How to wash sneakers in a washing machine? Forget about the washing machine. What about water repellent

Helpful Hints

White sneakers are a staple in everyone's wardrobe. Without them, it is already difficult to imagine the image of modern man.

Whether it's classic Converse or athletic sneakers, white shoes always require careful and gentle care.

Here are 10 simple but very useful tips that will keep your sneakers always clean, fresh and… truly WHITE.


How to care for white sneakers

1. Anti-scratch white varnish



To repair scratches on sneakers, use white nail polish.

This simple trick really works, as long as you choose the right shade of polish to match the color of your shoes. Otherwise, the correction will be visible and it will look sloppy.

So, if you see a small scratch or blemish on your new white sneakers, just take out your favorite white nail polish and gently dab the scratch in with a swipe of the brush.

A simple nail polish really works wonders.

2. Use a sponge dipped in vinegar to remove stains



Today in any supermarket you can buy special cleaning sponges for shoes. You can choose the right one based on the material and color of the shoes.

But if suddenly it so happened that there is no special sponge at hand, just take a clean rag that does not shed, dip it in a solution with vinegar and carefully remove stains from the surface of the sneaker.

3. Do not wash white sneakers in the washing machine



Remember: never throw white sneakers into the washing machine!

If you don't want to ruin your shoes, say a firm word: NO to washing in the washing machine. Even if you put it on the delicate cycle, this wash can be devastating to sneakers.

It's best to stick with hand washing if you want to keep your shoes looking their best for longer.

So it will last you much longer.

4. Use a toothbrush



To remove stains from hard-to-reach places, use an ordinary toothbrush with medium-hard bristles.

Use an old toothbrush, warm water, and a mild soapy solution if your shoes have dirt stains in hard to reach areas.

Soak the brush in the solution, then scrub gently and gently place of pollution.

Caring for white sneakers

5. Use of white dry wipes



Your shoes may be slightly damp after you clean them; to help it dry faster, use ordinary paper napkins.

Please note that they must be white. Crumple some tissues into balls and place them inside your shoes.

They will absorb excess moisture and help the shoes dry faster.

6. Wash shoelaces in warm water



The easiest way is to throw the shoelaces into the washing machine and not suffer.

Many people have this temptation. But don't do it! Instead, wash the laces separately from the sneakers by hand in warm, soapy water.

Soak the laces in water with a mild detergent. Wash the laces in such water, then rinse in clean water. Then let them dry.

7. Oil stain shampoo



Deal with a grease stain on a white sneaker Regular hair shampoo will help.

If, for example, you drop a cream cake on your shoes or knock over a roast on yourself, this can be a real test for your shoes.

To solve this problem, use a mild alkaline shampoo, warm water, and a toothbrush or cloth to gently rub the area. This should work.

8. Store white sneakers indoors or in a closet



Don't leave your white sneakers in plain sight outside the closet.

First, exposure to ultraviolet radiation will cause loss of brightness, fading and unwanted discoloration. Try to store your white shoes in a cool, dark place when you are not wearing them.

Secondly, dust on white shoes is also undesirable. After eating into the fabric, it contributes to the fact that the material loses its color and presentable appearance.

Thus, if your shoes will be stored in a closet or other closed plane, they will be better preserved, which will allow you to wear them for a single season.

9. Use bleach in a weak consistency and diluted form



The main question is: can you use bleach on white sneakers or sneakers?

Yes, you can, but you need to dilute it.

Most shoe care manuals suggest mixing one part bleach with five parts water; nothing more, otherwise you risk ruining your shoes by turning the white color of the fabric into a strange yellowish tone.

For these purposes, use the same old toothbrush.

Dip it in the diluted bleach solution and gently clean the shoes. Then rinse your shoes with warm water.

10. Don't forget about the inside of your shoes.



Do not forget that not only the outer surface of white sneakers needs cleaning and careful care.

The inside of the shoe also needs careful care. To avoid the occurrence of an unpleasant odor, in closed shoes it is necessary to clean the lining at least once a week.

This is also worth doing in order to avoid the spread of bacteria that can lead to various diseases.

Today on the shelves of stores you can find a lot of tools that can help care for the internal state of shoes.

For example, a special deodorant based on menthol oil will be very good. It will help in the fight against unpleasant odors.

* The sole of sneakers also needs proper and thorough care.


It is not advisable to clean it with ordinary household detergents and rub it with rough and hard sponges that can cause scratches.

Forget about the metal laundry sponge, otherwise you risk ruining your shoes.

Opt for a special mildly alkaline shampoo that gently cleans white rubber soles without harming either the color or the material they are made of.

And remember: shoes are the first thing that catches your eye when you meet, when applying for a job or on a date.

