How to Clean White Canvas Shoes Without Turning Them Yellow

Download Article

Download Article

White Converse shoes look great when they're brand new, but they may develop a less appealing shade after a significant amount of use. Thankfully, there are a variety of methods you can use to get them nice and clean again!

1. 

   1

   Remove the shoelaces. Unlace your shoes to expose as much of the white canvas as possible, making it easier to thoroughly clean your sneakers.

   • You can clean shoelaces separately by letting them soak in a bucket or basin of warm, soapy water, but know that they may never be as bright as they once were. An alternative is to replace your old shoelaces with new ones.

2. 

   2

   Rinse the shoes under running water. Drench your Converse shoes in cold water. You can either rinse them under a running faucet or dunk them into a large bucket or basin of water.

   • Use cold water instead of warm water to prevent any stains from setting in or any colors from running and ruining more of the white canvas.^[1]
   • You can work over the sink for the entire process, or you could spread out a sheet of wax paper or plastic over your counter or floor and work on that. The process can get messy and the cleaning solution can affect your counter or floor, so you want to avoid letting any excess drip off and onto something it could damage.

3. 

   3

   Make a paste with baking soda and vinegar. Combine enough baking soda and white vinegar in a glass or plastic bowl to form a foamy, thin paste.

   • Do not use a metal bowl or spoon. Metal can react negatively to the vinegar.^[2]
   • You could also use washing powder instead of baking soda or liquid laundry detergent instead of vinegar, depending on which you have on hand. The mixture may not fizz as much when made, but it will still be effective.^{[3] [4]}
   • The paste should be about two parts baking soda and three parts vinegar. Do not use red wine vinegar, however, as it stains. As a general rule, though, only use enough of each to form a paste-like consistency.

4. 

   4

   Scrub the paste over the shoes. Dip a clean toothbrush or nail brush into the homemade cleanser. Scrub the surface of the shoes all over with the same brush, cleaning all sides and focusing on any especially dirty areas.

   • Rinse again under cool water when done. This is not strictly necessary, but you can check on your progress and avoid getting baking soda or vinegar all into your washing machine.

5. 5

   Toss your shoes into the washing machine. Place your white Converse shoes in the washing machine along with a little standard detergent. Run the machine on a full cycle using cold water.

   • Do not use a chlorinated bleach or detergent.
   • To help prevent your shoes from banging around too violently inside the washing machine, wrap them in a mesh or fabric laundry bag before throwing them in.

6. 6

   Let the shoes air dry. Converse shoes must be allowed to air dry. To speed the process up and help further the whitening effect, place your shoes in a warm, sunny, and dry location to dry.

   • The dry warmth of the sun can help dry the shoes faster, and the light of the sun actually has a mild bleaching effect.^[5]
   • Do not use a dryer. Machine drying white Converse will result in the shoes losing their shape.

1. 

   1

   Use plain soap and water. Usually, scrubbing scuff marks with a sponge soaked with soapy water will do the trick.

   • Use a mild soap, such as hand soap or a liquid dish detergent with no added fragrances or chemicals. Mix a few drops into a cup of warm water and stir until bubbles form on the surface.
   • When scrubbing the scuff mark, rub the shoe with your sponge using firm, circular motions.

2. 

   2

   Try WD-40. Spray a little WD-40 directly on the scuff marks and buff the marks away with a sponge or rag.^[6]

   • Among other things, WD-40 is often used to extract moisture and clean off dirt and residue from a range of surfaces. Only use it on the rubber part of the shoe, however, and not the canvas. As an oil-based product, WD-40 can leave stains on material like canvas.

3. 

   3

   Apply nail polish remover. Soak a cotton ball or cotton pad in a little acetone nail polish remover and scrub the scuff marks with the remover until cleaned.^[7]

   • Vigorously rub the mark with the nail polish remover to get rid of it. The scuff mark should fade in appearance almost instantly.
   • An acetone-based nail polish remover works best.

4. 

   4

   Dab on a little bleach. Dilute a small amount of bleach with water.^[8] Dunk a clean toothbrush into this bleach mixture and use it to scrub out the scuff marks.

   • Bleach is a known whitener, but it is also a harsh chemical. As such, you should only use just as much as you need to avoid damaging your shoes. You should also only use it on the rubber portion of the shoe and not on the canvas part.

