Dishwashing liquid, baking soda, white vinegar, toothbrush, soft cloth, suede eraser… There are tons of products and tools to try to clean your shoes without damaging them. So here’s how to wash your shoes without destroying them with excessively abrasive detergents, but still eliminating possible stains, marks, scratches and other mud.
How to wash sneakers? The 6 quick and easy steps
Fill your sneakers so they keep their shape
Proper cleaning of shoes begins by preparing them to maintain their shape throughout the process, by equipping them with a shoe tree or padding them with newspaper. This will prevent your sneakers from warping due to cleaning products, water, or even drying methods.
Remove loose dirt and dust with a dry sneaker brush
Whether you wear them often or have spent too much time on a shelf or shoebox, your sneakers may contain dust and other dirt. For this reason it is advisable to start cleaning them with rough brushing, using a soft, dry bristle brush. This allows you to remove most dirt such as mud, dry dirt or even dust.
If you don’t have a dry, soft-bristled shoe brush, you can do this using, for example, an old, clean toothbrush.
Make a gentle cleaning solution depending on the material of your sneakers
Once your sneakers have been dry brushed, comes the basic cleaning step with a cleaning solution that’s gentle on the shoes and resistant to dirt. And to clean your sneakers without damaging them, you still need to choose the best cleaning product based on their raw material:
If your shoes are leatheryou can dilute a small amount of dishwashing liquid (the equivalent of one or two tablespoons) in a large volume of water (two glasses of water of 200 ml each).
If your shoes are canvas or fabric, it is better to dilute one or two tablespoons of detergent in 400 ml of water. But a mixture of dish soap and water can also work well.
If your shoes are white, whether they are leather or fabric, it’s best to use one part water and one part baking soda. This will guarantee a whitening action, always useful for giving a new look to sneakers.
Clean the laces and insole separately
You can untie the shoelaces to wash them separately. The laces can be rubbed between your fingers with your favorite cleaning solution, or even left to soak for ten minutes. Then simply rinse them, then put them to dry on a drying rack or on a cloth.
If you want to clean the insole, you can brush it with the cleaning solution and a soft bristle brush or an old toothbrush. Rinse with clean water, then let dry on a flat towel.
Wash the sole, upper and upper separately
While the laces are soaking and drying, you can clean the soles of your shoes using the cleaning solution and a soft or hard bristled toothbrush or an old toothbrush. Rinse with clean water. Then do the same with the upper and upper. If they are different materials, such as suede and leather, it is best to do this separately, as the suede will benefit from being less wet than leather.
After gently brushing the upper and upper with a soft bristle brush or toothbrush, you can remove and absorb excess cleaning solution. With a soft, dry cloth or microfiber cloth. Avoid rubbing movements, prefer tapping to avoid color transfer and damage to the materials.
Leave to dry in the open air
After cleaning your shoes with the soft bristle brush or an old toothbrush and wiping away the excess with a soft cloth or microfiber cloth, it’s time to let your shoes air dry.
Avoid placing them near a direct heat source such as a radiator, as this may damage the materials. Leave at least 8 hours for complete drying. Putting shoes back while they are still damp could damage them, as well as being unpleasant.
You can also stuff them with newspaper or a shoe tree to help them keep their shape.
How to clean sneakers in the washing machine?
Maybe you know people who put their sneakers straight into the washing machine and might want to do the same? It is indeed possible, at your own risk.
If cleaning by hand is recommended, it is because it extends the life of your sneakers, as well as respecting the integrity of each material, without altering their appearance.
Is it really possible to wash sneakers in the washing machine? Mistakes to avoid
But mesh, canvas or fabric sneakers can be washed in the washing machine. Start by removing the laces to ensure even cleaning. Also remember to shake your sneakers by tapping them against each other through the window, so that most of the dirt, such as dust or dried mud, falls out.
You can then place them in a delicate laundry net in the washing machine with large towels that will cushion the shock in the drum, otherwise the sneakers could damage it.
Machine washing is not recommended for leather or suede shoes.especially if it is a model that combines these two materials.
Finally, avoid long programs and instead choose a short and delicate program (such as the delicate programme), at a maximum of 30°C, and as little spin as possible: 900 revolutions per minute are more than sufficient.
If the sneakers you want to wash in the washing machine are white and very dirty, you can soak them for a few hours first in a mixture of hot water with a little bicarbonate or sodium pecarbonate and detergent. This helps brighten up the white of the sneakers. Two tablespoons of each should be enough. This will help whiten them to give them a fresh look. Happy spring cleaning!
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
