White sneakers or sneakers always look expensive and stylish. Modern fashion trends make it possible to wear them not only as exclusively sports shoes, but also to combine them with models of various styles and trends, achieving an individual look.
However, sooner or later, every owner of white shoes, especially a resident of a metropolis, is faced with the problem of persistent soiling of the soles. How to wash it?
Cleaning the soles from dirt and yellowness
Methods for eliminating this problem can vary and depend on the degree and persistence of the contamination, as well as your capabilities. Much also depends on the quality and texture of the material.
Achieving elasticity and wear resistance and at the same time trying not to make the price of their products prohibitively expensive, Shoe manufacturers use various additives that, when exposed to an aggressive environment, can change color, acquiring unpleasant gray-yellow shades over time..
Important! If the sole of your favorite sneakers is even and smooth, then the effort and time spent on cleaning it will be minimal. But if the sole is porous or has grooves, ribs and grooves on it, then you will have to stock up on additional time and patience.
Ways to whiten sneaker soles at home
In search of an effective way to whiten shoes at home, owners of fashionable sneakers and sneakers have gone through many available means. We will present the most effective of them, among which there will certainly be one that is right for you.
Important! Before you begin bleaching, wipe your shoes with a soft, damp sponge to remove any dust or dried dirt from the soles. Remember that work on whitening shoes should be carried out with gloves, since all products used for this very dry the skin of your hands.
Toothpaste
To do this, it is best to use products with a whitening effect, while The paste itself should not contain color additives. Processing is carried out as follows:
Using an old toothbrush, apply the paste to the sole and clean well;- the shoes are left with the paste applied on them for 20–30 minutes;
- the remnants of the product are thoroughly washed off with warm running water.
Using an old toothbrush, apply the paste to the sole and clean well;A similar effect can be achieved by cleaning the soles with tooth powder.
Dish detergent
This method is good if the dirt has not yet eaten into the rubber:
- pour a little warm water into a small deep bowl;
- add a few drops of any dishwashing detergent;
- stains are treated with a hard toothbrush moistened with this solution;
- the remaining product is washed off with warm water.
Eraser
A regular school eraser can also help save your shoes.The process, of course, is very tedious and long, especially if the sole is grooved, but the result is worth it. After this treatment, wipe the shoes with a clean soft cloth.
Important! For this procedure, choose a soft, good quality elastic band that is only white. To process thin grooves, it will be more convenient to cut the eraser into pieces of a suitable size. And one more thing: after such cleaning, a lot of debris remains, so it would be a good idea to cover the work surface with newspapers.
Hydrogen peroxide
This cheap and affordable product can be bought at any pharmacy. It will remove foreign stains from the sole and give your shoes a neat look. Treat your favorite pair with a 3% peroxide solution and rinse off any remaining product with warm water.
Melamine sponge
This is a more modern and easier to use tool. Quite effective, although relatively expensive. It does not guarantee absolute cleanliness, but it will help make your shoes much whiter.. To do this, wet the sponge in water, wring it out and wipe the sole with it. Do not forget to then rinse the treated areas with running water.
Easy machine wash
Modern shoes really allow you to use this cleaning method. Wash on a delicate cycle and dry only naturally., since drying with a hairdryer or on a radiator can deform the sole.
Important! Still, you shouldn’t get carried away with washing sneakers in the machine: this will cause the fabric to rub, and the white rubber parts will turn yellow and crack. Leave this whitening method as a last resort.
Using soap
To do this, you need to soap the shoe brush with laundry soap and thoroughly rub the dirty areas. The minimum treatment time is 20 minutes, but for more severe stains it is better to extend the procedure as long as you have enough patience. Old stains are unlikely to go away completely, but overall the soles will become much whiter, and new sneakers will most likely acquire a pristine cleanliness.
Kerosene, bleach, acetone
If you are forced to use one of the listed products, be prepared for the fact that you will have to treat your sneakers every time you go outside. Since all three products are aggressive, they make the sole material more porous, thereby creating conditions for the shoes to be more susceptible to dirt.
Kerosene is used as follows: the liquid is applied to a cotton pad, the sole is wiped, and the remainder of the product is thoroughly washed off. The result is sneakers like new.
Bleach, which is always found in every home, can also be used to clean your favorite shoes: you need to dilute the product with water in a ratio of 1:2 and carefully lower only the sole of the sneaker into the solution. Processing time is at least 3 hours. The remaining bleach is thoroughly washed off with warm water.
Treatment with acetone is carried out in the same way as with kerosene:
- the cotton pad is moistened with the product;
- the surface of the sole is thoroughly wiped;
- the remaining product is washed off with warm water.
Important! Before you treat your shoes with any chemical, try it on a small area of the sole to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Lemon, citric acid
Lemon juice has long been known for its whitening effect. You can rub a lemon wedge on the dirty spots on the sole or sprinkle citric acid crystals on a slightly moistened dirty spot, wait a little and rinse well. A concentrated lemon solution is also suitable for whitening.. It is better to apply it with a stiff toothbrush, treating heavily soiled areas with special care.
Soda
You can also remove dirty stains from the sole using regular baking soda, pouring it onto a damp cloth and wiping the sole with it. Don't forget to rinse off any remaining product with warm water.
Important! Use exclusively white fabric for processing white shoes, as colored fabric often leaves barely visible color stains on the shoes.
Regular shoe care usually takes a little time, but allows you to wear them for a long time and with pleasure. Of course, white shoes require special care, but the result is worth it: new fashionable looks without unnecessary trips to the store.
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