While some may find it materialistic or superficial, buying a brand new pair of sneakers can bring an inexplicable amount of immense joy to many! They look good, they look good and if the shoes in question are made of canvas, they are also very versatile! Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, shoes tend to get dirty and stained no matter how hard you try to keep them clean. While dark canvas sneakers last a long time without detecting stains/dirt, white or light colors are less successful. Regardless of colour, it’s important to clean your trainers regularly if you want to avoid permanent stains and keep your home cleaner for longer!
The tricky thing about cleaning canvas sneakers is using the right products, techniques, and cleaners to avoid damage to the material. It is therefore advisable to do your research if you want to successfully remove dirt and stains from your trainers in the safest way possible. This requires a step-by-step, step-by-step process that you can follow to get a truly effective clean.
Things you need to clean canvas sneakers:
- Detergent – detergent/liquid detergent
- Old toothbrushes
- Abrasive brush with nylon bristles (soft).
- Sodium carbonate
- Shallow pool
- Stain remover (for fabrics)
- A white towel
Step One: Wet and scrub the laces
Cleaning them while they’re still in your shoes isn’t as effective as soaking and scrubbing them separately. To do this, make a mild cleaning solution of dish soap and water and soak the laces until you’re done cleaning your shoes, or for at least 15 minutes. When it’s time to clean the tires, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub to avoid damaging the fibers.
Keep in mind that it can be quite difficult to keep the strips from moving when you brush them on a flat surface; For this reason, you’ll want to wrap each loop around your hand and then brush it clean. Make sure you flip the lace over and brush the other side for a thorough clean. Then rinse the strips under running water and let them air dry.
If your sneakers have removable insoles, it’s easier to clean and rinse them on the outside. You can use an old toothbrush and a mild cleaning solution for this. Clean the insoles by rubbing them lightly; rinse them and let them dry.
Step Two: Remove any loose dirt/debris
Before you start cleaning your plimsolls, make sure they’re completely dry. If you’ve been walking on muddy ground, allow the mud to dry and harden to make it easier to remove. You can remove dirt and debris with a brush or simply tap the shoes against each other or against a hard surface. If dirt is attached, the brush is more effective at removing as much dirt as possible from the outer material. The goal is to get as much dirt off as possible to make it easier to complete the next steps, while still focusing on removing the stains.
Step 3: Scrub the fabric
Now it’s time for the main part of the process – cleaning the fabric! Thoroughly scrubbing the outside and inside of the material is important because it collects dirt, stains and bacteria with each use.
Here are some things to keep in mind when cleaning canvas shoes:
- Do not immerse the material in water for more than 15 minutes; this can weaken the fibers
- Use the lowest possible pressure when flushing
- Avoid aggressive cleaners
- Do not use bleach or bleach-based products on canvas shoes unless they are white
- Always clean the sole of your shoe before cleaning the fabric; you can use an old toothbrush for this
- Try brushing in one direction instead of constantly scrubbing back and forth
- Be extra careful when cleaning around the seam
Start cleaning the fabric by rinsing the shoes under running water and spraying a generous amount of baking soda into the shoes to neutralize any bad odors. Next, make a cleaning solution by mixing about 1 to 2 cupfuls of liquid dish soap or laundry detergent with about 3 to 4 cups of water. Remember that the strength of the detergent depends on the amount of dirt and stains on the fabric.
Dip it into the solution with a brush and clean the fabric by lightly scrubbing. Don’t worry about dark spots that don’t seem to fade, we’ll cover them next. Rinse the shoe and repeat the washing until you see that most of the dirt has been removed.
Step Four: Apply Clean Dots
After the final rinse, you’ll probably notice some stains that aren’t ready to get rid of! However, they can be removed with the right products and techniques. Depending on the color of your shoes, you can use two different cleaning methods.
Starting at the beginning; If you use bleach to clean your white plimsolls, be sure to wear the necessary protective gear, such as gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. Bleach can cause skin and eye irritation, along with other allergic reactions, so prevention is better than cure! Second, it’s important to dilute the bleach to avoid staining your white sneakers. In general, when cleaning white canvas shoes, we recommend 1 part bleach to 6 parts water. Follow these steps after preparing the bleach solution:
- Pour a small amount of the solution onto the stain and leave it on for a few minutes.
- Dip a clean toothbrush into the cleaning solution, place one hand on the shoe to support the underside of the material, and brush the stain in a circular motion.
- Repeat the steps for stubborn stains and rinse.
Step 5: Dry the Canvas sneakers well
Since a sneaker cannot be wrung out like a towel, it will take some time for the soaked fabric to dry completely. Depending on the weather and humidity of the day, canvas sneakers will usually dry overnight if kept under a fan. In humid climates it may take two or three days.
- Dry your trainers for 10-15 minutes and let them air dry. keep the device at least 1.5 meters away from your shoe and do not expose the material to very high temperatures
- Store your white shoes in a clean, sunny place to dry; for colorful canvas sneakers, choose a shady location
- Place your trainers on a windowsill, which usually gets good cross-ventilation
- Point the fan at the sneaker and run it at full speed
- Use a dry towel to absorb as much moisture from the fabric as possible before air drying
- Stuff the sneakers with kitchen paper; change them while soaked
Once your plimsolls are dry, replace the laces (and insoles if they’ve been removed) and you have clean shoes that smell great and look new!
