How to Clean Your White Shoes the Right Way

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All white sneakers have gained so much popularity in recent years, but the trendy kicks come at a cost: they’re impossible to keep looking clean all the time. And once you’ve worn your new favorite sneakers outside, you come home to find yourself frantically googling “how to clean white shoes” so your shoes can be good as new before your next photo op.

So, what’s the secret? Scrubbing your shoes with bleach? Throwing them in the washing machine and hoping for the best? We can do better than that.

We’ve consulted Carolyn Forté, the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, to detail the best way to go about cleaning your white shoes, no matter the material. Below, find step-by-step solutions for canvas, leather, and suede shoes alike. Plus, how to keep your white shoes white for longer!

How often should you clean white shoes?

While there’s no exact shoe-cleaning schedule that you should stick to, Forté points out that “the dirtier they get, the harder they are to clean.” If you’re wearing your favorite white sneakers regularly, she says it’s a good idea to “wash them every month or so and remove obvious spots and stains as soon as you see them to keep shoes looking cleaner longer.”

How to clean white canvas sneakers

What you’ll need:

Multi-use Clothes Shoes Shine Brush

Powerwash Spray Starter Kit

Magic Eraser Kitchen with Dawn

For cleaning white canvas sneakers from brands like Vans or Converse, Forté recommends following this method:

1. Untie and remove shoelaces.

2. Use a soft brush to remove loose dirt, including along the rubber edge and tongue.

3. Mix a few drops of dish soap into a cup of warm water.

4. Dip a cloth or soft brush into the soapy water and gently go over both shoes.

5. Clean rubber soles and sides with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

6. Wet another cloth with plain water and wipe the shoes to rinse.

7. Stuff the sneakers with white paper towels to absorb moisture and maintain the shape.

8. Let the shoes dry at room temperature.

How to clean white leather sneakers

For cleaning white leather shoes from brands like Adidas or Nike, Forté suggests following these steps:

1. Untie and remove shoelaces.

2. Use a soft brush to brush off loose dust and dirt.

3. Mix a few drops of dishwashing soap into a cup of warm water.

4. Dip a cloth or soft brush into the soapy water and gently go over the entire shoe.

5. Clean rubber soles and sides with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

6. Wet a cloth with plain water and wipe the shoes to rinse them.

7. Stuff the sneakers with white paper towels to absorb moisture and maintain the shape.

8. After they dry at room temperature, apply a leather conditioner to help keep the shoes soft and supple.

For tough stains on white leather shoes, Forté suggests dipping a wet brush in baking soda and rub gently. “Wipe with a clean, wet cloth and air dry.”

How to clean white suede shoes

White suede should only be cleaned with a suede cleaner, says Forté. “I wouldn’t risk using any home method since suede shouldn’t get too wet,” she says. Washing the entire shoe in water can cause stains to settle into the fabric.

To use suede cleaner properly, follow these guidelines:

Note: Be sure to spot test first and apply the cleaner to a small, less visible spot to make sure that it won’t damage your shoes.

1. Apply the cleaner with a soft cloth and then gently rub the stained area in a circular motion

2. Once you’re done, use a different clean, damp cloth to remove any excess cleaner from your shoes.

How to clean white shoelaces

After you’ve made your shoes look as good as new, you don’t want to thread back in those dirty, dingy shoelaces. So, give your laces some TLC, too. Forté says you can follow these easy steps for a quick tidying up:

1. Untie and remove laces from the shoes.

2. Soak them in warm, soapy water.

3. Rinse the shoelaces with fresh water.

4. Squeeze the excess water out.

5. Lay flat to dry.

How to keep white shoes clean longer

Although you can’t escape all the elements in your white shoes, there are some habits you can follow in order to keep your kicks sparkling for longer in between deep cleans:

According to Forté, here’s some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Protect both leather and canvas shoes with Kiwi Sneaker Protector

• Remove scuffs and marks from rubber trim with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

• Tackle stains on the go with Shout Stain Remover Wipes

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