How to Clean Cloth Shoes White [Simple Steps]

For those who love wearing white sneakers or are runners, it is always easy for dirt and stains to find their way on these clean canvases. 

But with the right cleaning methods and regular maintenance, you can return them back to their original brilliant white condition.

Being a shoe fanatic and a guy who loves trying out different types of footwear, I have gathered the best ways of cleaning white cloth shoes. 

This guide will take you through each step while maintaining your shoes’ new-like look. Besides enhancing your foot gear’s looks, regular wash-ups extend its life span.

Therefore here we go; how can we keep our white cloth shoes looking flawless? 

Before you start, here is another guide on How To Clean White Fabric Shoes. If you are dealing with fabric shoes then read this one.

How to Clean Cloth Shoes White?

Materials Required

Before you start washing your white canvas trainers, ensure you have collected all the necessary equipment for the job at hand. It will make the process run smoothly without worrying about missing any essential materials. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Baking soda: An organic cleanser plus deodorizer.
• White vinegar: Aids in breaking dirt away as well as grimy substances.
• Dish soap: Capable of extracting stains gently but efficiently.
• Laundry detergent: Ideal for strong stain removal by deep cleansing when using it.
• Hydrogen Peroxide is used to disinfect shoes and make them whiter.
• Soft brush: To softly rub off soil from the surface area of the shoes.
• Old toothbrush: Effective in intensive scrubbing work.
• Microfiber cloth: You may use this one to wipe away cleaning solutions after applying them to your shoe.
• Magic eraser: useful in removing rubber sole marks or scuff marks

With these items already bought and ready you are set to face any stain or dirt on your white canvas sneakers. 

Pre-Cleaning Steps

Remove Laces and Loose Dirt

Begin by taking off the shoelaces. This allows you to access all areas of the shoes and clean them thoroughly. Set the laces aside for separate cleaning.

Next, take your shoes outside and knock the bottoms together to dislodge any large chunks of dirt or debris.

Preparing the Shoes

Use a dry brush or an old toothbrush to scrub off any remaining loose dirt. Be sure to brush along the rubber soles and the outer edges of the tongue to remove all dirt particles.

Methods of Cleaning

Baking Soda and Vinegar

To begin with, make a mixture by combining the same amounts of baking soda and clear vinegar. This simple blend is ideal to use when there are stubborn stains and dirt on shoes. 

Using an old toothbrush, apply this paste heavily on your dirty shoes. The bristles will help in working in the paste into the fabric.

Allow the paste to dry for about 15-20 minutes after covering all stained parts of your shoe. This allows the effective breakdown of dirt by baking soda and vinegar during drying time. 

To remove it, use a soft brush to dry out the paste. Finish off by wiping your shoes using a moist microfiber cloth to eliminate any residual remains that you may have left on your shoes making them clean again.

Read More: How Do You Clean Felt Shoes 

Dish Soap and Water

White cloth shoes can be cleaned effectively using dish soap together with water. Start by mixing some drops of dish soap with warm water. 

With this mild dilution, even strong fabrics will maintain their quality since they will not get damaged while cleaning dust particles away from them easily. 

Use an old toothbrush to dab it into the soapy solution before moving ahead to scrubbing your footwear gently over every area worked upon by circular motions to lift off the mud.

Using a wet microfiber cloth, clean away the soap from them after scrubbing has been completed. 

This is important because if it is not done properly there might be chances that more dirt could be attracted towards these washing agents which have been left stuck onto clothes as residue from previous washes.

Airing dry fully prior to reusing them again next time is such kind simple yet highly effective technique that proves worthy of being regularly applied as part of one’s shoe maintenance routine.

Laundry Detergent Solution

When you need deeper cleaning, mix warm water with laundry detergent first then add several teaspoonsfuls for better results. 

Laundry detergent breaks down stubborn spots and is hence suitable for white cloth sneakers too. 

Dip a cloth then use it to wash the shoe by targeting any stained or dirty sections. This way, the detergent is distributed evenly over the fabric when wiping with a piece of clothing.

So that any soap doesn’t remain, wipe them using a wet fabric after cleaning them. 

