How to Clean White Shoes?

White shoes are great for fashion!

Most of the shoes have great combinations with the color white!

While using white shoes seems to be the best for your outfit, taking care of it is seriously the hardest among all shoe colors. You need to take care of your white shoes before and after you use them. Check out this lengthy advice for your shoes to reach their maximum lifespan in terms of color.

1. Immediate shoe care after purchase

We usually don’t put into practice some preventive care methods for our shoes. Likewise, we are too excited to wear them without worrying about their vulnerability to dirt. We may often care about cleaning our shoes after some noticeable dirt. But this time, it will be a great practice if we do some immediate shoe care after purchasing our precious white shoes.

If you are purchasing white leather shoes, you must spray some leather protectant before wearing them. If you are purchasing white canvas shoes or white cloth shoes, try spraying some stain repellant. Spray the repellant evenly through the surface of your shoes. Then let it dry overnight in a clean and dry place. Repellants block any stains from penetrating the actual material of your shoes. At least, the protectant will receive the stain instead. As a bonus cleaning tip: spray some repellant again after cleaning your white shoes.

2. Possible ingredients for cleaning white shoes

In the cleaning procedures in the succeeding sections, there’s a specified material to use for cleaning your shoes. However, there are other possible ingredients that are deemed effective for making your shoes look new again. You may substitute these ingredients later or just use them as an add-on cleaning material. To make it easier for you, we include instructions on how to use these ingredients.

All-purpose cleaner

• Prepare a toothbrush, multipurpose cleaner, and clean cloth
• Spray the shoes with the multipurpose cleaner and immediately scrub the sprayed area with a toothbrush
• The toothbrush must be kept wet throughout the process
• Wipe off the excess cleaner with a clean cloth

Dishwashing soap

• Prepare a toothbrush or dishwashing brush, dishwashing soap, and clean cloth
• Dilute the dishwashing soap in a water
• Dip the brush in the dishwashing solution
• Move the brush throughout the surface of your shoes in small circles
• Wipe off excess foams or soap with a clean cloth

Baking soda

• Prepare baking soda
• Use the same procedure with dishwashing soap
• Ensure a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and detergent

Magic eraser

• Prepare a magic eraser and gloves
• Use the gloves and apply the magic eraser to the stained parts of your shoes

Nail polish

• Prepare white nail polish
• Cover little scratches and scuffs with the nail polish

Nail polish remover

• Prepare nail polish remover and cotton ball
• Pour a little amount of remover into the cotton ball
• Apply the cotton ball to the dirty parts of the shoes

Toothpaste

• Prepare a non-gel white toothpaste, toothbrush, and a clean cloth
• Apply the toothpaste to the dirty parts of your shoes using a toothbrush
• Scrub the toothpaste and let it sit for 10 minutes
• Wipe off the toothpaste with a clean cloth

3. Hand wash

In a fast-paced world, manual methods still apply! Manual handwashing gives you the benefit of meticulously checking and thoroughly cleaning your white shoes. It may be tiresome, or it may be time-consuming, but it is worthwhile when you see the results.

For every type of shoe material, different methods are applicable to deliver maximum cleaning techniques. Whether you are using a white cloth, white canvas, or white leather shoes, there’s a proper procedure for you to follow.

Hand wash for white cloth shoes

• Use gloves, especially when handling and using the watered-down bleach
• Prepare a mild solution of dish detergent water and bleach (referred to as watered-down bleach)
• Prepare a ½ cup of detergent and 1 cup of bleach (referred to as soap solution)
• Place the soap solution in a wash basin together with water
• Remove and hand wash the shoelaces in the watered-down bleach
• Soak a clean cloth in your soap solution
• Rub the cloth on the white parts of your shoes
• Soak another clean cloth in tap water and wipe it on the shoe’s surface
• Air-dry or sun-dry your shoes and the shoelaces

Hand wash for white canvas shoes

• Use gloves, especially when handling and using the watered-down bleach
• Prepare a mild solution of dish detergent water and bleach (referred to as watered-down bleach) in a small container (for shoelaces) and in a large container
• Remove and hand wash the shoelaces using the small container of watered-down bleach
• Soak a clean cloth from the large container of watered-down bleach and scrub it on your shoes
• Use your old toothbrush to scrub hard areas of your shoes and areas unreachable by the clean cloth
• Soak another clean cloth in tap water and wipe it on the shoe’s surface
• Air-dry or sun-dry your shoes and the shoelaces

Hand wash for white leather shoes

• Use gloves, especially when handling and using the watered-down bleach
• Prepare a mild solution of dish detergent water and bleach (referred to as watered-down bleach)
• Soak a clean cloth in the watered-down bleach
• Rub the cloth throughout the leather
• Immediately dry every area with a tissue or a clean cloth
• Air-dry or sun-dry your shoes and the shoelaces
• Apply leather polish when completely dried

4. Air dry vs. sundry

There are two possible dryings when handwashing your white shoes: sun-drying and air-drying.

