I love my white shoes! I used to feel like they were a burden because of the extra cleaning. But now that I know how to clean white shoes easily and quickly, there’s no stopping me from wearing them as often as possible.
White shoes are a great staple for anyone’s wardrobe. They go with so many different outfits and can really add to the outfit no matter what color you’re wearing! But they sure do get dirty easily, so if you want to know how to clean white shoes, then you are not alone. Just follow these amazing cleaning tricks that will leave them looking as good as new in minutes.
What are some of your favorite things to keep around the house? Do you have any toothpaste, baking soda, or table salt lying around the house? If so, then I’ve got a perfect DIY white shoe cleaning solution for you.
You will find several steps that make it easy to clean your shoes. Follow these and you’ll be amazed at how much easier they are to keep looking great!
Table of Contents
Tips and methods for cleaning white shoes:
- Toothpaste as a Whitening Agent
- Utilizing Baking Soda
- Using Cleanser/Vinegar and Water
- Cleaning with Bleach and Water
1. Toothpaste to Clean White Leather Shoes:
Items needed:
- Toothbrush – old one not used for anything else but this task ideally because we want it clean.
- One or two clean cloths, preferably lint-free.
- An old towel or some newspaper.
White shoes are a great addition to any outfit, but they can be difficult to keep clean. The good news is that you don’t need expensive cleaners and detergents to make your white shoes look new again! You only need toothpaste!
White toothpaste is the key to turning that yellow (or blood-stained) shoe white again, avoid colored toothpaste as it could leave a stain. Check out these three easy steps for cleaner, brighter shoes!
This blog post will provide clear step-by-step instructions on how you can use toothpaste to clean your white shoes without damaging them or making them smell minty fresh.
Step 1. Apply the Toothpaste
Start by placing your dirty white shoes on a towel or old newspapers. Remove any shoelaces and either replace them or soak them in a tub of bleach to clean them.
Apply a small amount of toothpaste onto your brush and apply it thoroughly around all parts of the sole as well as into any crevices or grooves on either side where dirt may accumulate- this will prevent accumulation in one spot only, which can cause discoloration over time.
Step 2. Scrub away stains
With the old toothbrush continue to scrub all the bumps and creases getting all the engrained stuck dirt and grime out.
Step 3. Rinse with warm water
Clear away any excess toothpaste with a cloth before it completely dries, using clean warm water and a cloth, wipe away all the dirt, and let your shoes air dry for about an hour or so, depending on how dirty they are to begin with will determine if you need more than one application… But the trick to keeping white shoes clean is to clean them regularly, this helps prevent staining and makes cleaning easy.
Step 4. Apply protective coating
After your shoes are completely dry, apply a good quality shoe leather protector like Jason Markk Repel and Protect Spray and replace the shoelaces.
That is it, you now have shoes that look like new again, clean and free of any stains.
*Tip – Don’t use toothpaste on mesh shoes like some training shoes as the toothpaste is very difficult to remove from the mesh webbing. It will leave an unattractive chalky residue.
*Tip – if you are experiencing peeling or cracking leather, use a shoe care cream to help repair the surface and restore them with shine!
2. Utilizing Bi-Carb Soda to clean white shoes:
This is a guide to show you how clean white shoes with baking soda. It’s really easy and inexpensive, too! All that we need for this tutorial are two common household items: baking powder (bicarb) which can be found in the laundry section of your grocery store/supermarket; also white vinegar, from any bottle on the shelf just make sure it is white vinegar, not wine or malt. Ideally, you want to get cleaning vinegar.
To begin place the shoes on an old towel, then make a paste of bicarb and water, apply the paste to the shoes with an old clean toothbrush. Gently scrub any heavily stained areas to loosen the dirt.
Put the shoes aside and allow the mixture to completely dry, as the paste dries it will draw the stains out of the fabric.
Once completely dry, wash with a solution of 50/50 white cleaning vinegar and water, either using a spray bottle or by simply pouring over your shoes, using a soft rag to work it in. Let is sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse off with water from a hose if you have one available – this will remove any baking powder residue that might be left on the shoe after rinsing; repeat as needed until all of the baking soda has been washed off.
If there is still dirt on the shoes repeat the process until you are happy with the results.
Hang the shoes up to dry, making sure they are 100% dry before wearing them again, otherwise you will have very smelly feet and your shoes will need cleaning to remove te smell.
3. Using cleanser/vinegar and water:
If you wear white synthetic shoes made of PU leather or light plastic shoes such as crocks, straight vinegar is the ideal cleaning solution. Cleaning white shoes with vinegar is really quite simple. Just fill a spray bottle with vinegar, spray the shoes down and scrub them with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Leave to dry out on their own for 24 hours before wearing again.
Why Vinegar: Cleaning synthetic materials is made easier by using white vinegar which kills mould and bacteria that may build up in such surfaces over time – making sure you’re always smelling fresh! It also has the added benefit of being excellent at cleaning light foam shoes like crocks of flip-flops as well. because its mild acidity reacts chemically against dirt and grease particles so they can be easily wiped away without damaging your footwear’s surface material.
4. Cleaning with bleach and water:
The obvious choice for making dirty white shoes look white again is bleach. However there are some precautions you need to take when using bleach on white surfaces, if you are not careful bleach can stain yellow, and no amount of cleaning will get it back to white.
Bleach can be found in most supermarkets and is usually near the detergent. It comes as a powder or liquid, but make sure you are using bleach not another cleaner with ‘bleaching action’.
For cleaning white shoes use about one tablespoon of bleach per 1/4 gallon (or litre) water, start with a weak solution like this until you are sure your shoes won’t react and turn yellow. take a cloth and test a small area first to see how the shoes react to the bleach solution.
Once you are certain the bleach is safe to use on your shoes, use a clean cloth to gently wash the entire shoes, use an old toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach cracks and bumps. Make sure you completely wash off all the bleach solution with warm soapy water- this will get your shoe looking like new again!
Mixing up some solution should take less than five minutes including putting on protective gloves if needed. It is also recommended to wear some glasses or eye protection when working with bleach, even the smallest splatter in your eyes can cause damage and will hurt like crazy”
*WARNING – Do not use bleach if your shoes have any colored fabric or mesh highlights, the bleach will discolor them.
Wrap Up:
White shoes are a fashion staple you will enjoy for many years to come. Follow these tips to keep them looking like the day you bought them!
White shoes are one of those items that everyone should have in their wardrobe, but it’s also important to remember they require special care and maintenance. To help make your white sneakers last as long as possible: just chose the technique above that suits your white shoes.