How to Keep Those Fresh Kicks Clean

This year, I decided  to buy two pairs of white shoes— I can keep one pair clean and I can actually utilize the other pair to go out and about. At the time, this seemed like a good idea, but in reality I am only a few weeks into the semester and both pairs are unfortunately already dirty. So, I did some researching for you and here are some tips and tricks to keep those white shoes white.

Graphic by Monica Melber

Things to try:

Throw your sneakers in the washing machine. 

This may not work for every shoe type, however it is a great idea for mesh tennis shoes. It’s helpful to wet them down and pre-wash them with some soapy water prior to putting them in the washer with some old towels or clothing. Set your washing machine on cold and make sure your shoes aren’t in there for over 30-40 minutes. 

 

Take a toothbrush to your shoes

Sound a little gross, but get an old toothbrush and scrub the dirt out of your shoes with a mixture of water and laundry detergent. 

 

Apply toothpaste to rubber soles of shoes or leather shoes

Sounds weird, but you can use toothpaste or a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda on the rubber soles or on leather shoes and use a damp rag to scrape it off. This hack has good reviews, so it is something I definitely recommend trying if the first two methods don’t work for you. 

 

Buy sneaker wipes online

Just like makeup wipes, now you can buy premium shoe cleaner wipes from Amazon to keep your kicks looking fresh and clean. Here is a link to ones that I found off Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TLCH5HS?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=RR9270K1JS99NBHSHVNA

 

Wet magic eraser

Lastly, I’d recommend taking a wet magic eraser to the shoes to eliminate scuffs, scratches, or mud spots.

 

 

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