How to Clean White Sneakers

A basic essential due to their versatility and ease of accessorising any look, a must-have for everyone's wardrobe. Given their colour, they go with pretty much everything. On the other hand, they tend to get dirty easier than shoes of any other tonality.

The wonderful sensation of having a brand new, spotless white sneakers fades away as days go by when, with use, they get blackened, loosing that shiny white look, typical of the first day, that we so much like.

What do we need to clean white shoes?

Depending on the fabric of which our sneakers are made, leather (vegan or not) or fabric (canvas or similar), different materials will be used from the following list, however, overall, what we'll need these:

1. Baking soda
2. White spirit vinegar
3. Bowl or container
4. Clean cloth
5. Whitening toothpaste
6. Toothbrush
7. Cleaning brush

How to clean white sneakers?

If you've bought a pair of custom sneakers from Bullfeet, made of white veganoa fabric, you are lucky! as this fabric, on top of being very resistant, is vegan, sustainable and easy to clean. Using just a damp cloth they'll look as good as new.

How to clean white canvas sneakers to prevent them from yellowing?

Wether your sneakers are made of white fabric like canvas or similar (even standard leather) before anything, firstly remove the laces and the inner insole, then mix a spoonful of baking soda with a glass of white vinegar, and rub your trainers with the big brush using the mixture, until they are clean. This whitens them, making the yellowish stains disappear. After that, rinse and leave to air dry.

Can I put my trainers in the washing machine?

Usually washing your white (or any colour) trainers in the washing machine is not a problem, although is paramount that prior to doing so you check the treat and care label just in case!

So, if your shoes aren't as white as you want them to be, you can put them in the washing machine on a short cold water programme with a bit of liquid soap or detergent.

TIPS:

• If we wrap a towel around our shoes, we'll prevent them from banging and rubbing against the inside of the washing machine drum.
• Remove the insole and wash it separately from the shoe to clean it thoroughly.

It's important to let our shoes dry completely before putting on the laces and insole prior to wearing them again.

How to clean the sole?

The sole also gets very dirty and should be cleaned properly, so here's a homemade trick to leave it as white as possible.

To clean it, all we need is a recycled toothbrush, a larger cleaning brush and white whitening toothpaste (blue or green is not suitable). Scrub through the most difficult parts using the toothbrush and the cleaning brush on the larger parts like the sole base, until it's clean. Rinse well and leave to air dry.

How to clean the laces?

Likewise, the laces must also be cleaned correctly. To do so, remove them and wash separately.

Immerse the laces in a bowl or container filled with 1 glass of white vinegar, and a spoonful of baking soda. A small foamy reaction will appear. Let them soak for about 1 hour. After this time, rinse well with water and leave them to air dry.

Personalised white sneakers

At Bullfeet you can design your own white sneakers from scratch. Our 3D customiser allows you to create your custom shoes based on your preferences and style. Get all-white sneakers or add that special touch, with all the sustainable fabrics and materials we offer. Fun and quick way to create them yourself, making as many changes as you like, until you find what you're looking for. In a few simple steps, you can have your white sneakers done and delivered home within 7/10 working days, ready for you to enjoy them, as simple as that!

Our footwear is made exclusively for each customer, given that we have no stock, so as to reduce mass-production pollution. Besides, they are handcrafted in Spain with vegan and eco-friendly materials, making them even more special and unique. Find out more about Bullfeet, and a new way of looking at fashion.