A pair of crisp, white sneakers can go a long way; a dainty floral dress? White sneakers. Joggers and a denim jacket? White sneakers. Needing to make a pantsuit look a little more casual? White sneakers. If you’re like us, you probably have a few pairs, but they’ve probably seen whiter days, and sure, some kicks look pretty cool a little beat up, but today we’re talking about tips for keeping those white sneakers fresh and clean. Let’s get started!
(image via: merricks art)
Spray Shield Your Sneakers
We’ll be the first to admit that spending anywhere between $10 and $20 on a spray shield for shoes sounds a little crazy, but spray-on protectors are worth the investment. You’ll apply this spray for a solid couple of weeks and it will protect you against all kinds of stains, so you don’t have to be fearful of getting an absurd amount of dirt, dust, or even liquid all over your crisp white kicks.
Manicure Your Kicks with Polish
If you notice that you have a small random scratch or two on your nice white kicks, find or buy a bottle of white nail polish to easily hide them!
Keep ‘Em Clean
This is super doable, the problem is committing to it, but after each wear, wipe your kicks off. Even if your shoes are new, you can wipe them down to keep that fresh white. Have a designated toothbrush to “dust” your shoes off with, then take a damp cloth and wipe them off.
(image via: outfit ideas)
Don’t Forget the Laces
You can’t have beautiful white shoes and dingy laces, now can you? Laces are the easy part, just rinse them in some lukewarm water! It’s that easy.
Every Once in a While, Really Get in There
Just like your house or your car, your shoes will need a deep cleaning every once in a while too. You can deep clean your kicks with baking soda, toothpaste, or bleach. Our personal favorite is baking soda and you’ll do this by making a paste out of equal parts warm water, white vinegar, and baking soda; then you’ll simply use a toothbrush to lather the paste on, let the paste sit for about 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. If you do opt to use bleach, make sure it’s diluted with water and use only a small amount of bleach.
Steer Clear Of Too Much Sun
Sure, it’s easy to throw your shoes in the sunshine to dry them, but this can be tough on your kicks; our recommendation is to dry them near a fan or even a refrigerator.