Where there is white there is dirt.
It’s just like two peas in a pod, sides of the same coin, day and night, dirt and white.
How to Clean White Converse Shoes?
With dirt on white comes a tedious and horrendous task of removing that dirt and cleaning those stains. While cleaning any white clothing item is not a big deal just pop it in the washing machine and voila they are white again. But, this is not the case when it comes to white shoes.
No matter how much you try to protect them, there is always an unnoticed puddle of dirty water, wet grass, a ketchup bottle with a loose cap on, people unintentionally stamping on your foot or you being clumsy self and destroying your own shoes. Nevertheless, the task of cleaning white shoes is….. not good.
while you can clean your leather loafers and formal shoes with wipe of wet cloth, Converse shoes are an entirely new tale.
Converse shoes are made with soft rubber, suede, and converse material which get dirty very quickly. Doesn’t matter how much we love our favorite pair of comfy, simple, versatile casual white Chuck Taylors and converse the thought of cleaning them instantly makes us regret buying them in white and not in any other color.
Now, we don’t want to you hate our dear favorite the good old comfy converse that is the exact reason why we are here with few simple tips and hacks to clean your white converse without any hassle with simple kitchen essentials.
How to clean white converse shoes:
Here are six simple hacks to clean that dirt and grime of your converse.
1. Baking soda and vinegar:
You’ll need :
- A glass bowl
- Scrubbing brush
- Old tooth brush
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Hot water
Directions:
Before you start, remove the laces from the shoes and drench the shoes in cold water.
- In a glass bowl, take baking soda and vinegar in 1:2 ratio (1 part baking soda and 2 parts vinegar)
- Add a little warm water to dilute the solution and obtain the desired quantity.
- Rub the soda and vinegar paste on the shoe using an old toothbrush and scrub gently for a few minutes.
- Repeat and use more if required.
- Rinse the shoes or throw them in a washing machine.
- Air dry them by hanging.
2. Using toothpaste:
When you are using toothpaste, keep In mind to use paste formula toothpaste, not gel formula.
Directions:
- Apply toothpaste on dirt marks on the shoe that is run under cold water.
- Make sure you are using a white paste not toothpaste with any other colouring substances as it may stain it.
- Let it soak in for 15minutes.
- Rinse or machine wash shoes.
- Dry them by hanging.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
3. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda:
Wear safety gloves while handling hydrogen peroxide. And be careful about the fume inhalation.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Gloves
- Warm water
- Old toothbrush
Directions:
- Combine one tablespoon baking soda, half tablespoon hydrogen peroxide, and half tablespoon warm water in a glass bowl.
- Make a paste and apply it on the dirty spots.
- Leave it to rest for 30minutes
- Rinse with water or machine wash them.
- Hang dry them.
4. Nail polish remover or acetone:
You’ll need:
- Nail polish remover
- Acetone
- Cotton pads
Directions:
- Dip cotton pad in acetone or any nail polish remover.
- Rub it over the covered in dirt and scrub it thoroughly.
- Wash them in liquid soap.
- Wash them in the washing machine and hang dry.
- The method might not be efficient but this works in case of emergencies.
5. Baking soda, laundry detergent and water:
You need :
- Detergent
- Baking soda
- Old brush
- Water
Directions:
- Combine laundry detergent and baking soda in equal parts with water and make a runny paste.
- Apply it over the shoes, you can also your laces in this.
- Leave it on for 30minutes.
- Wash with running water or in washing machine.
- Air dry them.
Also Read: 12 Awesome Benefits of Glycerin for Lips (3 DIY Recipes Included)
6. Bleach:
Careful with the fumes, to avoid skin contact use gloves.
You’ll need:
- Bleach
- Toothpaste
- Baking soda
- Warm water
Directions:
- Take about 50ml of bleaching agent and add in a tablespoon of baking soda and toothpaste.
- Add in a little warm water to make it a runny paste.
- Apply all over the shoes and let them soak for a few hours.
- Wash your shoes under cold water or in the washing machine.
Can tooth paste whiten white converse shoes?
Toothpaste, not only whitens your teeth it also whitens your shoes, this might seem shocking but it’s true.
The only thing you need to be careful about is using a whitening toothpaste instead of a gel on and also use one with no colored additives as coloring toothpaste may stain your shoes more. As toothpaste is much gentle when compared to other harsh substances like bleach or hydrogen peroxide it won’t damage your shoes and clean it in a more gentle manner.
To clean your shoe using a toothpaste you will need an old toothbrush and a non-gel white tooth paste.
