5 Tips For Resurfacing White Sneakers

To prevent chemicals from damaging the fabrics of your white sneakers, opt for products that are less aggressive and just as effective.

White sneakers tend to turn yellowish the more we use them. They should therefore be cleaned regularly. Nowadays, there are plenty of commercial whitening products available that can help us resurface our shoes.

However, it is not recommended to use products like bleach, because these products can deteriorate the materials of the shoes or give them a color that is not precisely white. In addition, according to a publication from the National Center for Biotechnology Information ,  this whitening product can irritate mucous membranes, skin and respiratory tract.

It is therefore necessary to look for reliable and ecological alternatives that we can handle in a safe way. Do you want to discover some of these alternatives? In the rest of this article, we share with you the best homemade tips for resurfacing white sneakers. 

1. Coarse salt is effective in cleaning white sneakers

Coarse salt has many uses including cleaning white canvas shoes. Its properties help remove dirt and enhance white tones that begin to become opaque.

Ingredients

• 1 + 1/2 cup coarse salt (150 g)
• Soap or laundry
• 1 brush

Manual

• Use the dry brush to remove excess dirt from the inside and outside of the shoes.
• Before rinsing, rub the inside and outside of the shoe with coarse salt, and leave to act for an hour.
• Once the indicated time has elapsed, rinse it off in cold water with your usual soap.
• Remove the soles and soak them in a basin of soapy water.
• Dry them in the sun.

2. The salt and milk mixture

To stimulate the whitening effects of salt, mix it with a large amount of milk. Nevertheless, there is no scientific evidence that confirms the absolute effectiveness of this mixture.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of coarse salt (160 g)
• 1 liter of milk
• ½ liter of water
• Soap or laundry

Manual

• Pour the milk and water into a bucket.
• Add the salt.
• Soak the shoes for three hours.
• Scrub them with a brush, then rinse.

3. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a good solution for cleaning white gums on the sole or shoes that are made from synthetic materials such as plastic or even imitation leather.

Ingredients

• 1 toothbrush
• White toothpaste
• 1 damp cloth

Manual

• Moisten the toothbrush with a little water, and put a little toothpaste on the brush.
• Rub on the areas of the shoe that you want to resurface.
• Gradually, a foam will form and the dirt will disappear.
• Finally, rub the shoes with a damp cloth.

4. Sodium bicarbonate and white vinegar

One of the quintessential natural whiteners is the mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. These two ingredients clean fabrics, even those used to make shoes.

Their antibacterial qualities eliminate bacteria and fungi that can be the cause of the bad bad smell that emanates from the feet.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of white vinegar (125 ml)
• ¼ cup of sodium bicarbonate (60 g)
• 1 brush

Manual

• Mix the baking soda with the white vinegar.
• Wait for a foam to form, then rub the product on the shoe with a brush.
• Leave it on for thirty minutes, then rinse it off.

5. The ammonia and dishwashing liquid mixture

Ammonia is a substance widely used in the household products industry. Its properties remove stains without discoloring objects.

When it comes to cleaning white shoes, you can mix this substance with lukewarm water and a little washing up liquid. Your shoes will be like new, white and clean again.

Ingredients

• 1 brush
• 2 liters of lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon of ammonia (5 ml)
• 1 tablespoon of washing-up liquid (10 ml)
• Optional: 1 tablespoon of baking soda (optional) (5 g)

The user manual

• First, use a brush to remove dust and dirt accumulated inside and outside the shoe.
• Dilute the ammonia in the two liters of lukewarm water, then pour in the washing-up liquid.
• Soak your shoes in the mixture for an hour, then rinse them.
• If you notice that they still have stains, rub them with baking soda after soaking them.

Important!

When using products such as ammonia, you should apply certain safety measures. As recommended by Chemical Safety Facts, the ideal is for the room to be well ventilated (windows and doors open). In addition, appropriate clothing and eye protection should be used.

In short …

Know that all these homemade whitening products are very effective in giving new life to your white sneakers.

As much as possible, avoid aggressive products in order to keep your shoes longer.