White shoes look nice and showy and add points to any look.

If you want to be at your best, make sure your sneakers are always snow-white and clean.


Many of us take care of our running shoes as a matter of course and little attention. However, if handled incorrectly, you can noticeably shorten the life of your running shoes, and in some cases even ruin them. We have a separate article about how much sneakers should “run”, in the same article we will talk about how to properly care for running shoes.

Each of us is familiar with this picture: you run home, and the cool colors of your favorite sneakers are securely hidden under a layer of dust and dirt. What to do? Leave everything as it is, wash your sneakers in the washing machine or call for help with a brush and a rag? We will show you how to properly care for your sneakers so that they serve you as long as possible.

Trail shoes do not need to be washed.

The following lines will definitely delight trail shoe wearers. Cleaning shoes designed for trail running and dirt is just a waste of time, because after each new run, dirt will again stick to them. Cleaning doesn't make much sense. The exception, of course, is the situation when, under a layer of dirt, it becomes impossible to distinguish the sneakers themselves, and instead of the original 250 grams, they weigh three times as much. But even in this case, you should not burden yourself with cleaning too much. In order for the sneakers to be usable again, it is enough to simply remove the stubborn dirt under a powerful jet of water.

The owners of asphalt sneakers find themselves in a completely different situation. Despite the fact that they also do not have to be cleaned, most of us would like to be with the whole parade at least at the competition, so that we would not be ashamed to look at the photos later. What's the best way to clean your running shoes without ruining them and spending too much time cleaning up?

Forget about the washing machine

We'll put it straight and straight - put clothes in the washing machine, not running shoes. Most running shoes are not meant to be washed, and in the process you can permanently ruin even a new pair of running shoes.

The problem is not in water and not in the cleaning agent (and it doesn’t even matter whether it is a powder or a gel), but in the mechanical damage that occurs from hitting shoes on the drum of a washing machine. During washing, both the shock-absorbing layer and the top of the sneakers get. In modern sneakers, it is often seamless and consists of many glued parts. As a result, after washing, you will get sneakers with deformed shock-absorbing material, which will have an extremely negative impact on their durability, and they can also wrinkle or simply stick out.

Brush in your hand

Which cleaning method should I choose as an alternative? If you don't care too much about how your sneakers look, then you can simply go for a run in the morning dew, which will wash some of the dirt off your sneakers. For a more thorough cleaning, you will need a soft brush or cloth.

Warm (but never hot) water, liquid soap, and a soft brush are the most effective ways to clean your sneakers. Because running shoes are made from synthetic materials, you won't
it will be difficult to quickly and easily wash even light-colored sneakers. Just be careful not to scratch or rub the delicate material by brushing too hard.


When cleaning your sneakers, don't forget about the inside of the shoe and the foam insoles as they accumulate dust and, most importantly, actively absorbed sweat, which can cause an unpleasant odor.

How to dry sneakers?

After you have cleaned your sneakers, you need to dry them properly. Throwing sneakers in the dryer or turning on the drying function in the washing machine is the easiest way that suggests itself, but even in this case, we strongly do not recommend using such units. Such drying will have a very bad effect on the materials from which the sneakers are made, and significantly reduce their durability.

It is best to dry your sneakers in a ventilated place near a heat source. Stuffing old newspapers or other absorbent material into your sneakers will speed up the drying process considerably. You should also not put your sneakers on a hot battery or heater and leave them near open flames (fireplace, stove, etc.)

What about water repellency?

The second most asked question immediately after drying is whether it is necessary to use water-repellent sprays on sneakers. Most running shoes are made from very delicate breathable materials, so saturating them with anything usually has no effect. Of course, you won't ruin your sneakers, but it's better if you save the water-repellent treatment for mountain or trekking boots, where it will work much more efficiently.

Membrane shoes

A separate category includes sneakers made of waterproof membrane material (most often Gore-Tex), but they also do not need to be impregnated with anything. The membrane works on a mechanical principle and should repel water by itself without the need for additional processing. Caring for these sneakers is no different from caring for regular textile running shoes, but you will need to pay even more attention to the inside of the sneakers and at least once a month lightly rinse it with water and brush it.

Regular care of the inside of the shoe is essential to ensure that the micropores that provide the breathability of the membrane are not clogged with sweat and dust and can work at constant efficiency.

Caring for sneakers is not washing in a typewriter and drying on a battery. Some people do this, but we don't recommend it. Regardless of the material your sneakers are made of, machine washing will quickly wear out the shoes, causing cracks and scratches, loss of shape and color. So remember: if washing, then manual. The Village has compiled a guide on how to take care of sneakers and selected the necessary tools for this.

