How to Keep White Shoes Bright

A brand new pair of white shoes really pops, but all too soon, they can lose that brightness if they aren’t cleaned properly. White shoes can go from ‘wow’ to ‘woe’ remarkably fast, especially if you are walking outside in them a lot. But with the right care, your shoes can stay looking bright and new.

Prevention is important. Whatever material your shoes are, find the appropriate polish or spray-on protector for them and use it. Avoid walking through mud or wet grass whenever possible in light coloured footwear.

You’ll hear all kinds of advice on how to clean white shoes. But what can you trust? First, some methods only work on some materials. Second, never put your shoes in the washing machine. That will either destroy them outright or shorten their lifespan by weakening any glue or other adhesive holding them together. One tip, however, always holds true. Don’t make your white shoes wait to be cleaned. If you come in from a muddy walk, get the mud off them right away by knocking them together. Don’t rub the mud in, though!

Cleaning White Canvas Shoes & Trainers

A simple, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly method is actually the most effective way to clean white canvas shoes. Add one part bread soda to two parts vinegar and dilute the mix in warm water. A good ratio is a tablespoon of bread soda and two tablespoons of vinegar into 250 ml of water. Use an old toothbrush or similar to scrub the mixture onto the shoes thoroughly, then leave them to dry in a warm, sunny spot. Once they are completely dry, just wipe any of the dry paste off them and they’re fabulous again.

How to Clean White Leather Shoes

First, wipe off any dirt with a shoe brush or cloth. Then use a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water to wipe any stains. When the shoes are completely dry, polish them so they are ready to go back out again.

What About White Mesh or Suede Shoes?

These are both more difficult to clean, but it can be done!

Mesh is a challenge because dirt can into all those nooks and crannies, and the mesh itself can be damaged if you scrub it too hard. Use a soft toothbrush dipped in diluted laundry detergent and patiently, gently clean the shoes.

Suede is easily damaged by water, which means you need to use as little as possible when cleaning white suede shoes. Use a shoe brush to remove any dirt, and if any stains remain, you can use a pencil rubber to remove them.

When you clean white shoes, don’t forget the soles and the laces! The soles can usually be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Remove the laces and soak them in warm, soapy water. Wait until your shoes and laces are completely dry to lace them back up.

White shoes look great when the sun comes out in the spring and summer. You can keep them looking great by cleaning them as soon as they need it.