5. 

   5

   Scrub out scuffs with whitening toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste directly to the scuff mark and scrub at it with a toothbrush.^[9]

   • A toothpaste with baking soda in it is preferable to any other. Baking soda has additional benefits as a cleanser, and as a mild abrasive, it can strip away the stain causing the scuff mark.
   • If you cannot find a baking soda toothpaste, though, another toothpaste with a whitening agent in it can also work.

6. 

   6

   Use lemon. Cut a lemon in half and directly apply the cut side of one half to the scuff marks on your shoe. Scrub vigorously to remove the mark.

   • Lemon juice is often used as a natural alternative to bleach.
   • Leave the lemon juice on the scuff mark for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with cool, plain water.
   • If you do not have whole lemons, you could also scrub the spot with a little lemon juice and a toothbrush or rag.

7. 

   7

   Apply petroleum jelly. Rub petroleum jelly on the scuff mark. Let it sit for five minutes before wiping it away with a damp rag.

   • Petroleum jelly can cling to the dirty particles of scuffed up material and lift away the debris.
   • Keep the petroleum jelly on the rubber portion of the shoe and avoid the canvas part, if possible. The oil in petroleum jelly can sometimes leave a light stain of its own on fabric.

8. 

   8

   Rub the scuffs with rubbing alcohol. Apply the rubbing alcohol to the scuff marks with a cotton ball or cotton pad. Scrub well, and clean any remaining alcohol off with a damp rag when done.

   • Rubbing alcohol is a very strong household substance that can strip away many forms of stubborn debris and grime.

1. 

   1

   Remove the shoelaces. Unlace your shoes to expose as much of the white canvas as possible, making it easier to thoroughly clean your sneakers.

   • You can clean shoelaces separately by letting them soak in a bucket or basin of warm, soapy water, but know that they may never be as bright as they once were. An alternative is to replace your old shoelaces with new ones.

2. 

   2

   Moisten the shoes. Dampen your Converse shoes in cold water. You can either rinse them under a running faucet or dunk them into a large bucket or basin of water.

   • You could moisten the magic eraser instead of the shoe, but making the shoe damp ensures that there will be enough moisture throughout the entire cleaning process.^[10]

3. 

   3

   Scrub with a magic eraser. Use a "magic eraser" cleaning product to gently scrub the canvas shoes from toe to heel, getting as much of the material as possible.

   • As one spot of the sponge gets dirty, turn it to another portion of the sponge.
   • Magic erasers do not use any harsh chemicals, making them especially good options if you have pets or young kids, or if you otherwise prefer to keep chemicals out of your home.
   • This eraser contains a melamine polymer.^[11] It feels flexible and somewhat soft to the touch, but this polymer is actually a rather effective abrasive foam. When you use the eraser, you literally scrape the dirt away with physical force.

4. 4

   Let air dry. Place the shoes in a warm, sunny, and dry location to dry. Doing so speeds the process up and helps to heighten the whitening effect.

   • The dry warmth of the sun can help dry the shoes faster, and the light of the sun actually has a mild bleaching effect.
   • Do not use a dryer. Machine drying white Converse will result in the shoes losing their shape.

1. 

   1

   Remove the shoelaces. Unlace your shoes to expose as much of the white canvas as possible, making it easier to thoroughly clean your sneakers.

   • You can clean shoelaces separately by letting them soak in a bucket or basin of warm, soapy water, but know that they may never be as bright as they once were. An alternative is to replace your old shoelaces with new ones.

2. 

   2

   Apply a stain stick to the dirtied spot. Use a spot cleaning stain stick on any stained spots you wish to remove. Follow the label instructions when dabbing the stain stick cleaner onto the stain.

   • Note that no pre-moistening is required when using a stain stick unless the label specifically calls for it. If the label does call for it, follow the instructions provided on the label to determine how much water to use.
   • While specific instructions can vary, usually, you will rub the moistened tip of the stain stick over the stain on your shoe using a firm, circular motion. Extend the cleanser just outside the edge of the stain to prevent the stain from spreading outward onto clean white material.

3. 

   3

   Toss your shoes into the washing machine. Place your white Converse shoes in the washing machine along with a little standard detergent. Run the machine on a full cycle using cold water.

