Fashion trends may come the wind, but a good ol’ pair of sneakers will never go out of style. Sure, there are plenty of quirky sneakers in the market but a classic white pair is considered a wardrobe staple that can take any summer outfit from basic to edgy in seconds.
But when it comes to maintenance, it’s almost impossible to keep your white shoes looking ‘white’, especially if you get a lot of wear out of them.
Cleaning shoes isn’t an easy task. You can’t just chuck them in the washing machine like the rest of your clothes; but your hightop Converse sneakers don’t really deserve the stains, do they?
So we set out on a hunt for the best shoe cleaning hacks that will have your rusty old sneakers looking brand new in no time.
The baking Soda Hack
Baking soda is a trusty kitchen ingredient that is used in more than just baked goods; it is also an effective cleaning agent that can make the stains on your shoes vanish with one wash.
All you need is to mix baking soda and detergent in equal parts and use a toothbrush to scrub this mixture onto your shoes. Once cleaned, rinse them and put them in the washing machine for a final cleaning, making sure that you remove the sole inserts and the laces before doing so.
The Vinegar Hack
We’ve already mentioned baking soda as one of the best cleaning agents, but some stains can be tougher than they seem, and therefore need something extra.
One of the hacks we found on Twitter calls for vinegar mixed with baking soda in equal parts and use a toothbrush to scrub the mixture on the stains, leaving them for half an hour before washing off.
The Magic Eraser Hack
Have you been introduced to a magic eraser yet? Well, now’s the perfect time for it. This little foaming cube can be quite handy when cleaning shoes with stiff soles like Converse, which can’t be washed in the machine.
Using Micellar water
Whoever figured out that makeup removing products might also be effective against tough stains must have been a genius. The micellar water method has been used in plenty of cleaning hacks, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work on your shoes. Use a cloth or a toothbrush to dip in the micellar water and scrub it onto the shoes, rinsing with clean water when finished.