By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
As we roll into the colder months, it’s time to make sure we cleanse our white sneakers from all they were put through during the summer time. While brands like Golden Goose have gained a massive following by selling shoes that look worn-in and scuffed up, anyone who truly loves sneakers knows they should be kept looking like they are fresh out of the box for as long as possible.
As cool as white sneakers look with just about any outfit, they can also be a pain to keep looking clean. Every grass or dirt stain is easily visible on a white fabric, and keeping them crisp is no easy feat — especially if you want to avoid dousing your kicks in harmful chemicals. And the way to treat your sneakers also all depends on what material they are made out of.
Read below for our step by step guides on how to keep your white sneakers clean and expand their lifespan in your wardrobe.
In order to keep your white sneakers looking fresh, the organic way, follow the steps outlined below. Keep in mind that this process varies for leather, canvas or suede kicks.
Athletic sneaker styles are a popular shoe choice for the spring and summer months — especially white sneakers with mesh uppers, making them breathable and lightweight. However, whether you’re wearing them for workouts or fashion statements, the knit pair’s textures can often attract dirt and quickly become stained. Below, we outlined how to clean white sneakers when they feature mesh uppers, seen in styles from brands like Adidas, APL or Allbirds.
You can watch this process visually on YouTube, as well — as seen here by creator Faith Mancuso, who’s estimated to have washed her white Adidas sneakers at least 50 times.
Canvas sneakers are another popular style choice from their lightweight material and casual nature. As seen from brands like Converse, Cariuma and Superga, monochrome styles frequently feature lace-up or slip-on uppers atop flat matching rubber soles. However, these also need maintenance to prevent fabric staining — which we’ll outline, below.
The final shoe style that’s most popular is suede, favored again for its light hue and weight. The faintly textured material can become dirty just like mesh, canvas or leather, but we’ll outline how to clean white sneakers with this unique material below.
Many white sneakers featured flat white rubber soles, which can be easily stained and cake dirt into their textured bases. To clean these, you can use a melamine sponge — such as the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. First, scrub off any scuff marks with the dry sponge, then use water to wet its tip and scrub the sides of your soles again. To finish the process, wipe off the shoes with a damp paper towel or other cloth, then allow them to air dry — your clean white shoes will now have an equally clean base.
Another sneaker element that needs maintenance are your laces. The thin fabric closures often receive the brunt of our activities, and can easily become streaked and worn out. A simple fix is to wash them with bleach. While wearing gloves for your safety, remove the laces from your white sneakers and place them in a mesh bag. Submerge the bag in a small container or dish; the Clorox website recommends using 3 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. Once the laces are soaked, they can be washed with regular laundry detergent in the washing machine. Finally, let the laces air dry before stringing them back into your sneakers.
Because of its acidity, lemon juice can be a great way to clean your white shoes without leaving the house. The fruit’s lightening properties are able to break down dirt and debris that is making a pair of white shoes look discolored. Keep in mind that this method can only be used when dealing with canvas sneakers. It should never be used on any other silhouette, especially leather or suede as it will damage the material.
Although many are familiar with micellar water as a toner or makeup remover, the skincare product can also be used to clean white shoes. The solution is infused with tiny particles called micelles that lift and soak up dirt and oil like a sponge, making it a great option for someone trying to clean their dirty white shoes. Because it is formulated for the skin, the formula is gentle enough to be used on several materials, including leather. Just like it is used within a skin-prepping routine, the fix does not involve water or rinsing.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.