White shoes, including sneakers, can be very stylish. The problem is…well, that they’re white and therefore vulnerable to getting dirty in a very visible way.
In fact, white shoes barely ever stay white once you put them on for the first time. After all, you wear them on your feet and walk around with them, you can’t exactly avoid dirt, even if you’re walking around the cleanest streets!
I know a few people that solve this whole issue by simply buying a new pair of white sneakers every time their old ones get dirty.
I’m not kidding, they have multiple white shoes, and they keep buying new ones and throwing away the dirty ones, without even bothering to try and wash them. (Rich people vibes, and pretty extravagant if you ask me).
But if you’re like me, then you wouldn’t even dream of throwing out a relatively new pair of shoes, just because they’re dirty. That would be such a waste!
Instead, I’ve learned different ways of keeping my white shoes white, so they still look fashionable, and so that I can keep on using them for a long time.
So without further ado, here are the main different things you need to do to keep your white shoes white. Let’s call them my golden rules for keeping white shoes white:
- Before you wear your white shoes for the first time, treat them with some waterproofer or stain repellant. This will add an initial layer of protection, which you can keep reapplying every few weeks.
It’s important that you use the right type of product for the material of your shoes, so always remember to read the label, and follow the instructions.
Trust me, this initial layer will do wonders for keeping your new shoes from immediately getting ruined.
- Do not, under any circumstances, wash your white sneakers in the washing machine. Just don’t. I know that most brands state that you can, but this seriously ruins the whiteness and gets rid of the protective layers.
- If you get marks and scuffs on your white shoes, don’t panic. You can use a clean cloth dipped in white vinegar to clean these stains.
- If you get tough stains, such as oil or grease, then you can use a damp cloth dipped in warm water and baby shampoo. It sounds a bit odd, but this works for me every time!
- If you’re going to use bleach on your white shoes, make sure it is diluted. It should be one part bleach and five parts water, and then you should also rinse with warm water. If you use undiluted bleach, it will leave a yellow mark!
- Hard-to-reach areas that need cleaning can be reached with the use of an old toothbrush. Just dip it in your cleaning solution, and use it to clean the stains!
- Whenever you clean your white shoes, stuff them with paper towels or old pieces of cloth, as this will absorb the moisture so that they dry a lot faster.
- If you’re leaving your shoes to dry outdoors, make sure it’s not under direct sunlight! Sunlight ruins the whiteness of your shoes, and it will make them look worn very quickly.
- Shoelaces are one of the first parts to get dirty and look worn. Instead of replacing the shoes, try replacing the laces with new bright white ones. Trust me, this can make a huge difference in their appearance.
- If there are scuffs and scratches that you can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try, cover them up with some white nail polish. You will have to make sure it’s the right white so that it matches and blends in, but it will then make them look brand new! Nobody has to know…
That’s pretty much it, learn to clean them in the appropriate ways, learn the best cleaning solutions for them, and learn to disguise the dirt that doesn’t want to leave! Besides, people don’t pay too close attention to shoes…right?
Also, it’s pretty obvious but I feel like I have to say it, try and prevent dirtying your white shoes. I don’t mean to walk around with your shoes in a bubble of plastic so they never touch the ground.
Obviously, it’s impossible to keep them completely clean when you are using them because they are in constant contact with the ground.
I mean as in avoiding situations and locations where you know shoes are more likely to get dirty.
So if it has been raining, don’t wear white shoes. If you’re going to a farm or muddy field, don’t wear white shoes. If you’re going to play sports, maybe avoid wearing your brand new white shoes, unless you are prepared and okay for them to get dirty. That sort of thing.
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