   • Do not use a chlorinated bleach or detergent.
   • If you want to prevent your shoes from banging around in the washing machine too much, wrap them in a mesh or fabric laundry bag before before throwing them into the machine.

4. 4

   Let the shoes air dry. Converse shoes must be allowed to air dry. To speed the process up and help further the whitening effect, place your shoes in a warm, sunny, and dry location to dry.

   • The dry warmth of the sun can help dry the shoes faster, and the light of the sun actually has a mild bleaching effect.
   • Do not use a dryer. Machine drying white Converse will result in the shoes losing their shape.

Add New Question

• Question

  Do I have to use a washer to rinse my shoes?

  

  No, and it would be better if you washed them by hand, as washing them in the washer and dryer can be hard on the shoes, especially if done often.

• Question

  Will putting the shoes in water and the dryer ruin them?

  

  Converse shoes can be washed with water as outlined in this article. However, let them air dry as the heat from the dryer can melt the glue and cause the shoes to fall apart and can change the shape of the shoes. If you must use the dryer, pack the shoes with tissue paper to keep their shape, place inside a pillow case and tie around the shoes tightly, then use the lowest setting on the dryer. If you cannot change the setting on the dryer, don't use it at all. However, as noted in the article, use of the dryer is not recommended at all.

• Question

  Will washing them using method 1 make the shoes smell bad?

  

  No. You should rinse them with water after using the bad smelling stuff and letting them air-dry also stops the smell anyway.

• Question

  Will baking soda and peroxide work instead of vinegar?

  

  Yes, it actually works better. Peroxide is a very good cleaning tool that will leave your shoes looking just like new.

• Question

  Is it essential to put them in a laundry bag when washing them in the washing machine?

  

  No, it's not necessary. I have washed shoes without a bag and they turned out perfectly fine.

• Question

  Will my shoes smell like vinegar after doing this?

  

  They will smell like vinegar at first, but the smell will go away after you air-dry them. If you notice the smell lingering, give your shoes a few more days; it will eventually go away.

• Question

  How long will it take for the shoes to air dry?

  

  If it's in the sun, it usually takes about a day. If not in the sun, it takes about 2 days.

• Question

  Will this work for black converse too?

  

  Yes. You can't see the effects as well, but it works well on the white rubber parts of the shoe.

• Question

  Can I use the dry erase method on colored chucks?

  

  Yes, you can! You would be better off putting them in the wash, though, because the color might fade if you use the magic eraser.

• Question

  Can I wash them with just water?

  

  You can, but it probably will not adequately remove stains from the fabric part of the shoe. It may remove scuff marks from the rubber soles, though.

Show more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Things You'll Need

• Shoelaces (optional)
• Bowl, basin, or bucket
• Water
• Clean rag
• Sponge
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Stain stick
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Mesh or cloth laundry bag
• Non-chlorinated detergent
• Magic eraser
• Mild soap
• WD-40
• Nail polish remover
• Bleach
• Whitening toothpaste
• Petroleum jelly
• Lemon
• Rubbing alcohol

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To clean white converse, first untie the shoes and remove the laces. Then, use a toothbrush or wash cloth to wipe off any caked-on dirt or grime on the shoes. Add 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of dish soap and 1 cup (235 mL) of warm water to a bowl and mix together. Dip the brush or cloth in the mixture and scrub each side of your shoes using back-and-forth strokes. Brush dirty areas until the stains are completely removed. Next, wipe down your shoes with a damp cloth to remove any leftover suds. To dry your shoes, crumple newspaper and place it inside your shoes. The newspaper will help your shoes maintain their shape while they air dry. For stubborn stains, you can use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. First, add 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda, ½ tablespoon (15 mL) of water, and ½ tablespoon (15 mL) of hydrogen peroxide to a bowl and mix together. Then, spread the paste onto your shoes using a toothbrush or washcloth. Leave your shoes out in the sun for 4-5 hours, then use a clean brush or cloth to remove the dried paste. To clean your white shoelaces, just soak them in a bowl of soapy water 10 minutes. Then, lay them out to air dry. For tips on how to remove scuff marks from your Converse or clean them using a magic eraser, a lemon, petroleum jelly, or rubbing alcohol, read the article!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,511,741 times.

Did this article help you?

How to Clean White Canvas Shoes Without Turning Them Yellow

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-White-Converse

Share this post