Cleaning your sneakers is an important part of maintaining them. 

There are several steps you should follow to keep them in great condition. Here are some basic tips: Follow a step-by-step cleaning routine, use a suede or crepe brush, and apply a stain-removal spray.

Before You Start

Watch how you walk. Some countries, like Asia, encourage their residents to remove their shoes when entering the home. The reason is simple: friction like creasing can cause holes and hot spots in your shoes. 

Also, the dirt on your shoes can be transferred to other surfaces, including your skin.

If you already have dirty shoes and want to clean them without damage, there are a few precautions you must take. 

You can use a damp cloth or use a soft brush. You can also scrub the insides and outsoles with the cleaning solution. After you have rinsed them, you should pat them dry with a clean towel. 

You can also use a toothbrush to scrub away any excess dirt. However, make sure not to push the soil deeper instead.

For leather shoes, you can use saddle soap or specialized leather cleaner. If you want to clean suede, it’s better to use an appropriate cleaning solution for suede. 

If you don’t know which type of leather your shoes are made of, it’s also a good idea to check the care label. Suede cleaning should be done with a soft brush and warm water. Avoid using any abrasives for suede because they may bleed color and damage the suede.

Now, let’s see what you can actually do, and how to do it. 

Using A Stain Spray

Before you use stain spray to clean your shoes, it is important to clean the shoes thoroughly. 

This does not have to be an exhaustive cleaning process, but it is important to remove any excess dirt from the uppers. You can use a crep protect brush to scrub the uppers of the shoe in a circular motion. Continue this process a few times to ensure thorough cleaning.

You can also apply a stain repellent spray to your shoes. This works especially well on canvas shoes. A stain repellent spray creates a barrier between your shoe and the outside world, making spot cleaning much easier. 

Once the stain-repellent spray has dried, you should reapply it to maintain the protection. However, keep in mind that this type of spray will only work on non-water-based stains and won’t work on metallic leather, satin, or vinyl.

Using A Toothbrush And Toothpaste

Using a toothbrush and toothpaste to keep the inside of your shoes clean can be a simple but effective way to remove dirt and stains.

You can apply the toothpaste to the entire surface of the shoe and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. To make sure you don’t leave any stains, test it first on an inconspicuous area of the shoe and do not use too much. 

When using toothpaste, make sure to use white toothpaste as colored toothpaste may stain your shoes.

To remove stubborn stains, you can use an old toothbrush and toothpaste. Old toothbrush bristles are excellent for picking up gooey or sticky substances. 

You can also use a paste made of toothpaste on a wet washcloth. Once the shoe has been thoroughly cleansed, you can wipe it dry with the cloth.

You can also use toothpaste to keep your white shoes clean. You can use half as much toothpaste as usual. 

Toothpaste is not harmful to the shoes when used properly. 

A non-gel white toothpaste and a toothbrush can work wonders for white shoes. To get the best results, apply the toothpaste in circular motions on the dirty areas and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping off.

Using A Spot Eraser

Using a spot eraser can help you keep your shoes clean. 

Pencil erasers are often used to fix mistakes in papers, but they can also be used to remove dirt and scuffs from suede and rubber soles. The eraser gently pulls dirt from the surfaces and fluffs them back into shape.

A spot eraser can be useful in removing ink stains from suede. You can purchase one from a shoe store. You can also buy a suede care kit, which will come with a brush and an eraser. 

However, suede is difficult to clean with water, and you should use a suede cleaner and eraser when necessary. If you have serious stains, you should take your shoes to a professional to be cleaned.

Using a spot eraser to keep shoes clean is a great way to maintain the cleanness of white sneakers. A soft-bristled eraser will remove stains from white shoes easily and efficiently, and you can use it to get rid of unsightly blemishes from leather shoes. 

Cleaning With Bleach

Cleaning with bleach is a good way to keep shoes looking clean. 

You can use a solution of 3 parts bleach and 5 parts water. Put your white shoelaces in a mesh laundry bag and immerse them in the bleach solution for five minutes. 

After that, you can wash them in the washing machine with your regular detergent. After washing, allow them to air dry.

Bleach is effective at removing tough stains and odors. However, you must know that too much bleach can cause yellowing. If you are not careful, bleach can damage your shoes by turning them yellow. 

Make sure to dilute the solution with warm water and thoroughly scrub the dirt and grime out of the shoes. Finally, rinse your shoes in a well-ventilated room.

For shoes that are white, you can use a mixture of five parts of bleach and five parts of water. Use a soft bristle brush to scrub the mixture into the shoes. 

However, you must not apply too much bleach or you may end up with yellowed shoes. If the bleach has yellowed your shoes, you can clean them with a solution of hot water and salt.

Another method that can keep your shoes clean is using hydrogen peroxide. You can mix it with water and baking soda to create a paste. 

You should apply it to your shoes in a circular motion and let it dry. You can then wipe away the excess of the paste with a damp cloth.

Conclusion

There are a few methods that can help you keep your shoes clean. You can use toothpaste, vinegar, or micellar water to clean white shoes. You can also use a spot eraser or bleach to remove tough stains. Finally, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean shoes that are yellowed from bleach.