White shoes are indispensable in the wardrobe of both men and women. Whether you’re wearing a suit, summer dress, or classic jeans and t-shirt, trendy white sneakers can be the most versatile item in your wardrobe. The only downside is cleaning your white leather shoes when the inevitable scratches start to appear, which, admittedly, usually happens within the first couple of minutes of wearing them. Plus, washing these shoes at home can seem like a daunting task if you haven’t figured out the best way to get the job done.
Simple ways to wash shoes by hand
But what if there was a way to keep your beloved white shoes looking pristine without harsh chemicals, dry cleaning, or the washing machine? Trust us, it is possible. Try these three easy ways to hand clean your shoes with items you probably already have in your linen closet. The following step-by-step guides will help you handle canvas, suede, and leather shoes with ease.
Before you start, check what your white shoes are made of, read the instructions, gather ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and magic erasers. Your white shoes will be looking like new in no time.
How to clean white leather shoes
Leather is one of the easiest materials to clean because it absorbs less water than other fabrics. How to deep clean white leather shoes:
- Gather your materials. You have paper towels, basic white soap, cotton towels (an old T-shirt works well), and Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are required.
- Remove surface dirt. Dampen a paper towel, squeeze out the excess water, and gently wipe the outside of the shoes. This step will help remove any large debris that may have stuck to various areas of the shoe. When you’re done, let the shoes dry for 10 minutes.
- Clean the bottom. Do Mr. Wipe the wet magic eraser and squeeze out the excess water. Run the Magic Eraser up and down the bottom of your trainers or shoes until the dirt and stains are removed. You want to make sure the magic eraser is damp but not dripping on your shoes. Try to apply just enough pressure to remove the stain, but not so hard that you risk scratching the fabric.
Depending on how dirty your shoes were, you may need to repeat this process a few times.
How to clean white canvas shoes
You might think it’s hard to get the dirt out of your white canvas shoes, but it’s actually quite simple (maybe even easier than getting the smell out of stinky sneakers). Here’s how to clean white shoes with baking soda and vinegar.
- Gather your materials. You will need baking soda, white vinegar and warm water.
- Combine all your materials. Slowly mix one tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of white vinegar and one cup of warm water. Let the spark settle before proceeding to the next step.
- Start scrubbing. Dip a clean rag or toothbrush into the mixture and start scrubbing the dirt off your shoes. The baking soda mixture dries pretty quickly. When you’re done scrubbing, brush off the remaining mixture, wipe with a damp cloth if needed, and let the shoes dry.
If you don’t have baking soda and white vinegar, you can also try the former method with regular dish soap and water.
How to clean white suede shoes
For this reason, you’ve probably noticed that most suede shoes don’t have a true white tint. But just like true white, natural white can get dirty easily. Here’s how to clean suede shoes thoroughly and effectively.
- Start staining. Wipe the shoes with a soft cloth to remove any moisture. Then gently rub in any spots with a pink pencil.
- Dry with kitchen paper. Place a paper towel on the damp spots and press. Do not rub dirt and stains, they can spread on the shoe.
- Remove any remaining stains. Dip a soft cloth in white vinegar and gently scrub away any remaining stains. Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to let your presentation dry and then scrub the outside of each presentation with a suede brush. This will help them regain their velvety texture.