The Sun-drying process is good if you need to use your white shoes throughout the day. It obviously takes fewer hours to dry. The sun is a great help to make your shoes become bright white in color. But as a precaution, you must prevent prolonged exposure of your shoes to the heat of the sun. Because of the presence of ultraviolet rays, it may cause discoloration on your shoes. The discoloration is far from your aim to make your white shoes look new again!

The air-drying process is good if you are busy during the daytime. It takes a longer time to dry – up to an overnight process. But at least you prevent the possibility of discoloration due to ultraviolet rays. As you wake up, expect your shoes to be completely dried and ready to use!

5. Machine wash

Machine wash comes in handy when you need to do a lot of things aside from cleaning your shoes. Washing machines, when paired with dryers, make your cleaning stuff easier and time-saving.

For every type of shoe material, different methods are applicable to deliver maximum cleaning techniques. Generally, machine wash is not recommended for any type of shoe. But at least there are shoe types which can be dealt with machine washing: white cloth shoes and white leather shoes.

Machine wash for white cloth shoes

• Use gloves, especially when handling and using the watered-down bleach
• Prepare a ½ cup of detergent and 1 cup of bleach (referred to as soap solution)
• Place the shoes and their laces inside a pillowcase
• Put the pillowcase inside the washing machine together with the soap solution
• Set the washing machine on a normal cycle
• Put your shoes in the dryer (sun-dry or air-dry if you have no dryer)

Machine wash for white leather shoes

• Remove the shoelaces in case your leather shoes have laces
• Set the temperature of your washing machine between 40 to 80 degrees. Too much heat causes damage to your leather shoes!
• Wash only the leather shoes. Do not mix it with your clothes. Set your washing machine load to small.
• Put the leather shoes inside the washing machine. You may want to use a pillowcase to protect both your shoes and your washing machine.
• Use half of the detergent needed for a small load of clothes. Too much detergent causes damage to your leather shoes!
• Let the washing machine complete the cycle
• Air-dry or sun-dry your shoes and the shoelaces
• Apply leather polish when completely dried

6. Bonus tips for cleaning white shoes!

Do a small cleaning when you get home

When stains and dirt are left for a long time, it becomes harder to remove. Most likely, you do not want to see some permanent stains on your white shoes! For to avoid such a situation, wipe a damp cloth on the surface of your shoes. Aside from removing small dirt accumulated throughout the day, the shoes have a lesser risk of damage caused by wear and tear.

Scrub the brush in a circular motion

Whenever you use a toothbrush or dishwashing brush together with your stain removers, always scrub in a circular motion. This ensures optimum removal of dirt on every area of your shoes.

Stick paper towels or tissues around the shoes when air drying

Use paper towels or tissues to the shoes if it is still damp. In overnight air drying, paper towels and tissues will help absorb the moisture. This ensures faster drying while keeping the shoes in shape. Newspapers, magazines, and used papers are not recommended as the ink may bleed and dye on the surface of your shoes.

Add sugar to the toothpaste for an exfoliant effect

Some dirt may be harder to remove than you think. It seems like it has already become a permanent stain on your shoes. In case you encounter this type of dirt, create a toothpaste and sugar mixture. This mixture will act as an exfoliator. If you forgot to clean your shoes for a long time, this mixture will seriously help you.

There’s an alternative for a magic eraser!

If you don’t have a magic eraser at home, prepare a washrag and vinegar. Dip the washrag in the vinegar and rub it gently on the part of your shoes with stains. It works as well as a magic eraser! 

Use shampoo to remove oil stains

In case your shoes have oil stains in them, prepare a gentle shampoo, warm water, and a toothbrush or washrag. Mix the shampoo with the warm water. Dip the toothbrush or the washrag in the mixture and gently scrub or wipe it on oil smudges. 

Do not forget the shoelaces

White shoes obviously have white laces. And it is unpleasant to see pristine white shoes paired with dirty shoelaces. Despite the washing method you choose, always include the shoelaces. 

Do not forget the soles

Just like the reason we have for shoelaces, it is important to see totally white shoes after cleaning. Though this may not be a problem with machine washing, you must totally clean the soles of your shoes when hand washing. Sometimes it is harder to clean the soles. In this part, the magic eraser is well recommended.

Some scratches may not come off

If ever you encounter this situation, this is the best time to use a magic eraser or white nail polish. At least those unwanted scratches will be concealed.

The time will come when you can’t totally make your shoes look new again

No matter how good you clean and take good care of your white shoes, time will come when it will be hard to totally clean it off. This does not mean you must buy new shoes again. Just do your best to clean it optimally. You can still wear it in a fashionable way. If you haven’t tried the alternatives we mentioned a while ago, you must definitely bet on it. Those ingredients are tested and proven! 

Conclusion

Taking care of white shoes may be tiresome. But after all, it is rewarding.

Pristine-looking white shoes will surely give an impression of good fashion and careful maintenance. It reflects your personality advocating cleanliness amidst sophistication.

Now you know how to take extreme care of your white shoes, it’s time for you to apply these tips. As you clean your white shoes, it will be worthwhile on your part!