White trainers are a classic shoe that never goes out of style. They go with every outfit and give a fresh impression - that is, as long as they are clean. With these 5 smart tips, you can clean your white trainers and restore them to their former glory!
Do you have a pair of old white trainers that you wish were a little cleaner, a little whiter and just a whole lot fresher? Then you're not alone. Unfortunately, it's hard to keep your shoes clean for more than one season if you're not careful to clean your white trainers regularly. But don't worry, there are a plethora of effective housewife tips out there that don't require any expensive specialised creams or utensils to get a professional refresh. Keep reading to find out the most popular tricks right now!
Cleaning white trainers - 5 ways
Before you start the cleaning process, it might be a good idea to find out what kind of material the shoe is made of. Generally, it's easier to clean a white shoe made of leather or faux leather, rather than suede or fabric. This is partly because suede is a delicate material that doesn't like water. A leather shoe is less sensitive and can be rinsed off regularly, in case you accidentally step in mud.
1. Cleaning trainers with bicarbonate of soda
This housewife tip works well for white textile trainers.
You will need:
- Bicarbonate
- 1 tsp water
- Dishwashing liquid/liquid detergent
- Brush/toothbrush
Do this:
- Mix the ingredients into a bicarbonate paste, it should be quite dry.
- Remove the laces, so that you can access the whole shoe.
- Rub the paste into stubborn stains and leave for a few hours. The bicarbonate of soda absorbs dirt and moisture, and makes a big difference.
- Voilà! Now you have a white shoe again!
2. Cleaning trainers with toothpaste
You can use toothpaste to clean white leather or faux leather trainers, but you can also clean the soles of a suede shoe, for example.
You will need:
- Clean toothbrush
- Toothpaste
Do this:
- If the shoe is really dirty, you can wipe off most of the dirt with a damp cloth.
- Apply toothpaste to a wet toothbrush.
- Rub the toothpaste on stains, soles and scratches.
- Use a dry towel and wipe off the toothpaste.
- Leave to dry for a few hours before using the shoe again.
3. Cleaning trainers in a washing machine
It is absolutely possible to wash trainers in a washing machine, but it is difficult to predict the result. For example, the shoe may lose its shape or the glue on the sole may come off. In general, you should always remove the insole so that it does not shrink. Therefore, it is wise to check whether your white trainers are indeed machine washable. On the other hand, it's no problem to throw a pair of dirty laces into the next load of the machine!
4. Cleaning trainers with an eraser
In fact, for really tough stains or scratches, erasers or nail polish may be the only solution to clean white trainers. Actually, you're not cleaning anything, but rather filling in and covering up stubborn dirt. As a last resort, you can absolutely try to gently erase, or dab with a white nail polish.
5. How to take care of your trainers
Did you know that damp shoes attract dirt more easily? So if you wear the same pair of trainers every day, their lifespan will be drastically reduced. So if you're happy to wear white shoes every day, you can buy two pairs and alternate them. Furthermore, it's often easier to clean white trainers as soon as the dirt appears, instead of letting it grow. So make sure to regularly maintain your favourite shoes so they can be used year after year. Finally, it's worth bearing in mind that leather shoes are the easiest to clean, so if you want to think about durability, it might be wiser to invest in a better quality pair.
Cleaning the sole of trainers
- Bicarbonate
- 1 tsp water
- Dishwashing liquid/liquid detergent
- Brush/toothbrush
- Mix water, washing-up liquid and bicarbonate of soda to a paste.
- Scrub the soles of your shoes with the toothbrush and bicarbonate of soda paste.
- Leave on for a few minutes.
- Wipe the sole of the shoe with a damp cloth.
How to clean shoelaces?
If you want to give your shoelaces an honest go, there are two main ways to freshen them up: either in the washing machine or by putting them in warm water with a little washing-up liquid. Of course, if you want a top-notch result, it's easy to simply buy new laces for a cheap price.
Bonus tip!
Sometimes it's the inside that counts, so if you're struggling with smelly shoes, try these housewife tips that will do the trick. Put tea bags in your shoes when you're not using them, and enjoy fresh shoes!
