We buy white shoes because they look cool. It’s a pity that flying at least 10 centimeters above the ground is not yet available to us - we are forced to walk, collecting city dust and dirt. Over time, the soles of sneakers and sneakers turn yellow and black stripes appear. In this article you will learn how to update white Converse or sneakers and restore their former shine at home simply and quickly.
Author of the article: Hostess.
My name is Natalya and I have been managing my home professionally for more than 15 years. Saving my extended family's favorite things; I protect our house from fleas, midges, bloodsuckers and other rodents; I find faithful electronic assistants in household chores. And I am happy to pass on this entire experience to you)
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White sneakers like new - it's possible!
It's most offensive to those who follow fashion, because right now white and milky shoes are at their peak - people wear them to the mountains, do extreme sports, get married in them, go to work or on a date, and just relax on walks. Troubles with yellowness cannot be avoided, but you can fix it yourself.
White sneakers - both for the feast and for the world
Why do white sneakers and sneakers turn yellow?
- Sometimes this happens when it gets wet, if the water is not clean, for example, the pipes are slightly rusty, which is not always noticeable to the eye.
- Direct bright sun perfectly bleaches (discolors) fabric, but has a detrimental effect on rubber and it turns yellow.
- Insufficient pre-cleaning. Remember - the better you clean all the dirt from the sole, the easier it will be to wash them later.
- Rinsing quickly with insufficient water causes cleaning agents to remain in the shoes and cause yellowing. Do this carefully, without rushing.
- Wrong detergent. And it may not be your fault at all - you won’t know until you check. This happens - white rubber “does not get along” with some kind of cleaner and chemically “reacts” with the appearance of yellowness.
- Washing in hot water (above 40°C) can also give unpleasant “yellow” results.
- Drying with a running radiator, hairdryer or heat gun. High temperatures are not good for any shoes, especially white ones.
Which sneakers can be washed in a washing machine?
The sole of the products is made of vulcanized rubber, it is durable and flexible, so it will not be damaged when washed. The shoes themselves are made from the following materials:
- Synthetics. Such products are considered the cheapest and are easy to care for. The downside is that the fibers interfere with normal air exchange, they begin to smell unpleasant and require frequent washing. For synthetic models, you can use an automatic machine and not be afraid of damage if washed correctly.
- Textile. For rag models, external cleaning is more often required. The foot can breathe in them, but after going outside they need to be dried to prevent unpleasant odors from appearing.
- Suede and leather. Such shoes are more expensive, an automatic machine can damage the natural material, so washing must be done by hand.
How to wash white shoes without yellow stains?
If your shoes are not made of genuine leather or suede and were not bought for 100 rubles on the market, most likely they can easily be washed in a machine. In the last article, I described in great detail how to wash sneakers and sneakers correctly.
Take care of your white shoes immediately after a walk.
Now let's talk specifically about preventing yellowness .
- Before washing, it is better to play it safe and walk through shoes that have already been hand-cleaned (from large dirt and debris), with a mixture of two tablespoons of washing powder or gel (preferably bleach) and two tablespoons of vinegar. Take a sponge and run this solution over the entire surface of the shoe.
- To avoid yellow spots and stains after washing in the machine, add a little citric acid - 1/3 teaspoon - to the rinse compartment.
- Use gels instead of powders; they penetrate better into the fibers of the fabric, and then come out just as freely when rinsing. It would be good if they were intended specifically for white things.
⚠️ Detergents should not contain chlorine - it is this that can cause an unpleasant reaction with the material of white sneakers and cause stains.
- Do not turn on the drying mode if your “washer” has one. Improper drying is a common cause of loss of whiteness of your favorite shoes.
- Add an extra rinse. With white shoes it will never be superfluous - you need to eliminate as much as possible the detergents from getting “stuck” in the fibers of the fabric. And rinse by hand in at least 4-5 waters.
If washing does not give the desired effect the first time, we move on to plan B: long and tedious, but with a 99% guarantee))
Cleaning the sole
The sole can cause a lot of trouble if it is not cleaned in time:
- Make a concentrated bleach solution (without chlorine) and pour it into a bowl in a 5-6 cm layer.
- Place the sneakers in the basin (the solution should cover all the rubber parts).
- Wait 2-3 hours.
- Clean the sole - any medium-hard brush will do for this.
- Degrease the sole with acetone, and erase black stripes and spots with a school eraser.
After this, the shoes can be safely machine washed.
We bleach yellowed rubber and uppers on sneakers and sneakers.
Using simple improvised means that everyone has at home, it’s easy to literally make rag sneakers or sports sneakers “brand new” again in just 5-10 minutes. If the first remedy from the list below helped you, great, but if not, keep trying, something will definitely work and your shoes will become white again)
Washing powder or laundry soap. Pour warm water into a basin and generously pour in washing powder or cut half a bar of soap. Let the powder and soap dissolve. Place your shoes so that only the soles are in the water. Leave the rubber to soak for 30-50 minutes. When you return, scrub away the yellowness with a stiff brush. You can use an old toothbrush - it will be more convenient. Patience and work, friends)
stationery eraser can remove black streaks . Rub it vigorously over dirty strokes. You may have to try several erasers before you find the right one that will remove streaks most effectively.
It's easy to bleach gray sneakers with baking soda . Mix it with table vinegar (9%) in a 1:1 ratio, knead the “porridge”. Use plastic or glass containers to avoid unexpected reactions. You can only use a paste of baking soda and water. Place the shoes, cleaned of most dirt, in a basin. Dip the brush into the prepared mixture and scrub the shoe. You can leave the mixture on dirty places for 20-30 minutes, and then completely remove all the yellowness with soda.
Bleaches.
- ⚠️ Choose those that do not contain chlorine . It has a bad effect on both the rubber of sneakers and the textile upper of the sneaker.
- Apply a gentle product to the stained areas for half an hour, then scrub off with a brush what remains of the yellow spots and black stripes.
- Add it when washing in the washing machine or by hand along with detergent.
- Or soak the soles in a strong bleach solution for half an hour, as with the powder.