How to process new sneakers

Before you go for a walk with your new pair, it is advisable to treat it with a special spray that protects against moisture and dust - you can find it in almost any shoe store.

How to clean leather sneakers

Prepare a shoe brush and a small container of warm water in which to dilute the detergent. Wet the brush with water and with quick movements with a short amplitude, rub it into the dirty places until a fluffy foam appears.

Then wipe off the foam with a clean cloth. Clean the sole in the same way.

How to clean suede and nubuck sneakers

Suede and nubuck do not like water, so shoes made from these materials should be dry cleaned. First of all, carefully go over the sneakers with a soft brush and clean them of dirt and dust. Then take a special eraser for suede and nubuck, which can gently erase the top layer of the material and remove difficult stains, and wipe the dirty areas with it. After that, go over the sneakers again with a dry brush.

If that doesn't work for you, then you can try a cleansing foam for suede and nubuck. Apply to the contaminated area with a spray bottle, then wipe it with a dry, clean sponge and allow the shoes to dry.

How to clean textile sneakers

With textile sneakers, too, everything is not so simple. Wash them by hand in a detergent solution. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry at room temperature.

In the case of difficult stains, you can use special stain removers or cleaning foam, which we talked about above.

How to clean mesh sneakers

First, clean the sneakers with a soft sponge from dirt and dust. Soak a soft brush in a warm solution of water and detergent and proceed. Periodically rinse the brush in clean water to avoid rubbing existing dirt into the shoes. After you finish cleaning, remove any remaining detergent from the mesh. Take a clean towel, lightly wet it and walk over the washed sneakers.

What to do with laces

If you have been cleaning your favorite pair for a long time without removing the laces from it, then it's time to fix it. Firstly, on the tongue under them, most likely, more than one layer of dirt has already appeared. Secondly, the laces themselves also need care. They need to be washed by hand. If this job seems like torture to you, then put the laces in a laundry bag and select the delicate mode in the washing machine menu. If you are not satisfied with this option, then you can simply change the laces every two months. The main thing is to find inexpensive and identical to the original ones.

How to clean the sole

When cleaning the sole, you need to remember that for many models of sneakers it is dyed. That is why avoid sudden movements, sponges with rough surfaces and carefully read the composition of the products you use. The white sole, which tends to turn yellow, is best cleaned. Just wet it and walk over the contaminated areas.

Which in modern times can be attributed to everyday. Many people think that such products are unpretentious and do not need to be taken care of. However, if this is not done, the shoes quickly turn yellow, and the insoles acquire an unpleasant odor. How to properly care for sneakers?

Basic rules for daily care

  1. If you wear sports shoes on the street, every time you leave the house you need to use a special spray to protect them from weather factors, especially in winter and autumn. The spray covers the sneakers with a protective layer and prevents streaks on their surface. When buying a protective agent, you should remember that each spray or oil is intended for a specific material (this question can be clarified with a consultant).
  2. Keep your shoes clean on a regular basis. Washing them in a washing machine is not recommended; if heavily soiled, you can wash them under running water using ordinary soap or a mild shampoo.
  3. Are your sneakers made of nylon? This is a fairly practical material that does not require special care, so it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth from time to time and apply a protective spray.
  4. For leather sneakers, the use of a special shoe cream is provided, the tone of which will match the tone of the material. If desired, you can choose a cream that has a neutral shade.
  5. Sneakers made of suede or nubuck are the most “capricious” models in terms of care. Small dirt can be removed with a special brush for suede (it has soft bristles). If stains appear on the surface, you will have to purchase a stain remover for this material. Wet cleaning is recommended only in extreme cases. Please note that it is necessary to use a stain remover for suede strictly in accordance with the instructions.
  6. If your sneakers are made of artificial materials, you can simply wash them with cold water and soapy water.
  7. It is recommended to purchase several pairs of shoes at the same time to extend their service life. Some models are suitable for the gym, and completely different ones for regular walks.
  8. Use folk remedies and strong solvents with caution, which can damage the structure of the fabric or skin. A new, unfamiliar tool to you, it is advisable to first try it on an inconspicuous piece of fabric.

How to care for white sneakers

Such things require even more careful care. In order to prevent unpleasant yellowness on sneakers over time, they should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth after you come from the street (it is first recommended to remove dried dirt with a brush).

If an unpleasant stain still appears on the shoes, you can use modern bleaching agents that are sold in hardware stores. A handy option is a white toothpaste without dyes, which must be gently rubbed into the stain.

Thus, the care of sneakers must be daily if you want to keep the attractive look of these sports shoes for a long time. At the same time, each material has its own specific care: leather and suede require a different approach. In case of heavy pollution, it is better to entrust the care of sneakers to professionals who will remove the stains without ruining the thing.