How to wash white sneakers quickly, cleanly, without streaks or deformations

Is it possible to wash sneakers in a washing machine? This question is relevant because sneakers and sneakers are now worn by everyone - from teenagers to retirees. The variety of models allows you to wear them both in summer and winter. Many people prefer white shoes because they look stylish and go well with both sports and dressy clothes. But it also has a drawback - white sneakers, sneakers and shoes get dirty quickly.

You will learn from this material how to effectively wash white sneakers and sneakers, returning them to their original appearance.

White sneakers will harmoniously complement almost any look, but they require special care

How to easily clean white sneakers

Let's start with the fact that light-colored shoes need to be washed often. The older the dirt, the more difficult it will be to deal with it, and the greater the chance that even high-quality washing will not be effective enough. The second point is the means and technology used. Aggressive bleaches lead to yellowness, as does improper drying after washing.

It won’t take much time to clean white sneakers, the main thing is to follow the basic rules:

1. First you need to clean the sole. If you soak your shoes right away, the upper part will only become dirtier.
2. Use toothpaste with detergent; it has a whitening effect.
3. It is important not only to wash off the dirt, but also to soak the shoes for a few minutes to remove all remnants of the products used.
4. It is necessary to dry your shoes thoroughly. To do this, wrap the sneakers in white napkins and fill them from the inside to maintain their shape. When they dry, there will be white streaks on the paper, but the shoes will remain snow-white.

Dry cleaning

Turning to shoe dry cleaning services is sometimes the only option to save your sneakers and restore their attractiveness. Sneaker dry cleaners even undertake complex cleaning of not only sports shoes, but also boots, boots, etc.

The popularity of such a service in the service sector tends to grow. Shoe dry cleaners can be found in major cities by searching online.

The list of services usually includes:

• cleaning;
• restoration;
• disinfection;
• deodorization.

Depending on the model and complexity of the contamination, the cost of the cleaning service is determined. The average cost of standard cleaning will be about 1,500 rubles .

For an additional fee, it is possible to provide other services - painting, minor repairs, replacement of laces.

Preparatory stage. Cleaning the sole

Take out the laces and soak them with washing powder. You can add any bleach to the water. If you leave the accessory where it goes into the armholes, the fabric will not wash out.

Now let's move on to the sole. The easiest way to wash it from street dirt is under running water, helping yourself with a stiff brush, but in the end the entire bathtub, including towels and toothbrushes, will be splashed with dirt. Therefore, do not be lazy to pick up a bucket, take it to the corridor and place it on a large rag or a layer of newspapers. Clean the soles by lowering the sneakers over the edge of the bucket, but without touching the water.

After washing off the main dirt, you need to bring the sole to whiteness. There are several methods for this:

1. Soaking in a solution of washing powder . It is better to choose a product with whitening granules. You will need a wide basin, a liter of water and 3-4 tablespoons of powder. Place the shoes in the basin, the solution should cover the sole. After 1-2 hours, scrub the sole well with an old toothbrush or a hard sponge.
2. Baking soda based paste . Apply it to the sole and rub well. For the composition to take effect, you will need to wait about 30 minutes, then rub and rinse with water.
3. Acetic acid . You will need a solution of 9% vinegar, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Apply to the surface with a soft cloth and leave until dry.
4. Toothpaste . She doesn't just brush her teeth. To whiten the soles of sneakers, just squeeze a little paste onto an old toothbrush and rub vigorously. Leave for 10 minutes, after which you can repeat the procedure.
5. Vaseline . It helps finish cleaning, whiten stains, and even cover up minor scratches on the soles. To do this, apply Vaseline and gently rub it into the surface.

It is advisable to wipe the soles every time you return home. Then the dirt will not have time to eat into the material, and you will not need to make significant efforts to get your shoes in order.

Option 1. Wash by hand

The preparation allowed us to return the sole to its previous appearance, now we move on. If the laces have not yet been removed at this stage, you should do so. We also remove the insoles. They are soaked with the addition of a tablespoon of white vinegar or citric acid. This neutralizes the fungus and removes the unpleasant odor.

Soak

To make the procedure more effective, pour slightly warm water into a basin and completely immerse the sneakers in it. After 30 minutes you can already wash it . Mix the chosen product with a small amount of water.

Wash

Instructions:

1. Using a sponge or toothbrush, cover the entire surface with the cleaning solution. Required inside and outside.
2. Leave for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse well. This is the most important point, because otherwise you cannot do without yellow stains.

Please note that for fabric sneakers the water should be cool or lukewarm. High temperatures will cause shoes to quickly lose their original appearance.

Choosing a method for cleaning shoes from dirt

After the preparatory stage, you should decide on the washing method . This can be automatic machine washing or hand processing. Sometimes this information is provided by the shoe manufacturer.

Hand washing is an economical option and gentle on shoes. It allows you to pay attention to problem areas and carry out cleaning as carefully as possible, considering that sneakers are not as durable shoes as sneakers.

Disadvantage of manual processing:

• high labor intensity of the process;
• need to waste time.

Automatic washing is not acceptable for every pair of sneakers. You should not experiment by sending sneakers with embroidery, appliques and other decor to the drum.

You should also not machine wash sneakers made from material that cannot be wetted. For heavily soiled shoes, pre-washing may be necessary .

