If you’ve avoided wearing your fresh footwear because you have no idea how to clean white shoes, and don’t want to risk ruining them, we’ve got all the answers for you. After all, if you’re investing in something you love, you may as well get some good use out of it. Not to mention, there’s nothing enjoyable about being overly precious about your stuff—no matter how expensive the pieces may be. So we’ve developed a fail-proof system to get and keep your white shoes clean.
Let’s start with the essentials.
What You’ll Need
- A white microfiber cloth
- Liquid laundry detergent
- A small bowl
- A Magic Eraser
- Optional: An extra-soft toothbrush
Step 1: Bang the soles together
If you’ve been walking around outside, chances are, there’s some debris wedged within the soles of your shoes. You can usually free it by clapping the soles together. For dust or dirt that’s a bit more baked into the uppers, peep the next step.
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Step 2: Use a cleaning solution
Fill a small bowl with warm water and pour in a tablespoon (maybe less depending on the size of your bowl) of liquid detergent. Mix the two together with a spoon or your fingers to create a sudsy, bubbly solution. Next, dip the microfiber cloth (we suggest using a white one to avoid color transfer) into the solution and gently scrub the stains. If you need a tool slightly more abrasive than the cloth, opt for an extra-soft toothbrush. It won’t damage the delicate fabric of your shoes, but it will give you a more effective clean for stubborn stains.
Step 3: Clean the laces
Unfasten the laces and submerge them in another small bowl filled with warm water and a tiny bit (less than a teaspoon will work) of bleach. While the bleach absorbs, go over the laces with a wet toothbrush, which will loosen the dirt. The bleach solution will take care of the rest.
Step 4: Tackle the soles
The soles of your shoes will likely be the dirtiest, but luckily, they’re often the easiest to clean. You only need one tool to get them spick and span: a Magic Eraser. Dip the corner or edge into the same warm, soapy water you used for the uppers and scrub the soles and rubber sides until they’re spotless. This shouldn’t take more than five minutes per shoe.
How to Keep Your White Shoes Clean
Now that your white shoes are pretty much as good as new, you’ll want to keep them that way for as long as possible. The easiest way to do that is cleaning them—maybe not as thoroughly as we suggest above—whenever you notice the color has faded or there’s a fresh stain. Quick, easy maintenance like that will minimize how often you have to give them a deep clean.
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Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.
