White trainers are an essential part of anybody’s summer wardrobe. Some may prefer the worn-in look and don’t mind a few scuffs, but for those who prefer a crisp white trainer, you may be wondering how do you achieve that box-fresh look? You don’t need to go out and buy a new pair of white trainers as soon as yours are stained, even the dirtiest pair can be saved with a little elbow grease! Read on for Helpling’s top trainer cleaning tips.
How to clean white trainers?
How you clean your white trainers really depends on the fabric. Regardless of fabric though, it’s always important to start by unlacing your trainers. Once you’ve taken the laces out of your shoes, place them in a bowl of water to soak. If your laces are particularly damaged, add a little baking soda to the bowl of water. After they’ve soaked for a while, rinse them under the tap for a few minutes.
For leather trainers:
You don’t want to use anything super harsh on leather – unless you have specific leather detergent, washing up liquid should suffice.
- Apply some washing up liquid to a damp microfiber cloth and gently rub the surface. You can always use a toothbrush to get into any crevices and corners.
- For any harsh stains that you are struggling to remove with washing up liquid, apply a little baking soda and water.
- Leave the trainers to soak in the solution for a while.
- Then rinse the trainers with a clean damp cloth.
- Leave the trainers to dry before using. You can always place some newspaper in the shoes to soak up any excess liquid.
For canvas trainers:
- Begin by brushing the trainers with a soft bristle brush to remove any loose dirt.
- Like with leather trainers, mix a couple drops of washing up liquid into some warm water and dip your brush or a clean microfibre cloth into the solution.
- Gentry scrub the shoes to remove any stains.
- Wet another clean cloth and wipe down the shoe.
- Then leave to dry before using again.
Don’t forget the soles of your shoes!
Cleaning the soles of your trainers is as equally as important. Not only does it have hygiene benefits, cleaning the soles will also improve the grip of the shoe. If the sole is textured begin by using a brush to dislodge any dirt from the grooves. Once all the loose dirt has gone, dip a damp toothbrush into some washing up liquid and scrub away. For smooth, flat soles a damp microfiber cloth and washing up liquid should do the job! If you have any super stubborn dirt in the soles of your shoes, swap the washing up liquid for some baking soda.