You can find out how to properly wash sneakers here.

Option 2. Use a washing machine

This is not the best option for shoes; without reservation, it is suitable only for strong, high-quality sneakers made of fabric. Usually in modern cars, in “sport”, “wool”, “delicate” modes, sneakers do not lose either shape or color, but decorative elements may fade, tear off or peel off.

Procedure (laces and insoles have already been removed):

1. Make sure that there are no small stones or sand left inside your shoes.
2. Place a pair in a laundry bag or old pillowcase and tie it to prevent the shoes from falling out while twisting.
3. Additionally, place a towel in the drum - this measure will protect the sole of your sneakers from cracks and the car from unnecessary shocks.
4. Use liquid detergent - it is easier to rinse and does not cause allergies or irritation to your feet.
5. Select a temperature no higher than 40 degrees and minimum spin speed, or wash without it.
6. Start the cycle.
7. Press clean sneakers against the wall, pressing down with a dry terry towel to remove more moisture. Naturally, sneakers should not be twisted or sent wet to a heated towel rail or other heat sources.
8. Dry your sneakers completely on a rack in the fresh air, with special shoe dryers, or at a distance of 20-30 cm from a fan.

Tip: Fix the shape of the sneakers by stuffing them with clean paper towels and change the “filler” every hour - this way the shoes will dry faster and will definitely not become deformed. Socks filled with warm salt are even more effective.

Drying

To prevent washed sneakers from becoming deformed, drying is carried out at room conditions. First, the shoes are left in a sink or basin to allow the water to drain.

Then, in order to preserve the shape, the internal volume is stuffed with crumpled white or gray paper. It is not recommended to use newspaper, as printed text may stain the fabric.

It is dangerous to place shoes on hot heating appliances, as they are easily deformed and the soles come off. If you need to speed up the drying process, then in the winter season a terry towel folded in half is placed on the radiator, and the products are placed on it.

How to dry sneakers

Cleaning without washing

If you carry out this procedure regularly, your shoes will have to be tested less often:

1. Dry. To do this, you will need to remove the laces and insoles, and clean the sole with a stiff brush. After that, arm yourself with a toothbrush and tooth powder. Dip the bristles in water, then in the powder and go over the entire surface of the shoe, inside and out. It is better to clean rag sneakers with a soft sponge. After 40 minutes, remove any remaining product with a dry cloth.
2. Wet. It is simply necessary for regular care of leather sneakers. After the preliminary procedures, soak the swab in a soapy solution and wipe the entire surface, then let it dry.

Removing unpleasant odor

If the unpleasant odor is a consequence of sweaty feet, the following methods are used:

• wash sneakers and insoles;
• spray the inside of the shoes with an alcohol solution;
• put the products in a bag and in the freezer for one day;
• use fresheners in the form of bay leaves or orange peels.

Subsequently, you need to wear clean, preferably cotton socks, wash your feet daily, and if there is a problem with hyperhidrosis, use absorbent disposable insoles, deodorant (store-bought or oak bark decoction)

Fighting difficult stains

If your efforts do not bring the desired result, you can try one of the following options:

• Gasoline helps a lot against stains - soak a sponge in it and apply it to the stain, and after 5-10 minutes remove it;
• a mixture of vinegar, citric acid and powder is also effective - apply it to the stain and leave for 5 minutes;
• Ammonia will whiten white sneakers - treat the stains until they go away.
• Vaseline helps to clean the tops of shoes, as well as the soles - apply it to the stain, rubbing it into the fabric.

Advice It is not advisable to use chlorine bleaches. A couple of such treatments and the fabric will turn gray or yellowish.

Tips and prohibitions

To make white sneakers easier to wash, you should follow a number of tips:

• 
  try to wipe their shoes with a damp cloth after each return from a street walk;

• do not wear white shoes in slush and rain;
• Before using this or that product, it is advisable to check its effect on the fabric by applying it to a separate area;
• liquid products are applied to the cloth surface only with a white cloth;
• When cleaning textile sneakers, do not use oil-based products (gasoline, kerosene).

What to do if yellow spots appear after washing

If your socks turn yellow after washing, it is most likely because the remaining detergent has flowed down to the front and has soaked the fibers of the fabric. The first option is to simply rinse the sneakers again in clean water and dry them with paper. If you couldn’t remove the yellowness, try one of the following options:

1. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide . Make a paste and apply it to the stains. After 15 minutes, wipe with a damp cloth.
2. Baking soda and liquid soap. Add a little water to make a paste and rub it in with a toothbrush.
3. Vinegar and washing powder. The maximum concentration of vinegar is 6%, mix it with the powder and apply to the stains. Clean after 10 minutes.

Washing white sneakers is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is not to tighten them and wipe them every time you come home. Then the shoes will remain snow-white for a long time and will look like new.

Purchased chemicals

Ready-made chemicals that are highly effective will help get rid of contaminants.

Washing powder

This is an all-purpose cleaner that helps clean cloth and other sneakers. It is recommended to use the powder in the form of a liquid slurry. To do this, mix the substance with water.

Bleaches

Such products can only be used for fabric shoes made from cotton or linen. When in contact with other substances, chlorine becomes more aggressive. If the sneakers are made of another material, the use of bleach is prohibited.