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Shoes with white soles are always in trend, but as a result of contact with the soil, they are covered with dust and dirt, which makes the product sloppy and unattractive. Taking good care of it will keep your sneaker or sneaker looking great, but it's important to know how to clean a white sole without damaging the material.
We clean white shoes quickly
A quick cleaning will help remove minor traces of grass, dust, but it is only effective if done regularly.
Wiping off dirt with an eraser
A simple stationery eraser is useful when a grass/dirt stain has formed on the surface of a white sandal or shoe, but the shoe is generally clean.
- Wipe the product with a damp cloth.
- Dry.
- Rub the eraser on non-washable spots.
If you regularly erase the white soles of your sneakers, you will be able to maintain their whiteness. However, impurities that have been absorbed by this method cannot be cleaned. Try another remedy if the grater is not effective enough.
Note! This method is suitable for foam soles and other white shoes, except cloth. Such products actively absorb dirt, so they can be cleaned with a damp cloth or washed in a typewriter.
Melamine sponge
The melamine sponge works like an eraser, but is more effective, so it is used to clean dirt on furniture, walls, shoes, and other hard objects.
Scrub the soiled area with a melamine sponge and get rid of the stains. However, it is recommended that before cleaning with it, test on an inconspicuous area of the sole so as not to scratch it. In most cases, housewives manage to remove not only dirty spots, but also clean the white sole of the sneaker from yellowness.
Advice! To prolong the life of the melamine sponge, housewives are advised to cut it into 4 parts. When 1 of them gets dirty, you don't have to buy a new sponge.
Abrasive (soda)
It is rational to use baking soda as an abrasive for cleaning shoes. Unlike other products, it will not scratch, but it will remove yellow spots, dirt, whiten the product without damaging the coating, color, or structure of the material. For the cleaning:
- Rinse the soleplate with a damp cloth to remove dust.
- Pour in soda.
- Scrub soiled or yellowed areas.
- Rinse off.
Baking soda is a worthy substitute for a melamine sponge, but make sure to dry your slip-ons last, to avoid the formation of flora favorable for the development of pathogens and an unpleasant odor.
The method is well suited for cleaning shoes made of polyurethane foam, leather, but is categorically contraindicated for cleaning suede. Give such products to dry cleaning or clean them with specially designed brushes.
Machine wash with powder
If the methods described above are not effective, and there is no time to clean your shoes yourself, wash them in a washing machine:
- Rinse the dirt off the sole under running water.
- Carefully use a sharp object to peel off chewing gum, linden/poplar Velcro and stones embedded in the sole.
- Pull out the insoles and laces.
- Load the sneakers into the drum.
- Add powder, stain remover or bleach (it is better not to use the latter on products containing black, red stripes).
- Run a program that washes in a delicate mode at a temperature not exceeding 40°C.
Washing shoes in the machine will help clean the sole of the sneaker without your participation, but be sure to dry the product in the sun for 1-2 days. Wash the marks and laces by hand with the foam formed as a result of the dissolution of the powder or detergent.
Note! Shoes with leather and suede inserts should not be machine washed.
We clean shoes with folk remedies
Folk remedies - those that are available in every kitchen, in the medicine cabinet, but are used extremely rarely, because not many housewives are aware of their cleansing abilities. Many of these are natural, cheap stain removers and bleaches, but the key is to use them correctly.
We wash the sole with toothpaste
Toothpaste is in any home, and it will help get rid of gray spots and yellowness.
You can clean white soles on sneakers as follows: apply a little of the product to an old toothbrush and gently rub the dirty, previously wiped wet area. Finally, rinse the toothpaste off the sneaker and it will feel like new again.
Vaseline
Vaseline refers to non-standard cleaning methods. It does not whiten shoes, but it helps to get rid of minor dirt. Apply a moisturizer to the stained area and scrub with a toothbrush. Finally, remove any residue with a damp cloth. Most of all, Vaseline is suitable for cleaning leather products, since it does not harm the material, but moisturizes it.
Nail polish remover
This product removes many types of stains, including stubborn dirt on shoes.
To wash a white rubber or porous sole from yellowness and stains (bottom and side), pour a little on a cotton pad and rub. Be sure to pre-clean with a damp cloth.
citric acid
Lemon is gentle on shoes and merciless on dirt. By preparing the solution, you will whiten the surface and clean the strips treated with industrial paint without losing color.
- Pour 25 g of citric acid into a glass of water.
- Dissolve the crystals.
- Soak a cloth in the solution and rub the stained areas.
- Rinse off.
If you have stepped into fuel oil, processing will become more difficult. Pour the prepared solution into the basin and place the platform of the contaminated boot there. After an hour, wash it with the same solution, actively rubbing the dirt with a clean cloth.
Vinegar
According to the principle of action, vinegar is similar to citric acid, and according to the application scheme, it is similar to nail polish remover.
It does not spoil the rubber or foam structure of the sole, therefore it is completely safe. To clean white or light-colored soles with vinegar, pour it on a rag and rub the stained area. Prolonged contact of the stain with the product will remove even persistent perennial stains.
Note! To process shoes, you can use table or concentrated vinegar. The latter shows the maximum effectiveness, but before applying it, test on an inconspicuous area.
hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach. It removes grass marks, yellowness and restores snow-whiteness to the sole:
- Dilute ½ bottle of peroxide in 1 liter. water.
- Soak the sole in the solution for 2-3 hours.
- Wash with a clean sponge with the same solution.
Minor stains do not require prolonged contact with the solution. Pour into a glass of water and add 2 tbsp. l. peroxide. Soak a cotton pad in the resulting liquid, and then remove yellowing, stains in a few minutes.
How to remove stains from grease, glue, marker, paint
Stains from greasy food, paint, markers are difficult to remove, but knowing how to wash the white soles on summer shoes will extend the “life” of your favorite product.
You can get rid of stubborn stains with a combination of ammonia, soda and citric acid:
- Dissolve in 1 tbsp. water 25 g lemon and 2 tbsp. l. soda.
- Actively wipe problem areas with the resulting solution.
- Mix 1-2 tsp. ammonia in 1 tbsp. water.
- Treat contaminated areas.
- Wash off after 10 minutes.
If the stains are persistent, mix the solutions and pour into a basin. Leave the sole in the product for 20-30 minutes, then wash and dry.
How to keep the color of rubber white soles
The sole is heavily soiled after every walk. To make cleaning easier, you need to know how to bleach and keep the color of your sneaker soles at home.
To do this, use the usual shoe cosmetics:
- water repellent spray;
- colorless cream.
Before using them, wipe the shoes, dry, treat with a cream or spray on the sole. After drying, they will create a strong film that prevents dirt and water from being absorbed, making processing easier and the life of boots or sneakers will increase.
Proper care of any footwear will make it well-groomed, attractive and prolong its service life. However, if you did not have the opportunity to carry out timely processing, use folk remedies. They will whiten the surface and eliminate stains, bringing newness to the sneakers.
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