After which let the shoes dry off naturally. It can be used in instances where heavy usage has been experienced due to its effectiveness in renewing worn-out-looking pairs to their original state.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

Hydrogen peroxide is an ideal ingredient for white shoe care because it lightens and disinfects effectively. 

Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda until they form a thick paste that is perfect for cleaning shoes. Use your old toothbrush to spread this paste all over your shoes, but make sure you apply more of it on the areas that are stained.

The mixture should be allowed to sit on your footwear for around 30 minutes; as this takes place, the bleach in hydrogen peroxide gets rid of stains while baking soda removes dirt. 

At which time the waiting period ends either rinse away the paste or brush dry off with some brush such as bone bristle one well preferred by most users though not an exclusive arrangement. 

At least today we could go ahead telling ourselves how our shoes are comparatively cleaner than before having looked brighter.

Toothpaste

White leather trainers can be whitened or rather scrubbed clean using toothpaste from those bad boys -you know what I mean- which are just too yellow sometimes hence making my feet smell like rotten eggs! 

You should have bought a non-gel toothpaste since it will not stain your shoe after application; put it on your footwear wherever there is a stain.

Once rubbed into clothes using small circular motions, toothpaste usually remains for five minutes before getting wiped by a wet cloth leaving no trace left behind except refreshed sneakers again! 

For instance, if you need to get rid of an individual stain without throwing the whole sneaker into the machine.

Bleach Solution (for Tough Stains)

Using diluted bleach solution can be effective on very stubborn stains. In a well-ventilated area, mix bleach with water using one part of the former to five parts of the latter. 

Use it in small amounts because bleach can damage the fabric. Apply this with a brush, scrubbing lightly to lift out stains.

After cleaning, make sure that the shoes are thoroughly rinsed with water to eliminate any remaining traces of bleach. 

This process is important as it will prevent the fabric from being damaged by the bleaching agent over time. It is suggested that you only use this method for extremely tough spots since it is quite powerful.

Read more: How To Clean Canvas Shoes?

Cleaning shoe bottoms

Using a miracle sponge

When it comes to cleaning the rubber soles of your white fabric shoes, the magic eraser does the trick. This tiny tool has the capacity to effectively erase scuff marks and stubborn dirt. Start by moistening just slightly the magic eraser. 

Next, scrub softly the bottoms of your pair of shoes with them. It will erase dirt allowing for rubber’s whiteness.

After scrubbing with a magic eraser, use a wet microfiber cloth to remove any residue left on the sole. With this final step in place, you have clean and polished shoes from top to bottom.

Drying process

Maintaining shape when drying

To keep shape while drying, adequate drying is critical for proper maintenance and longevity of your white fabric shoes.

Put some paper towels inside after washing them out completely. It ensures that their shapes are maintained as they dry out. Do not also use newspaper as ink can be transferred into fabrics.

Air Dryers

Place shoes where air is moving freely so that they may dry naturally or get dried up by wind currents. 

Avoid direct sunlight because it may make clothes yellow or crack easily and quickly over time due to its extreme heat impacts on clothing materials such as cotton (as might be found in these shoes). 

Let them dry well before wearing once more again thus making them dry evenly and keeping their structure intact.

White Shoes Upkeep

Regular Cleaning

For your white canvas sneakers to always look like new regular cleaning is important necessary for them. 

Aim at having several cleaning sessions within some weeks depending with how frequently you put it on thereby making it easier during each cleaning session.

Proper Storage Methods

Keep them safe whenever you are not wearing these white fabric shoes in cool places away from moisture conditions in order to avoid smell coming out of them. 

A shoe bag or box will do that job well against dust and sunlight protection purposes. Good storage means no soil accumulation hence your shoes will be well preserved.

Immediate Stain Treatment

Handle stains as soon as you come across them. 

The faster a spot is treated, the easier it will be to remove it. Carry a small cleaning kit with things like a toothbrush, liquid soap, and a miracle sponge so that you can always attend to sudden marks on clothes.

