Canvas shoes, both loafers and sneakers, have stood the test of time as a staple in your wardrobe. One reason is that these classics can be worn with almost any outfit, from jeans and shorts to dresses and skirts. Recently, they have even become an accepted form of footwear for political campaigns.
With both versatility and comfort being its main selling points, it’s hard to imagine there’s a downside to owning at least one pair of canvas shoes. However, when you consider that they’re made of fabric, you realize they can get dirty faster than most of your other shoes. According to Bustle, canvas shoes can be easy targets for stains like grass and mud.
The good news is that just as easy as it is to get the material dirty, it can be just as easy to make it shine. Before you is a step by step way to clean canvas shoes from top to bottom.
Brush off loose dirt
Before you start cleaning your sneakers, do yourself a favor and remove all the loose material first — that is, all the dirt, grit, grass, and even leaves, sticks, or rocks that have built up on and in your shoes. This can be done by simply shaking them outside or over a trash can. According to the Byrdies, you can also bang the soles of your shoes together or on the pavement to spice things up.
Better Homes & Gardens’ most thorough method is to use a new, soft-bristled toothbrush to remove loose debris. Skipping this action could result in more work for you in the long run, or you may not see the best possible results after doing the process below. So take an extra minute or two to get as much stuff out of your sneakers as possible before moving on to the next step.
Remove and clean the strips
Then remove the straps and pay attention to how they are fastened, especially if you take them off for the first time. If possible, take a photo beforehand. After they are deleted, you can choose some options to clean them up.
Country Living suggested simply soaking them in a mixture of dish soap and water and then letting them dry on a paper towel. If they are white and particularly dirty, Family Handyman recommends washing them in a solution of bleach diluted with water and then rinsing them. Remember to protect your skin by wearing disposable gloves when handling bleach, even if diluted.
Another way is to let the washing machine do the dirty work for you. Put them in a mesh zip bag first to prevent them from tangling or getting lost, then use a smooth rotation. If you decide to machine wash your sneakers as well, you can wait until you can put on the laces.
Pretreat stubborn stains
In addition to taking the time to remove excess dirt, pre-treating stains is another step you’ll want to take to make sure your sneakers are ultimately as clean as possible. At Better Homes & Gardens, all you have to do is cover any stains with a small amount of detergent and let it soak in for at least 15 minutes. According to The Spruce, you can also use your hands or, better yet, a soft-bristled brush to really get the detergent to work.
Who What Wear suggested using the same gentle treatment you would use on your clothes to remove everyday stains, because dust is dust. For really stubborn stains, like grass, a stronger stain treatment product should suffice. Many treatments on the market come with a brush, making the area easier to scrub. You can use both methods on the tapes if they have stains as well.
Pour into the washing machine
This way of washing sneakers is probably the easiest; However, it’s not for everyone, so it’s important to know if it’s worth the risk before going down this path. Most canvas shoes hold up well in the washing machine, especially if you do it occasionally. However, if your shoes have embellishments or are embellished with materials like leather, suede, or even rope, as in an espadrille sole, you’ll want to skip ahead to the next section.
If you’ve decided your sneakers can survive the wash, toss them next to the towels to soften them while the washer is running. Bob Vila advised removing any added extras and securing the shoes in a zippered mesh underwear bag. It’s helpful to have at least two strips on hand so your strips can go on a separate strip and be washed on the same program.
According to The Spruce, you can wash your sneakers with regular detergent and a low spin. You can only add bleach if everything in your load, including your sneakers, shoelaces, and towels, is white. Otherwise, you can use an oxygen-based bleach to boost cleaning power.
