How to Keep Your White Shoes Clean and Pristine

White shoes are a wardrobe essential, but maintaining their pristine appearance can be a challenge as scuffs, stains, and dirt accumulate over time. While tossing them in the washing machine might sound like a good idea, this approach could do more harm.

To help you keep your favorite footwear looking fresh, we’ve put together a set of tested and approved strategies for cleaning white shoes made from various materials like canvas, leather, or mesh. Regardless of the material, these step-by-step instructions will guide you through restoring your white shoes (including the shoelaces) to their original brilliance.

To effectively clean white canvas shoes with minimal dirt, you can rely on a straightforward blend of baking soda and white vinegar. Create a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Apply the paste to your sneakers using a toothbrush, gently scrubbing to remove dirt or debris. Allow the paste to dry on the shoes before brushing away, unveiling revitalized footwear.

Mix approximately one cup of warm water with a small quantity of liquid dish soap for white leather shoes to formulate your cleaning solution. Using a toothbrush, apply the soapy water all over the shoes, then wipe them down with a damp cloth before allowing them to air dry.

Opt for a mixture of warm water and laundry detergent when dealing with mesh or cloth shoes. Combine 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent with warm water and dip a clean washcloth into the solution. Use circular motions to apply the solution to the sneakers, focusing on any stubborn stains. A toothbrush can provide extra scrubbing power for tougher stains to lift dirt and grime effectively.

Use a bleach pen for deep stains. Alternatively, create a mixture of bleach solution and water to brighten white shoelaces and easily tackle stubborn stains.

Finally, an unexpected household item—white toothpaste—can scrub dirt and grime from your shoes. Apply a small amount of white toothpaste to an old toothbrush and use it to scrub away any stains gently. This versatile method works well on various shoes, leaving them clean and refreshed.

With these tried-and-tested cleaning methods, you can say goodbye to dingy white shoes and hello to a fresh, bright pair ready to complement any outfit.