As beautiful as white sneakers look, they all have the same weak point: Hardly worn, dust and dirt residues are visible on the new shoes. We will tell you how you can protect your shoes in advance and what home remedies help against light to heavy soiling.
It doesn’t matter what kind of sneaker it is: whether it’s made of leather or fabric, white shoes are – in the truest sense of the word – marked by their wearer. In fact, a light patina even gives most models a fashionable touch, but this look is short-lived. As soon as dust and dirt take over, the new shoes suddenly look old and dirty. In order to avoid this, the first measures must be taken before arrival. If it is already too late for that, you can use the following (household) tricks to clean white sneakers.
Cleaning gadgets for white sneakers
1. Shoe brush When dry, light dust and dirt residue can be easily removed with a normal shoe brush for leather and textiles. Alternatively, you can also use a special cleaning brush for sneakers and caps (also in combination with a cleaning foam).
2. Sneaker Cleaner This product is a combination of brush and cleaning foam. Before the first application, the shoes must be cleaned of dust and dirt, then the Sneaker Cleaner is used: First, the material (leather or textile) is processed with circular movements, then the residue is removed with a cloth.
3. Dirt eraserAs the name suggests, a dirt eraser is designed to remove light signs of wear on white sneakers (more specifically, it only works on the rubber soles and toes). To do this, the sponge is simply moistened slightly and rubbed over the affected areas.
4. White color care This shoe care product with an integrated applicator is available for white sneakers made of smooth leather. According to the manufacturer, it can refresh the color again, but the shoes only have to be cleaned beforehand. Then the sponge is pressed lightly and applied evenly.
Cleaning sneakers: The best home remedies
When it comes to the topic of dirt, there is always some home remedy that should help – this also applies to white sneakers:
This way the laces will be clean again
While white sneakers should only end up in the washing machine if necessary, you can clean the laces in the machine without hesitation. It is best to place the fine cords in a laundry net – alternatively you can of course wash the material by hand (in warm water).
Preventive measures for white sneakers
If you have bought white sneakers, the top rule before trying them on for the first time is: waterproof them! Regardless of whether you have opted for shoes made of leather or a mix of materials – to protect the new shoes from moisture and dirt as well as from yellowing and fading from the sun’s rays, they should definitely be treated with a waterproofing spray (including a sun protection factor). . And since the effect wears off over time, you should repeat the treatment at regular intervals. There is even a special waterproofing pen to protect the white shoe seams and remove dirt.
That’s why the washing machine is only an emergency solution
We’re used to washing dirty clothes in the washing machine, but fabric sneakers aren’t usually one of them. Because the fact is that water that is too hot, the detergent and also the spin cycle can attack the materials and make them unstable (i.e. the glue dissolves). In addition, the white sole often gets a yellow tinge. However, if the degree of soiling is so high that you cannot avoid the washing machine, you should heed the following tips:
And another tip: Wet sneakers look gray after cleaning, don’t let that unsettle you. You will only see the correct result when the material is dry.
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