White shoes are everywhere in the fashion world: white canvas shoes, slippers, leather, vinyl, suede and more. While white shoes might seem obvious, they tend to get dirty quickly. Fortunately, there are simple home remedies to make white shoes white again and clean white shoes without ruining them. Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning white shoes.
Before you start
You can clean white shoes without bleach with other household products, namely baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. But for stubborn stains, bleach is worth a try. Bleach can also be effective for brightening and cleaning white canvas shoes such as canvas shoes. Always test on a small area first to make sure your shoes respond well.
Diluted bleach is also a great cleaner that makes white shoes shine. Mix one part bleach to five parts water, scrub the shoes gently with a soft-bristled brush before cleaning them with water. Using too much bleach can sometimes cause yellowing. If this happens, you can clean yellowed white shoes by scrubbing them with a solution of salt and warm water.
How often to clean white shoes
Ideally, all white shoes should be cleaned after each use. Wipe them quickly with a damp cloth or brush with a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and stains from the surface. Fresh treatment of dirt and stains is much easier than trying to remove accumulated dirt. Thorough cleaning is required for severe stains or dirt, and for long-term preservation of white shoes.
How to clean white canvas shoes
You can clean white canvas shoes in the washing machine or by hand, depending on whether the shoes have sensitive areas.
Decide whether to machine wash or hand wash: White shoes are often machine washable, especially white canvas shoes. However, shoes with leather or suede trims, mother-of-pearl or rope soles should be cleaned by hand. The mixing effect of the washing machine is too harsh for decorative shoes and can cause the glue used in construction to peel off.
Removing Laces and Trims – Always remove shoelaces, removable insoles, and all trims before cleaning. The strips should be placed in a small bowl with hot water and a teaspoon of strong detergent and left to soak while you wash your shoes. The insoles can be hand washed or replaced.
Rinse them before putting them in the washing machine – If the shoes are muddy, rinse them with a garden hose so that the dirt does not clog the washing machine. Pre-treat heavily stained areas by applying a little detergent directly to the fabric with a soft brush. Very dirty floors can be cleaned with a melamine sponge (such as Mr. Clean Eraser).
Skip to the next step if you plan to clean your shoes and don’t use the washing machine. If you use the washing machine, put the shoes in a mesh laundry bag. Clean white shoes in the washing machine as follows:
- Wash the shoes together with the white towels with your regular detergent.
- Use chlorine or oxygen bleach if your shoes require additional bleaching. Alternatively, you can use baking soda or hydrogen peroxide.
- Choose hot water and a normal program, but choose a slower speed to keep the washing machine balanced.
Stain Cleaning White Canvas Shoes – For white canvas espadrilles and other non-machine washable shoes, clean them by mixing 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent with 1 gallon of warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and wipe away dirt from the inside and outside of your shoes.
Complete the cleaning by dipping another cloth in plain water and wiping off any soap residue.
Dry White Canvas Shoes – Shoes and laces should be air dried out of direct sunlight and should never be tumble dried on high heat. Heat can melt the adhesives used in shoe manufacturing. Wipe your shoes with a towel to absorb moisture and speed up drying.
If you want to help your shoes keep their shape, stuff the toes with nylon mesh.
How to clean white leather shoes
Whether your white leather shoes are sporty sneakers or heels, you only need a few accessories to keep them clean. While not necessary, it can be a good idea to clean white sneakers with baking soda to remove stubborn stains.
Clean with clean water – Remove straps, insoles and decorations. Dip a cotton or microfiber cloth in plain water and wring out the excess water. Then clean the entire shoe, paying particular attention to the seams and areas where dirt and dust have accumulated. Transfer to a clean piece of fabric as the soil moves.
Cleaning the bottoms – Moisten the melamine sponge and clean the edges of the bottom. Do not use the sponge on the leather parts of the shoes as this may remove the leather layer.
Removing Dirt and Scuffs – Dampen a clean cloth and add a little soap to create lather. Cleanse the skin by treating one small area at a time with gentle circular motions. Start at your toes and work your way up the sides and heel.
Remove stubborn scratches with baking soda, a mild abrasive. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and gently rub the stains until they disappear.
Rinse and dry – remove any soap residue with a cloth soaked in clean water. Wring out the fabric so it doesn’t get too wet. Then let the shoes air dry, out of direct sunlight.
If the shoes aren’t as white as you’d like, repeat the steps.
