4 Effective Ways to Make Your Shoes Look New Again

White shoes add elegance to your style when they are clean and new. They look great and can match with any outfit. But unfortunately, they get dingy and dirty quickly from normal wear and tear.

The good news is that you can easily clean the boot and remove the stains with items already in your home.

In this guide, I will discuss a few simple and effective cleaning techniques I have implemented to clean my shoes. These techniques can give new life to your dingy shoes. 

Items Need for Cleaning

1. Shoe Tree for maintaining the shape of your shoes while cleaning. You can also stuff your shoes with newspapers and rags.
2. Soft shoe brush or an old toothbrush for scrubbing the dirt.
3. Magic eraser for cleaning the firm surface
4. Laundry Detergent
5. Baking Soda
6. Bleach
7. Dishwasher
8. White Vinegar

Easy Way to Clean White Shoes at Home

1. Toothpaste:

Toothpaste not only whitens your teeth but also cleans your shoes. Use non-gel white toothpaste and avoid coloured and gel-based toothpaste; it will stain your shoes.

To clean the cleat using this method, take your old toothbrush, squeeze the paste on it, and then scrub the boot with it. 

After scrubbing, dry it for 20 minutes, and then wipe it off with a cotton cloth. Repeat the process if necessary.

2. Baking Soda and vinegar:

This is my favourite method of cleaning shoes. To clean the cleat by using baking soda, you need

1. Bowl
2. One tablespoon of baking soda
3. One tablespoon of hot water
4. One tablespoon of vinegar

Mix everything until it looks like a paste. Then, take your old toothbrush and apply the paste to your shoe. Scrub the dust and debris, and leave it in the shade to dry.

Do not dry it in sunlight because it is unsuitable for your shoes. Please wait an hour to dry, then brush it to remove the dry paste, and you are good to go.

3. Bleach:

You can also use bleach to clean the boot, but be careful. If its concentration is too high, the colour of your white shoes can change to yellow.

You must dilute the bleach in water before applying it to the shoes. Mixing one part of bleach with five parts of water will work.

Take a toothbrush or a sponge. Dampen it into the solution and scrub it on the shoes to loosen up dirt and strains.

Finally, wipe the bleach solution from the shoes with a damp towel in warm water.

Remember to work in a well-ventilated area and wear nitrile gloves to prevent skin irritation before washing your shoes with bleach.

4. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide:

To clean shoes with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, you first need to make a paste of these two ingredients.

• Combine six tablespoons of baking soda and three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl and stir well.
• Take a soft bristle brush or toothbrush, apply the paste on the shoes, and scrub it gently.
• Allow the paste to remain on the shoes for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse the boots with water. Finally, let the air dry for 2 to 3 hours and keep them away from direct sunlight.

Related:

1. 10 Best Methods to Remove Shoe Odors at Home

2. How to Polish Shoes at Home

3. How to Prevent Creases on Shoes

Step-by-step guide How to Clean Shoes

1. Choose a Brush:

Before applying the cleaning solution, clean the boot with a dry shoe brush or an old toothbrush to remove dirt from the outsole, midsole, and uppers.

2. Prepare the Mild Cleaning Solution:

Now prepare the cleaning solution of baking soda and vinegar, baking soda and hydroperoxide, or any of the above mentioned ingredients.

3. Remove The Shoes lace:

Remove the shoelace and inner sole and apply a small amount of mild cleaning solution. Wash it with your hand, squeeze the excess water out, and put it to dry.

4. Wash the Midsole and Outsole:

Apply the cleaning solution to the sole with a brush, wash it thoroughly by rubbing the Brush on the sole, and wipe it out with a dry, soft cloth.

5. Wash and stain the upper:

Apply the cleaning solution to the cleat upper with a soft-bristled brush and scrub it gently to avoid damaging the boot’s fabric.

Once you are happy with the look, use a soft cloth or dry microfiber to wipe off the moisture and dirt from the surface. Repeat the process if necessary.

6. Put the Shoes for Air Dry:

Before using the boot, please leave it in the shade for 2 to 3 hours for air drying. Do not dry the shoes in direct sunlight; it can damage the fabric.

How to Clean Leather and Canvas Shoes?

Follow the below-mentioned steps for leather cleat cleaning. 

1. Untie and remove the shoelace.
2. Use a soft toothbrush or old toothbrush to remove the dust and dirt.
3. Prepare the cleaning solution by mixing a few drops of dishwashing soap, such as Dawn, into a cup of warm water.
4. Apply the cleaning solution on the entire shoe with a soft bristle brush and scrub it gently.
5. Wipe out the boots with a damp, soft cloth and stuff them with a paper towel to absorb the moisture and maintain their shape.
6. Finally, dry the boot in a shade of air for 2 hours before wearing it.

Tips: Do not use bleach to clean the white leather boot; it may turn its colour yellow. 

How to clean Suede Shoes?

Cleaning suede shoes requires a dedicated approach to avoid fabric damage. Suede leather is made from the soft underside of the animal hide and is less durable than traditional leather.

Before cleaning the suede boot, ensure it is dry. This is necessary because if you treat the stain while the shoes are wet, the stain may settle more deeply into the cleat fibre and become difficult to remove. 

Stuff the boot with a shoe tree or crumpled newspaper to retain its shape while cleaning. 

Required material for cleaning suede shoes

1. Suede Brush
2. Suede eraser
3. Clean cloth or sponge
4. Protectant spray

1. Clean the shoes with Brush:

Clean the shoes with a brush to remove all the loose dirt and debris from the boot. Move the Brush to and fro gently toward the napping pattern to avoid damaging suede fibre.

2. Remove the stain with eraser:

Use the eraser to remove the scuff marks and stains. Rub the eraser back and forth over the mark gently to remove them. Avoid excessive pressure, as it can damage the shoe’s fibre.

3. Spot Cleaning:

To clean tough stains, use a small amount of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol on a sponge and gently rub it on the affected area.

The vinegar might temporarily alter the shoes’ colour, but do not worry; the material will retain its original colour after moisture evaporation. Repeat the process until the stains are completely gone.

4. Dry the shoes:

Finally, Allow your shoes to air dry naturally. Please don’t use any artificial equipment for drying; it can damage the shoes’ fibre. 

After drying the shoes, use a suede brush to brush the entire cleat, as it helps to restore the raised fibre.

Apply Suede protector: 

When the boot is ready to wear, spray the suede potent spray, which provides a protective layer that repels liquid, mud, and dirt from spilling on the boot.

Conclusion:

By following the ingredients and steps mentioned above, you can easily clean your shoes at home without putting in much effort or time.

I clean my shoes with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Which type of cleaning agent do you use to clean your boots? Let me know in the comment section.

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