Your shoes serve the critical role of protecting your feet on a daily basis. They also accentuate your attire and make a bold statement about you with their style.
Unfortunately, as you go about your day, your shoes may be exposed to dust, dirt, grease, gum and other elements. For some shoe materials, even a few drops of rain can ruin the appearance of the shoes.
Use this ultimate cleaning guide for all of your shoes.
For the shoes that you wear most often, follow the proper cleaning steps every three to four weeks. You may be able to go up to a year between cleaning sessions for shoes you rarely wear.
Regardless of how often you wear shoes, they should always be cleaned as soon as possible if they are exposed to rain, mud or other elements.
Regardless of the type of shoes that require cleaning, you need to initially use a shoe tree or wads of paper to support their shape during the cleaning process.
To clean canvas shoes, you need a clean cloth, a melamine sponge and a soft-bristled brush. You’ll also need liquid laundry detergent and bleach if you need to remove stains.
Remove the shoelaces, and brush off the loose debris on the laces and shoes using the soft-bristled brush. If there are stains, pre-treat them with bleach or a spot stain remover. Before doing so, however, test a small area of the shoe.
After pre-treating the shoes for 15 minutes, use the melamine sponge or a soapy cloth to wipe down the entire exterior of the shoe. The melamine sponge can also be used to remove scuff marks. Then, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the shoes. Allow them to air dry. Follow these same steps to clean the laces.
Not a fan of bleach? Try this TikTok hack to keep your canvas shoes clean and fresh:
@organizedandsimplified4u How to clean white canvas shoes without using bleach. #vans #canvasshoe #canvasshoes #vansshoes #howto #clean #cleanshoes #cleaningshoes #didyouknow #tipsandtricks #hometips #shoes #cleantok #shoetok
Cleaning leather shoes requires a melamine sponge, leather soap, liquid soap and a soft-bristled brush.
Combine a cup of warm water with a few drops of liquid soap or leather soap. Dip the soft-bristled brush in the soapy water, and use it to scrub the shoes gently.
Scuff marks can be cleaned with the melamine sponge. You can then wipe the shoes with a clean, damp cloth, and put them in a safe area to dry.
The supplies needed to clean suede shoes are a microfiber cloth, a clean block eraser, vinegar, a toothbrush and a suede brush.
The shoes should be completely dry before you attempt to clean suede. Use the brush to knock off any dirt. Tackle the marks and scuffs with the clean block eraser. If you have larger spots, dip the microfiber cloth in straight vinegar, and scrub the area gently.
The shoes should air dry, but do not put them in sunlight or close to a heat source. When they are dry, brush them again.
If you need to clean your tennis shoes, runners or trainers, you’ll need a soft-bristled brush, liquid laundry detergent and a clean cloth.
Tennis shoe material can be damaged if it is scrubbed forcefully, so always use light pressure and a soft-bristled brush. Remove the laces, and let them soak in soapy, warm water while you clean the shoes. Then, dip a clean cloth in the soapy water, and scrub the shoes using a circular motion.
The insoles can also be removed and cleaned in this same fashion, if needed. After the shoes are clean, wipe them down with a damp, clean cloth. Rinse the laces with clean water. Let the shoes dry completely before putting the laces back in place.
White sneakers can be cleaned with a bleach pen, baking soda and a damp cloth.
Remove the laces, and soak them in soapy, warm water. Make a thick paste by combining the baking soda with a small amount of water in a bowl. Use the damp cloth to apply the paste. Then, scrub the shoes in a circular motion.
You should allow the shoes to dry with the paste on. When the paste is dry, wipe the residue off with a damp, clean cloth. You can then rinse the laces out with water. If necessary, use the bleach pen to target stains after the shoes are otherwise clean.
If your canvas shoes are stained, use a laundry pre-treatment solution on the stain. As an alternative, you could use bleach or a bleach pen. However, before trying any of these methods, you need to test a discreet area of the shoes. Allow the pre-treatment to sit in place for 15 minutes before completing the cleaning process.
A small amount of liquid soap can be added to warm water to clean leather shoes. Dampen a clean cloth in the soapy water, and use it to gently clean the shoes. After the dirt is removed, the shoes should air dry.
While a suede cleaner is recommended for cleaning suede shoes, it is not a necessity. If you do not have a suede cleaner available, you can use a clean block eraser to tackle the scuff marks. Then, apply a small amount of white vinegar to a microfiber cloth, and gently scrub the shoes.
Your tennis shoes should never be cleaned in the washing machine. The combination of water, soap and the machine’s agitation can damage the material as well as the glue or other binding that holds them together. Instead of using the washing machine, you should use the specific care instructions for the shoe’s type of material.
If your sneakers are stinky, pull out the insoles. Use the same cleaning method for the insoles as you used for the exterior of the shoes. The insoles should air dry completely before they are placed back in the shoes. If this doesn’t eliminate the odors, you can buy replacement insoles.
Don’t go yet! Discover additional sneaker hacks by by watching this video:
Keeping up with things like cleaning and maintaining your shoes is important, but it can draw your time and attention from other cleaning chores.
When you need extra help around the house, booking maid & house cleaning service in Boston is a great idea. Our Cleanzen team is ready to tell you how we can help keep your home clean, so contact us today for full details about our services.
Cleanzen Blog Comment Policy
We welcome revelant and respectful comments. Off-topic comments and spam will be removed.
0 comments