If you wear white sneakers, you know the challenge of keeping them clean. Scratches, grass stains, and ice cream drops are just a few of the threats to your white footwear.
We’ll show you how to clean your sneakers with baking soda to help restore the white and keep them looking like new.
Clean shoes and sneakers with baking soda
Many classic summer sneakers are made of white canvas. It’s a great look until you step on mud or freshly cut grass, or your child steps on your toes. So you’re faced with how to clean your white shoes, and you may wonder if you’ll ever be able to get them back to the way they were before.
The answer is yes, you can clean sneakers, and baking soda is your secret weapon to help restore them to like new.
Don’t be tempted to throw your canvas shoes in the washer and dryer. Doing so can damage your shoes and cause them to fray or cause the sole to separate from the upper. Instead, follow this simple treatment to clean your white shoes.
Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water make a great white shoe cleaner.
Process:
In a small non-metal bowl or measuring cup, add the following
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
- ½ tablespoon hydrogen peroxide (omit if you don’t have any).
- ½ tablespoon warm water (double to 1 tablespoon if you don’t add peroxide).
- Stir until a paste forms.
Now just follow these steps:
- Using a scrub brush or old toothbrush, dip it into the baking soda paste and apply it to the shoe, directly on the stains.
- Rub in a circular motion, working the paste into the canvas.
- Let the baking soda solution dry on the shoe for at least 30 minutes.
- Once dry, remove any excess and rinse well with clean water. You can use a damp cloth or a clean sponge.
- Repeat if necessary until the stains are gone.
More difficult stains, such as coffee, blood, or paint, may require multiple applications, and the peroxide and baking soda solution will be slightly more effective.
How to clean them with baking soda and vinegar
Here is an alternative recipe to make your sneakers white again. Also use baking soda as bleach and white vinegar.
Gather these ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
- 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon of hot water.
Combine in a small bowl or measuring cup and mix to a paste-like consistency.
Process:
- Use an old toothbrush to apply the paste to the shoe, directly on the stains. Gently rub in a circular motion. It covers the entire surface of the shoe. Soak the laces in any remaining solution.
- After the shoes are completely covered, place them outside in the sunlight for 3-4 hours. The sun helps improve the whitening process.
- Once the paste has completely dried, tap the shoes over a trash can to remove the dried paste and use a dry toothbrush or scrub brush to remove any leftovers.
You can use this baking soda solution on leather, suede, and canvas shoes, as well as the white vinyl tips and soles of your favorite sneakers.