The content of the article
Sneakers can be sewn from textile materials, dyed genuine leather, natural nubuck, suede, as well as artificial and synthetic fabrics. On quality shoes without fail there is an appropriate marking, on the basis of which you can determine the appropriate care option.
Before you bleach white sneakers: the preparatory phase
Regardless of the brand and material, before cleaning and restoring white cross-shoes or sneakers, you need to remove traces of visible dirt from their surface. You should have a shoe brush and at least two sponges or hard rags on hand. One is for cleaning the sole. The second is to remove contaminants directly from the shoe. You need to act in six steps.
- Shoelaces. Remove shoe laces. They need to be washed separately with ordinary white laundry soap. Rinse under the tap.
- Insoles. Open the edges of the fabric as much as possible, remove the insoles. They are also better to wash separately.
- Brushing. Carefully remove dry dirt from the surface of the sneakers and their soles. Use a special brush.
- Dry clean. Rub intensively with a dry cloth to remove any remaining dirt. In the case of suede shoes, work only with a special brush, leather sneakers and stitched from leatherette or textile can be cleaned with a sponge.
- Wet cleaning. If the shoes are leather or synthetic, with a smooth surface, additionally wipe them with a clean, damp cloth.
- Drying. Leave the shoes for 10-15 minutes to dry naturally. After that, you can proceed to the bleaching process.
Special paint and other methods for a leather pair
After preliminary cleaning, leather sneakers should be washed well using a sponge or a piece of soft cloth. In most cases, thorough washing in a soapy solution is enough to restore the shoe's whiteness. As a rule, manufacturers do not recommend using too active household cleaning products, for example, traditional bleach for clothes, to return the former color of light shoes.
If most of the surface of leather sneakers is noticeably and evenly grayed out, the best solution would be to use special paint for shoes. Choose the option in the form of a spray - it is easiest to apply and evenly distribute. The procedure is best done in open space. In extreme cases - on the balcony, which then needs to be well ventilated.
Vinegar and soda
How to return the whiteness of the sneakers if the white skin has darkened in places and the spots are not washed out? A mixture of vinegar and baking soda will help wash white sneakers from stubborn dirt. The instructions for the procedure are four points.
- Mix the specified components in a container, but not metal. Pour 20 g of soda first, then slowly pour vinegar. Your task is to obtain a pasty consistency.
- Gently apply the mixture onto a cleaned surface using a narrow shoe brush or an old soft-bristled toothbrush. You risk severely scratching a smooth surface, and marks on white will be especially visible.
- With light circular movements, spread the paste over the entire surface of the sneakers. Leave on for five to seven minutes.
- Rinse the base and sole of the sneakers in running water. If the sports shoe model is machine washable, do it by selecting the appropriate mode.
Gasoline and magnesia
Another recipe for cleaning white leather sneakers is a mixture of gasoline for lighters and magnesia. The first ingredient can be purchased in almost any market, and the second - in a sports store or pharmacy. Sports magnesia or magnesium salt is usually used to dry hands during exercise. In combination with gasoline, such a powder will become bleach.
The ingredients must be mixed in equal proportions and then applied to the edges of the sole of the sneakers, and then, using a napkin, process the sneakers around the perimeter. Do not forget to protect your hands with gloves during such work, and at the end of the whitening procedure, wash your shoes well in soapy water and rinse.
Looking for suede
How to make white sneakers white again if they are sewn from suede? It is impossible to wash them in the usual way, since spots will remain on the surface. If you are in a downpour or have trivially stepped into a puddle and drenched suede sneakers, dry them naturally.
Only after that proceed with the cleaning, which consists of five stages.
- Gently brush the dry surface of the sneakers with a brush. Move in one direction.
- With a dry and dense cloth, wipe off any dirt from the surface of the shoe.
- Brush the surface again.
- If oily spots remain, remove them with a special suede cleaner. Ideally, the right spray or foam is good to buy with a pair of new suede shoes. Shake the can well well until a thick foam forms. Foam on a special sponge to clean the suede, spread it over the surface, and then easily, without pressing, wipe the area with the most dirt.
- At the end of the procedure, do not wash or rinse the shoes from suede. Immediately set them to dry.
Manufacturers recommend applying suede cleaner only to oily stains on sneakers. Practice shows that for the first time it really makes sense to process visible spots, and then do a second cleaning, having already processed the entire surface of the sneakers.
Features of cleaning textile products
It’s quite possible to whiten white sneakers from fabric and with a net with laundry soap, but only with white. If the area of contamination is small, do not wet your shoes completely.It is enough to remove dirt with light circular motions with a soft cloth dampened with soapy water. In the case of extensive stains, stains may remain after such cleaning, so washing cannot be avoided.
Please note that washing white fabric sneakers by hand will not only be easier, but also safer for both the product and your skin. Manufacturers do not recommend using a washing machine, since there is a high risk of shoe deformation. Yes, and the powder or gel cannot be removed from the fabric without additional rinsing. And thoroughly rinse the pair must be sure to avoid any allergic reactions.
Therefore, it is better to only hand wash, which is carried out in four stages.
- Walk with blotting movements over the entire surface of the fabric. Once it has become wet, start washing off the dirt.
- Especially dark places can be washed and left for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse the entire surface again, both from the outside and from the inside. Pay special attention to traditional places of pollution - the heel and toe areas.
- Change the water (the temperature should be room temperature, comfortable for hands) and rinse the sports pair well. At the same time, try not to dunk them in the whole water, but to lower the edges of the fabric into it and rinse with your fingers.
We remove the yellow stains
How to wash white sneakers so that they do not turn yellow? The basic rule is to rinse or brush the fabric as quickly as possible. Also, to wash white sneakers without streaks, you need to use a large amount of running water. Rinse the fabric well after pre-cleaning. In this case, you do not need to completely lower the shoes into the water. Gently place the edges of the fabric under the tap and rinse thoroughly, gently pressing with your fingers.
To clean white sneakers from yellow spots, you can use vinegar, which must be mixed with gel for washing and hydrogen peroxide. Each of the ingredients will require 10 ml. The resulting mixture must be left on the surface for seven to eight minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Perform cleaning work with rubber gloves. After drying, white leather shoes must be soaked in cream.