White canvas is commonly used in the construction of timeless summer footwear. If you step in mud or freshly cut grass or if your kid steps on your toes, the look is ruined. Then you have the problem of cleaning your white shoes, and you might start to doubt that they can be restored to their former luster. The answer is "yes," and baking soda is your secret weapon for bringing back the like-new shine to your white sneakers.
You shouldn't put your canvas shoes in the washing machine or dryer. Doing so can ruin the shoes, leading to fraying or the sole coming loose from the upper. If you want white shoes, try this easy method.
White shoes can be cleaned very effectively with a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Grab a box of ARM & HAMMERTM Baking Soda from the pantry and some hydrogen peroxide from the medicine cabinet. You can make the paste with just baking soda and water if you don't have any peroxide. How? Read on!
Put the following in a small, non-metallic bowl or measuring cup.
- a Tablespoon of Baking Soda
- Hydrogen peroxide, half a tablespoon (skip if you don't have any).
- half a tablespoon of hot water (one tablespoon if no peroxide is used)
Mix it until it becomes a paste.
Simply proceed as follows:
- You can use a scrub brush or an old toothbrush (maybe one that your dentist gave you for free) and then rub the paste onto the stained areas of the shoes.
- Make a circular motion with your scrub brush to work the paste into the canvas.
- Wait at least 30 minutes for the baking soda solution to dry on the shoe.
- When the shoe is dry, clap off the excess and give it a good rinsing with clean water. A damp rag or clean sponge will do the trick.
- For stubborn stains, do another cycle.
Stains like coffee, blood, and paint may require multiple applications and benefit slightly more from the peroxide-baking soda solution.
Recipe for Shiny White Sneakers Cleaned with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Alternatively, here is a method for restoring the original brightness of your white shoes. As a whitener, it employs baking soda, as well as that ever-present kitchen staple, white vinegar.
Put together the following:
- 2 teaspoons of salt 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- One Tablespoon of Vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 tablespoon of hot water
Put all the ingredients in a small bowl or a measuring cup and stir until they form a paste.
Next:
- Put the paste on the stained areas of the shoe with the help of an old toothbrush. Rub gently in small circles. Wrap around the entire shoe. Use any leftover solution to soak the shoelaces.
- After the shoes have been completely covered, they should be exposed to direct sunlight for three to four hours. With the sun's assistance, bleaching is a more effective process.
- You can use a dry toothbrush or scrub brush to get rid of any leftover paste after clapping the shoes together over a trashcan to knock the dried paste free.
Shoes made of leather, suede, canvas, and white vinyl can all benefit from this baking soda solution.
Guidelines for Using Toothpaste to Clean White Sneakers
If you're in a pinch, here's a tip you might find surprising: white shoes can be cleaned quickly and effectively with toothpaste. In an emergency, you can cover up a stain with white toothpaste by rubbing it directly over the stain and blending it outward. Like it does for your teeth, toothpaste can be used to effectively remove stubborn shoe stains when you have the time to give them a thorough cleaning.
Use a non-gel white toothpaste, preferably a "whitening" variant, to clean your shoes. ARM & HAMMERTM Toothpaste has baking soda in it, so it can also whiten your teeth.
- Apply toothpaste to a used toothbrush, and scrub the stains in circular motions.
- Wait 10 to 15 minutes before wearing shoes after applying the paste.
- In order to remove the paste from the shoe, use a clean, damp towel or sponge.
- To remove the stain, repeat as necessary.
The white stripe around the soles of your shoes and the reinforced toe of some footwear can be easily cleaned with toothpaste.
Use Baking Soda to Remove Footwear Odor
Odor is another issue that can plague your go-to white sneakers. Stale shoes are a universally acknowledged and potentially humiliating phenomenon. The good news is that baking soda works wonders on both the exterior and interior of white shoes. You may already know that keeping a box of baking soda in your refrigerator and freezer will help eliminate unpleasant odors because of the substance's odor-absorbing properties. The same effect can be achieved when using it to deodorize shoes.
- Baking soda, about one to two tablespoons per pair of shoes It must be enough to cover the insole entirely. More baking soda may be needed for larger sizes of footwear.
- Drop some baking soda into the back of each shoe's heel.
- Shake the shoe from side to side and give it a little forward and backward tilt to spread the baking soda around. Having some clumps and lumps is fine. Make generous use of it to ensure proper protection.
- Hold off for a while, ideally overnight Baking soda can eliminate odors by neutralizing bacteria that produce them. Shoes with an especially strong odor may need to be aired out for a full day.
- Tap the shoe over the garbage can or the sink to get rid of any remaining baking soda. The best way to get rid of it is to shake it. If any residue is left, it won't harm you or your footwear.
Whenever you feel like your shoes are starting to smell, reach for the ARM & HAMMERTM Baking Soda Shaker you can keep in your closet. If necessary, you can deodorize your shoes once a week, but you should only deodorize leather shoes once a month because baking soda can absorb oils in the leather.
Shoe cleaning is a breeze with Arm & Hammer baking soda.
You can clean, deodorize, and restore the whiteness of your shoes made of leather, suede, canvas, or a combination of these materials with ARM & HAMMERTM Baking Soda. To have on hand for any and all shoe-cleaning emergencies, you may wish to purchase either our large box or our resealable pouch.
