls to the ground. If there are clumps of baking soda paste left, use a dry toothbrush to peel them off until the shoes are clean again.
If you can't do this step outside, use a cloth to catch the flakes of the baking soda paste
Method 4 of 4: Cleaning Stains with Toothpaste
Step 1. Wipe a damp cloth to wet the shoes
Wet the end of the microfiber cloth and then gently wipe it over the surface of the shoe. Wipe the cloth until the shoes are slightly damp, but not so wet that the toothpaste foams.
Try using toothpaste on cloth, mesh, or sneakers
Step 2. Rub a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the surface of the shoe with a toothbrush
Apply toothpaste directly to a very dirty shoe surface. Spread the toothpaste in a thin layer over the entire area before scrubbing the toothbrush in a circular motion. Rub the toothpaste evenly into the shoe cloth then let it soak for 10 minutes.
Make sure you use plain white toothpaste (not gel). Toothpaste of other colors can leave stains on shoes
Step 3. Remove the remaining toothpaste and dirt from the shoes with a damp cloth
You can use the same cloth as before to remove the toothpaste from the shoe. Be sure to remove all the toothpaste from the shoe so it doesn't leave any stains.
Step 4. Allow the shoes to dry completely for 2-3 hours
Place your shoes in front of a fan or in a well-ventilated room. Allow the shoes to dry completely. After that, the color of your shoes should appear lighter.
Dry the shoes outdoors, in direct sunlight to speed up the drying process
Tips
- Clean dirty spots on shoes as soon as you find them. That way, the stain will not seep into the shoe material.
- Look at the label under the tongue and look for specific cleaning instructions if any.
- Do not wear white shoes to places where there is a risk of staining them, such as restaurants, bars, or muddy streets.