The process is similar to how you clean when using baking soda. All you need to do is apply toothpaste on dirt stains and work in a circular motion to scrub the grime off. You can repeat the process if necessary. Once the fabric is scrubbed allow the paste to stay on for 10-15minutes and then throw them in a washing machine to wash off. dry them by hanging.
The ingredients in toothpaste may vary from brand to brand so makesure to do a simple patch test on unnoticeable area on shoe before starting cleaning.
How to bleach your converse shoes?
Using bleach on your shoes might not be a gentle option but its efficient.
A little chemistry, perfect ratio of water in bleach to dilute will help you clean your shoes bright and nice.
using a high-grade bleach i.e 100% bleach can be abrasive on the fabric of your shoe and turn them yellow instead of bright white. Therefore it is suggested to always dilute your bleach in water and then use it.
Avoid using chlorinated bleach and detergents as they leave you with pit stains and more yellow stains on your white shoes.
Here we are mentioning two methods that will help you clean your shoes
To clean your shoes with bleach liquid you will need:
- Liquid bleach
- Wet towel
- Container
- Toothbrush
- Water
Directions:
Remove the shoe laces before starting the cleaning process.
Use a wet towel to clean any extra grimy dirt from the shoe this ensure even bleaching of the shoe.
Take your liquid bleach in a container and dilute it water five times more than its quantity. (1:5 ratio)
Using your toothbrush gently scrub leftoverstains on your shoes.
Wash the bleach off by scrubbing your shoes in soap water. This will help to remove any excess leftover bleach from the shoe.
Rinse your shoe with warm water and allow it to dry overnight in a well-ventilated area.
You can repeat the process if stains are not lighten enough.
Method2:
For this you need :
- Liquid bleach
- Baking soda
- Lemon (optional)
- Water
- Toothbrush
Directions:
Combine liquid bleach , baking soda and toothpaste in a bowl.
Add a little warm water, and make a runny paste.
Soak your shoes in this paste for few hours
Wash your shoes in a washing machine on cold water setting or rinse them off in cold running water.
As an alternate method you can also rub the stains with lemon and sprinkle baking soda on them .
Lemon being a natural bleaching agent will lighten the stains to a certain extent.
This method even though seems simple has a drawback.
It makes shoes look old and faded.
Although you can use:
Fresh lemon juice diluted in a cup of water and then scrub the stains off using a toothbrush. Rinse the shoes under water to remove the solution.
Lemon juice is a perfect safe and natural alternative than the harsh chemical grade liquid bleach.
How to wash converse shoes in a washing machine?
Even though officially Converse advises against washing your shoes in a washing machine, but we got to do what we need to do to remove those stains and dirt marks perfectly and quickly.
Here are the steps to follow when you are planning to clean your converse in a washing machine:
1. Prep your converse for its ride in the washing machine:
Knock off as much dirt and mud as possible using a soft brush or cloth.
Remove the laces before putting the shoes in wash tub.
2. Making sure your shoes are safe:
when the washer starts running your shoes will clank to the walls of the washer, which will damage not only the shoes but also the walls of your washing machine.
To avoid this clink clank of shoes with the walls of your washer you can place your shoes in a mesh bag or a pillowcase and wash them along with some towels.
This ensures that your shoes are cleaned and nicely and there is no damage caused.
3. Detergent to be used and fighting off stains:
Although using a regular laundry detergent is perfectly fine. It is preferable to use a detergent that does not have any dyes, perfumes, color agents.
Incase the detergent have any dyes, there are chances of additional stains and colour altering.
Use the detergent in same amount as that of your regular load of clothes.
4. Settings / temperature:
Always remember a simple rule, never wash the items you are particular about in hot water.
Cold water is the best choice for color protection. But if your shoes are very dirty you can opt for hot water.
Make sure your wash cycle setting is gentle, delicate, or light. This helps in cleaning your shoes with little less aggression.
5. After the machine wash:
Official Converse, just like a washing machine does not suggest you dry your shoes in a dryer. And even agree with this.
Using a machine dryer to dry your shoes will make them shrink and then they are of no use to you, unless you are willing to wear a tight shoe.
The best method to dry your shoes is to air dry them in a well ventilated location protected from direct sunlight.
it may take 24hours or more for the shoe to dry up, depending on the temperature.
There are however many ways to protect your converse from getting dirty and stained.
Like a sneaker protector, crep protector. This willmakesure your shoes stay white and crisp for long time.
Keep notice of temperature of the day, you are planning to wear your white converse.
In the end, no matter how much you try, avoid, and protect. Your white shoes will always end up attracting dirt from…. anywhere.