Other Methods of Cleaning & Hacks

Cream of Tartar & Lemon Juice

To make a natural cleaning solution mix lemon juice with cream of tartar into paste form. Apply this paste onto the stained parts of your shoe and wait for 30 minutes before removing it. 

The lemon’s acid characteristic combined with the cream of tartar’s abrasive nature works great in removing stubborn stains. Rinse off with warm water and a damp cloth after drying out the paste.

Baking Soda and Detergent Mix

If any tough stain is still remaining then mix baking soda in little amounts together with a liquid detergent. These ingredients constitute an effective cleaner against stubborn stains on shoe fabric material. 

Use a soft brush to apply it gently and let it stay for about fifteen minutes prior to rinsing off through a moistened towel or cloth.

Baby Powder for Oil Stains

While asleep, dust baby powder over oiled areas of these shoes that are too dirty by fat when one removes them from his or her feet at nightfall time early in the morning the next day brushing oil away becomes much easier before doing away with rest using the preferred cleansing technique.

Some Personal Stories and Advice

My Regular Cleaning Scheme

I am a runner and shoe addict which has made me have a plan to keep my white fabric sneakers clean. I take like three minutes after every run to remove any dirt that could penetrate through. 

I also use the baking soda and vinegar mixture technique once per month when cleaning my shoes completely. With continuous usage, these are the tips that have kept my shoes in very good shape.

Advice Shared by Enthusiastic Friends

There are also a few things that runners and shoe lovers have divulged to me. One of them uses cornstarch-water paste on tough spots while the other said not to use a toothbrush for delicate fabrics but rather use a soft-bristled nail brush instead.

FAQs on How to Clean Cloth Shoes White

How often should I clean my white cloth shoes?

You better have to keep cleaning your white cloth kicks every couple of weeks or when they appear dirty. Normal upkeep saves the shoes from much dye and makes them easier to clean each time.

Can I put my white cloth shoes in the washing machine?

Although some types of white cloth shoes can be machine washed, it is generally safer to wash them by hand. Washing machines are rough on fabrics and may end up damaging them with time. 

If you still prefer to use a washing machine, place your shoes inside a mesh laundry bag and run a gentle cycle using cold water. But instead of using a dryer, let the shoes dry naturally at room temperature.

What if my white cloth shoes have stubborn stains that won’t come out?

In case you have difficult spots you might need to wash again or use something stronger like hydrogen peroxide with soda bicarbonate. 

Just remember that a spot might require multiple treatments so be patient and consistent. Seek advice from an expert shoemaker if the stain does not come off after many attempts.

Is it okay to use bleach on my white cloth shoes?

Bleach should only be sparingly used for really hard-to-remove stains; however, it has to be diluted heavily – one part bleach in five parts of water- before use on stained fabric.. 

Note that bleach must always be diluted well otherwise it will weaken the material and make it discolored. Always rinse thoroughly after applying bleach avoiding frequent usage.

How can I prevent my white cloth shoes from getting dirty quickly?

To avoid the quick dirtiness of your white cloth sneakers apply the following pieces of advice:

• The protectant spray made especially for fabrics will help repel dirt and stains;
• Do not wear them when walking through mud or puddles;
• Keep regularly cleaned as this prevents accumulation of dirt;
• Maintain dust-free condition by storing when not wearing

Can I use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process?

Using a hair dryer is not recommended because shoes can be damaged by too much heat and this may make the fabric become brittle. Instead, stuff them with paper towels to help maintain their shape and allow them to dry out in the air.

How do I clean the insides of my white cloth shoes?

To clean your shoe insides mix a little amount of dish soap with warm water. Use a cloth or sponge to softly scrub it. Don’t soak the inside as excess moisture could lead to mold and a bad smell. After that let them dry in open air before using again.

How to Clean White Cloth Shoes – Final Thoughts

So, now I hope you know How to clean white cloth shoes.

By adopting an effective approach you can keep your white cloth shoes looking brand new just like they did on purchase day. 

Effective cleaning methods coupled with regular maintenance will guarantee that you achieve that goal. Regular care improves their outlook while also extending their life hence obtaining maximum benefits from your favourites. So go and jog happily without dirtying those shoes!