How to whiten shoes the DYI way?
To clean your white shoes at home, first of all remove the laces, so that you can wash the laces with your laundry. Then you can use lukewarm water mixed with some mild detergent to wash thee shoes with the help of a toothbrush. Brush them with circular motions, especially at the dirty spots and stains.
METHODS:
- With baking soda
To whiten your sneakers with baking soda, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with half a tablespoon of water and half a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Mix until you get something like a paste. Use a toothbrush to apply the paste to the surface of your white shoes. After you are done scrubbing the surface of your shoes, you can cover them with another layer of the paste. With the remaining mixture, you can wash your laces to whiten them too.
Place your shoes under direct sunlight because it helps the hydrogen peroxide get the shoes bright white once again. When the mixture is completely dry, clap the shoes together to remove it. Your shoes will be several tones lighter.
- That turned yellow
White shoes do have the tendency to start turning yellowish over time. This is due to the direct sunlight which breaks down the chemicals which are used to make the shoes bright white. There are ways to reduce the yellowing, which you can easily do at home. How to whiten yellowing shoes step by step:
Remove the laces and stuff the shoes with crumpled newspapers, so that they are easier to handle.
Use a magic eraser dipped in water to treat the stains. It should help with most of the yellow stains.
Wipe the shoes until they are dry, and use white shoe polish to condition them. Use the applicator to cover the shoes, you can use a Q-tip for crevices and small edges. Let the shoes dry naturally by placing them in a warm and dry place, but not under direct sunlight, because it is the sunlight that caused that yellowing in the first place, right?
- With bleach
If you are planning to use bleach to whiten your tennis shoes, remember to water the bleach down before that! Also, remember to wear rubber gloves when handling bleach. Bleach will discolour any textile, so be careful not to spill it or get it on your clothing! Water some bleach down with warm water and use a toothbrush to gently scrub your white shoes and any stains they have.
- With toothpaste
Remember that this cleaning method should be done with white and non-gel toothpaste! Apply some of the toothpaste on the stain on your white tennis shoe and let it sit and dry for about 10 minutes. Use a damp clean cloth to remove the toothpaste. You may need to repeat this process several times to remove some more stubborn stains.
Throw them in the washing machine
You can also wash your white shoes in your washing machine but only as a last resort and choose the shortest washing cycle. Carefully consider whether the material as many are not machine washable. Don’t put leather shoes, such as most nursing shoes or leather shoes for standing, in the washing machine. You can place them in bags or pillow cases, so that they don’t hit on the drum during the washing. You can also place some towels with them to reduce the banging.
