How to Clean White Sneakers
Introduction
Nothing beats the crisp, clean look of a brand-new pair of white shoes. But dirt and stains can quickly dull their shine, leaving your bright sneakers looking tired and scuffed. The good news? With a few simple steps, you can restore your white canvas sneakers and bring back that fresh-out-of-the-box glow. (Note: Leather and suede shoes require specialized cleaning methods—visit our dedicated guides for those materials.) On this page, we’ll walk you through two easy ways to clean your white canvas shoes—pick the one that works best for you and keep your footwear looking pristine.
Washing Your White Sneakers With ToothPaste
Many blogs suggest using a bleach and water mixture to clean white shoes, and while it gets the job done, let’s be honest—the strong smell is far from pleasant. Luckily, there’s a simpler, fresher alternative for keeping your white sneakers looking bright: toothpaste. Yes, the same toothpaste you use every day can work wonders on your kicks! This easy, odor-free cleaning hack is perfect for refreshing white canvas shoes without harsh chemicals—and chances are, you already have both supplies at home.
Materials You Need to Clean Shoes
Before we dive into cleaning our white shoes, let’s gather our supplies. Having the right materials on hand will make cleaning your shoes much easier. Here are the essential items you’ll need:
- Whitening toothpaste: A plane Whitening Toothpaste’s gentle abrasives that clean teeth also work wonders on white shoes, lifting stains and combating yellowing on white sneaker fabrics.
- Magic eraser: Magic Erasers are perfect for cleaning shoes because they lift dirt from soles, while gently removing scuffs to restore white sneakers’ brightness.
- Soft Bristle Brush: Soft bristles lift dirt gently without damaging the shoe’s materials.
- Dish Soap: That basic dish soap you already own works just fine.
- Warm Water: Always use cold or lukewarm water to protect colors and shape of the shoe.
- Bowl: You’ll need this to hold your cleaning solution.
- Laudrey Detgent: Use a gentle, color-safe detergent when washing shoes—it’s the best cleaner for most fabrics.
- Microfiber towel: Perfect for brushing off stubborn dirt and debris.
Step by Step Guide
- When cleaning any pair of white sneakers—or colored shoes—always start by removing the laces. This simple step lets you deep clean every part of your shoes thoroughly.
- If your sneakers have removable insoles, take those out too! Insoles tend to trap the most odor and grime, so cleaning them separately ensures a deeper, more thorough clean.
- In a bowl, mix a bit of dish soap, laundry detergent, and warm water. Stir until it’s slightly bubbly. This is going to be your cleaning solution.
- Toss your laces into the soapy water and scrub them by hand until they’re clean. Squeeze out the excess water and set them aside to air dry.
- Next, grab your brush and use the leftover cleaning solution to scrub the insoles until they’re fresh and spotless. Once done, rinse off the insoles to remove any soap residue, then let them air dry completely.
- Grab a soft-bristle brush and apply a small amount of white toothpaste to it. Gently scrub the white areas of your shoes in circular motions, focusing on any stained or dirty spots.
- Next, grab a microfiber cloth, dampen it with water, and gently wipe away the toothpaste from the areas you scrubbed.
- Now, take your Magic Eraser, dampen it with water, and gently scrub the soles of your shoes. Focus on removing scuffs and dirt, but avoid using it on the upper part of the shoe, as it could damage the material.
- Let your shoes air dry completely, and once they’re ready, step out and enjoy your freshly cleaned, bright white kicks looking as good as new!
Cleaning shoes with Baking Soda
For our next cleaning method, we’ll use a powerful yet simple solution for white shoes—a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide mix that works wonders on sneakers. This hidden gem is perfect for restoring white sneakers to their original brightness. Below, we’ll show you how to make this cleaning solution and walk you through each step to revive your shoes. Get ready to transform your white sneakers and make them look brand new again!
Materials
- Cup: You will need this to hold your cleaning solution.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide cleans and brightens white shoes, lifting stains from canvas while disinfecting sneakers.
- Baking soda: Great for white sneakers—its gentle abrasives lift dirt and stains while neutralizing odors.
- TeaSpoon: You’ll want this for mixing the shoe cleaning solution
- Water: Make sure its warm or cold don’t use hot water
- ToothBrush/Soft Bristle Brush: The soft bristles clean effectively while being gentle on your shoes’ material.
Step by Step Guide
- Grab a cup and mix ½ teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide with ½ teaspoon of water using a spoon. Next, add about 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the mixture. Stir everything together thoroughly with your toothbrush until it forms a smooth, paste-like consistency. This powerful cleaning solution is now ready to work its magic on your sneakers!
- Take out your laces to keep them out of the way and ensure you can clean every part of your shoes without any hassle.
- Next, use the toothbrush to gently apply the solution all over your sneakers, working it into the fabric with small circular motions. While you’re at it, don’t forget to clean your laces give them a good scrub with the same solution to bring back their brightness.
- Let the solution sit on your sneakers for about an hour—this gives it time to work its magic
- Now, take both sneakers and gently bang them together. You’ll notice small flakes falling off don’t worry, it’s just the dried solution do this until most of the solution is off. Remove residue from laces as well.
- Rinse your sneakers and laces under warm water to wash away any remaining solution.
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For the final step, let your sneakers and laces air dry. Be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight, as drying white shoes in the sun can sometimes cause discoloration or yellowing.
And there you have it—once your sneakers are completely dry, you’re left with a fresh, clean pair of white kicks ready to hit the streets in style!
Can I use these methods on any material?
Avoid using this method on leather or suede shoes, as these materials require more delicate care. For the best results, check out our dedicated guide on how to clean and maintain leather and suede shoes properly!
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