People wear shoes daily, which inevitably leads to the accumulation of dust, dirt, sweat, and grime. This is especially noticeable on white sneakers or canvas shoes. Furthermore, the smell of sweat that occurs in shoes causes additional discomfort. Although many people tend to buy expensive cleaning products, this is not always necessary.
Some common items found in your kitchen and bathroom can be very useful for cleaning shoes. With their help, you can significantly reduce stains, dust, and unpleasant odors. Thus, simple home remedies can help maintain shoes in a clean and odorless condition. Therefore, if your shoes get dirty, before throwing them away or buying expensive cleaning products, be sure to try these simple folk methods.
How to easily clean shoes:
1. Removing stains and odor with baking soda: Baking soda is an effective shoe cleaning agent. It helps loosen light dirt and stains on shoes and is also capable of reducing unpleasant odors inside. To make a paste, mix about three tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water to form a thick consistency. Then, apply this paste to the soiled areas of the shoes using an old toothbrush. Leave it for 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water. If the problem is only the odor, you can place some baking soda inside the shoes overnight and shake it out well in the morning.
2. White vinegar will eliminate dirt and odor: The next item on the list is white vinegar. It can also be used to clean shoes, being particularly useful for reducing odors caused by sweat and bacteria inside the shoes. Prepare a spray by mixing white vinegar and water in equal parts. Lightly spray it on the dirty areas of the shoes, then gently scrub with a soft brush and wipe with a damp cloth. This method is ideal for cleaning the inside of the shoes, where the most odors accumulate due to sweat.
3. Whitening the sole with white toothpaste: If black marks appear on the sole of white shoes or there are stains visible on the canvas, white toothpaste can help. However, it is crucial to use only regular white, non-gel toothpaste. Apply a small amount of paste to the stain and gently scrub in circular motions with an old toothbrush. Leave it for 10–15 minutes, then wipe with a damp cloth. Colored gel toothpastes should not be used as they may leave colored marks on the shoes.
How to clean very dirty shoes
If the shoes have not been cleaned for a long time and have accumulated a lot of dirt, you can use a combination of baking soda and white vinegar. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and a little warm water to form a paste. Apply this paste to the shoes and gently scrub with an old toothbrush. Let the paste dry, and then remove the residue with a brush.
When not to use these tricks on every pair of shoes
It is important to remember that the material of each pair of shoes differs, so before applying any method, it is recommended to test it on a small, inconspicuous area. Prolonged soaking of leather shoes in a large amount of water should be avoided. Additionally, for suede shoes, it is better to clean them with a dry brush rather than applying wet paste or water. Before using on colored or expensive shoes, be sure to perform a test application on a small area.