Sneakers have firmly entered the life of modern fashionistas. At the peak of popularity, light or white sports shoes that perfectly complement any style. But white sneakers get dirty very quickly, so they have to be washed very often. This is where the question arises, how to wash white sneakers from dirt at home in order to return them to their former appearance? As practice shows, it is not difficult to clean such shoes. This can be done both in the washing machine and by hand.
How to prepare sneakers for washing
Before you start washing converse by hand or in a washing machine, you need to do some preparatory work. To begin with, the sole is cleaned of adhering dirt, embedded pebbles and other debris. The sole is pre-washed over the sink with a brush and a mild detergent. White soles are usually very difficult to clean from dirty stains. This can be done with an unnecessary toothbrush and a piece of laundry soap.
Laces and an insole are taken out of the sneaker, if it is removed, in certain models the insole is not removable. These elements are washed separately, special attention is paid to the laces, as they often leave traces of rust from the steel rings where they are threaded.
Wash by hand
White sneakers are well washed by hand, and this method is more economical and gentle on shoes. For hand washing such shoes, various means are used.
- Dry or rare detergent.
- Shampoo.
- Vinegar.
- Lemon juice.
- Soda.
Light-colored rag shoes are usually very dirty, so not always the usual powder can qualitatively remove all the dirt on white converse. That is, the powder can and does wash off the dirt, but the unattractive yellowness can remain.
To prevent the sneakers from turning yellow, you need to take a mixture of washing powder with vinegar. To prepare a detergent composition, take half a glass of dry washing powder, add 3 tablespoons of vinegar and a couple of tablespoons of water to it. Everything is stirred until a homogeneous mass.
The resulting substance is applied to sneakers previously cleaned of dirt and dust. Moreover, the detergent is applied not only to textiles, but also to the rubber sole. Leave the shoes for 30 minutes so that the dirt is well limp. After this time, sneakers made of white fabric are carefully rubbed with a soft brush to remove all dirt. After that, the sneakers are washed under running water, a brush is also used for washing in order to completely remove the remnants of the detergent. Dry such shoes in a warm, well-ventilated area, or on the street.
Washing in the washing machine
If there is no extra time for washing by hand, then you can wash white sneakers in a washing machine. In order to wash sneakers or sneakers with textile tops in a typewriter, you should adhere to the following algorithm:
- All dirt is carefully removed from the shoes, for this you may need a wooden stick and an unnecessary toothbrush. After that, the shoes are rinsed a little from dust and dirt in a container of water.
- The laces are taken out of the shoes and the insole is pulled out. If the insole is glued, then it is preliminarily soaped with a detergent composition and left to soak.
- Pay attention to the presence of characteristic stains from grass, grease or other contaminants.They are preliminarily removed with a detergent, the composition of which directly depends on the degree of contamination.
- Ready-to-wash sneakers are placed in a special laundry bag, and if it is not there, then they take an old pillowcase.
- If the automatic machine does not have a mode for washing shoes, then you can easily adjust it yourself. The water temperature should not be more than 40 degrees, but it is advisable to cancel the spin cycle altogether.
In order for the sneakers to be washed better and the washing drum not to deform, you need to wash your shoes together with a few old towels.
How to dry sneakers properly
If the white sneakers turned yellow after washing, then the reason was most likely improper drying of the product. Powder that is poorly rinsed can also give yellow spots. What to do in this case to return the shoes to an attractive appearance?
If after washing the sneakers turn yellow, then they are thoroughly rinsed in cool water, and then dried in a ventilated place. Shoes for drying can be placed in the shade outside or hung on a rope on the balcony. Putting white sneakers near heating appliances is strictly prohibited. The shoes will dry quickly, but it will look completely unattractive.
In many cases, yellow spots disappear after the first rinse, even without the use of bleach. But if, after drying, they reappear, the procedure is repeated.
Sneakers that do not have rubber socks are stuffed with white paper before drying to keep the shoes in shape.
What to do if dirt has eaten into sneakers
If dirt has literally eaten into white sneakers or sneakers, then you need to use a detergent with citric acid. To prepare an effective bleaching agent, you need to take 3 parts of shampoo or washing powder, 2 parts of vinegar and 1 part of citric acid (you can change it to lemon juice).These components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained, which is then applied to the converse and left for 20 minutes. After the specified time has elapsed, the shoes are thoroughly washed with a brush under running water, while not forgetting to rub the sole.
How to bleach the sole
A particular difficulty may arise with the bleaching of white rubber soles on sneakers. Say what you like, but if you wash the textiles and leave the sole yellow, the shoes will look untidy. Therefore, in order to restore the sole to its former beauty, they prepare a whitening toothpaste, always white and an old toothbrush. If such a paste is not at hand, then ordinary baking soda, to which a little lemon juice is added, is quite suitable. The resulting slurry can pre-clean the sneakers completely, as this cleaning agent has a whitening effect.
How to remove grass stains
Sometimes, after active walks in a forest or a square, not only dirt stains, but also traces of grass remain on sneakers. These green spots terrify many housewives, as they are very difficult to wash off. In fact, this problem is easily solved by taking baking soda and citric acid in equal proportions, and then adding a little water to the resulting mixture to make a mushy mass. This product is applied to grass stains for 20-30 minutes, and then the sneakers are washed in the usual way in the washing machine. In the same way, you can wash white sneakers from yellow spots.
If stains are poorly removed, you can use ammonia. It is applied locally to the spots in several steps, and then the sneakers are washed.
How to remove scratches on the sole and toe
As you know, the age of any sneaker gives out the color of the sole. If ugly spots or scratches appear on the rubber base or toe, then the shoes are no longer suitable for wearing, that is, of course, you can wear them, but you are unlikely to wear them to the exit. There are several ways to get rid of scratches and stubborn stains on the rubber part of your shoes.
- With dishwashing detergent and a sponge. They take a gentle dish detergent, if this is not at hand, then liquid soap is quite suitable. The sponge is moistened in water and detergent and the scratches are gently rubbed.
It is strictly forbidden to use detergents with abrasive particles to wash stains on sneakers!
- Nail polish remover. With the help of this chemical, you can quickly return the sole to its original appearance. It is better to take an acetone-based liquid. The substance is applied to a cotton swab and the contaminated areas are locally wiped.
- White. You can whiten the sole with the help of ordinary whiteness.This substance is applied only to contaminated areas of rubber, avoiding contact with the fabric.
- Alcohol. You can clean the sole with medical alcohol. Moisten a cotton pad with liquid and wipe the contaminated areas with careful movements.
What to do if stains cannot be removed
Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to whiten sneakers at home, that is, even after washing and cleaning, yellow stains and dirty spots remain on them. In this case, you should not be upset and rush to part with your favorite shoes, such a problem can be completely solved.
In cases where the stains on the fabric or sole are not washed, they are simply painted over. In shoe stores you can find a large assortment of suitable paint. It is very important to apply the paint correctly, for this, before the painting procedure, you must carefully study the instructions.
Sneakers are in the wardrobe of almost every fashionista, regardless of age. This shoe can be worn every day, it goes well with denim and cotton suits. In order for white sneakers to last longer, they need to be constantly looked after.
