How to keep your white sneakers clean

White sneakers are a great addition to your summer wardrobe… until they get dirty. Then they go from stylish to dowdy. So how can you keep your sneakers as pristine as the day you bought them? Read on…

Tools of the trade

Grab an old toothbrush and put it to work cleaning your white sneakers instead of your pearly whites. It’s perfect for getting to hard-to-reach areas.

Secret ingredients

First, pre-treat your shoes with a stain and water repellant. For cleaning, try Vinegar, shampoo, Magic Eraser, Mr. Clean wipes, leather shoe polish or the old standby, Jubilee kitchen cleaner (available at hardware stores). Canvas sneakers can go in your washer on the delicate cycle, then let air dry. If you want to bleach your shoes, be sure to water down the bleach first. Experiment to see what works best for your sneakers.

Laces

Don’t neglect your shoelaces. Wash white laces in warm, soapy water. Be sure your hands are clean when lacing/unlacing your shoes to minimize discoloration.

Cover up

Just as you use concealer on blemishes, hide scuffs and scratches by applying a little white nail polish. This quick touch-up will only take a couple of minutes.