How To Clean White Shoes: It’s Simple to Whiten Your Dirty Shoes

White shoes have become a staple in a lot of closets since they can be paired with so many different looks. They are trendy, come in lots of styles, and are an all-around awesome addition to any wardrobe. There’s so much to love about white sneakers. However, they are a pain in the-you-know-what to keep clean for any length of time. It’s like clockwork as soon as you put them on and walk out the door something happens – a spill, a muddy dog paw, a scuff, grass stains – you name it. If it will mess up your shoes, you can bet that it will happen to your white shoes. Anyone relate? *raises both hands*

The good news is that you can keep your white shoes looking brand-new if you know how to properly clean and care for them. 

If you are looking for options for cleaning your white shoes without using bleach, then you are in luck. We don’t use a lot of bleach in our house because it is an irritant to a few members of our family and it can be quite harsh. Bleach breaks down the material fibers faster than normal so we don’t feel it is a good option for cleaning shoes unless absolutely necessary. Especially since some shoes can be quite the investment, we want to keep them in good shape for as long as possible. Also, a lot of shoe manufacturers don’t recommend the use of bleach on their footwear since it can turn them yellow.

How To Clean White Canvas Shoes

First, we will talk about how to clean white Vans or Converse shoes, for example, since they are some of the most popular white canvas shoes on the market. However, these cleaning tips will work for any other kind of canvas shoes from Keds to the $9.98 Walmart special. 

Step 1: Brush off any loose dirt and debris

Get a scrub brush and lightly go over your shoes to remove as much of the surface dirt and grime as you can. Don’t brush too hard or you could do damage to the canvas material. 

Step 2: Remove the laces from the shoes 

To properly clean white canvas shoes you must remove the shoelaces as the laces trap dirt and filth underneath them. Besides, it’s always a good idea to give your shoelaces a good scrub down as well. There’s more to cleaning shoelaces than you may think and some disturbing reasons why you should.

Step 3: Choose a cleaning option from below

For all the options, you will need these tools:

Deep Clean

Option #1 – Soap and Water

You will need:

Nothing beats good ole soap and water, and everyone has it on hand – or at least you should. Grab some liquid dish soap such as blue Dawn or a bit of laundry detergent and a toothbrush. Get stains out by using the toothbrush to scrub gently in a circular motion. Repeat as many times as necessary. Rinse the shoes with water to remove the soap. Most canvas shoes can be fully submerged in water, but be sure to check with your shoes’ manufacturer first. 

Air-dry your shoes in a well-ventilated area.

Option #2 – Baking Soda and Vinegar

You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon warm water 
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar. 
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Make a paste with baking soda, water, and vinegar in a small bowl. The paste should be thick enough to spread onto the shoe. Use a toothbrush and lightly scrub any stained areas with the paste. Then apply a layer of paste over the entire shoe and let it dry in the sun until completely dry. Give the shoes a good smack together to loosen all the dry baking soda and use a toothbrush to get rid of the rest. 

Option #3 – Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

You’ll Need:

• ½ tablespoon warm water 
• ½ tablespoon hydrogen peroxide 
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

According to Buzzfeed, you mix water, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda in a bowl to make a paste. Then use your toothbrush with the baking soda/peroxide mixture and work it into the shoes. Then add a second layer of the paste and allow it to dry in the sun for 3-4 hours. When the paste is completely dry on the shoes, it can be removed by knocking the shoes together and by brushing off the remaining residue with a soft shoe brush or toothbrush. 

A quick note about drying in the sun: Even though it’s recommended to dry your shoes in the sun after using peroxide, my research suggests using caution. If you use the sun to dry your white shoes you will want to cover the shoes with toilet paper to prevent a reaction with the peroxide that could cause yellowing.

Option #4 – Toothpaste

You will need:

Note: You will first want to test the toothpaste on a small area of the shoe to ensure that it does not leave any discoloration.

Toothpaste has whitening properties that can also whiten Converse, Vans, or other canvas shoes. Put a dab of toothpaste on a toothbrush dampened with water to activate the foaming action. Rub the shoe with the toothbrush in circular motions. Use a damp cloth with warm water to wipe away the toothpaste and the dirt that was lifted.

Set your shoes out to air-dry.

Option #5 – Fels-Naptha Stain Remover

You will need:

If you have especially stained and dirty shoes, use some Fels-Naptha to remove any problematic stains from your white canvas shoes. Fels-Naptha also works well to remove odor from insoles. 

Simply wet the bar and rub it over the shoes. You can use a brush for light scrubbing. Let it set on any stains for 30 minutes to one hour. Wet a cloth and remove the soap or rinse the shoes with water if they will tolerate it. 

Put the shoes out to air-dry.

On-The-Go Quick Clean

Carry some shoe cleaning wipes on you to take care of those unexpected messes in a hurry. Baby wipes may also work for doing quick clean-ups on your canvas shoes. Elle has a stain removing recipe that might also be a good choice to keep on hand for spot treating stains right away. As mentioned before, be careful when cleaning with hydrogen peroxide.

How To Clean White Leather Shoes

Step 1: Wipe and brush off loose dirt 

Take a damp cloth and a soft brush if needed and go over your shoes to get rid of as much dirt as you can. Leather shoes are easier to clean up than canvas or other shoes because the filth doesn’t stick as well or get as deeply to the material. 

Step 2: Un-lace the laces from the shoes 

You definitely don’t want dirty grungy looking shoelaces on your nice clean white leather shoes. You also want to be sure that you can get to those hard to reach places that conceal dirt on the shoe just under the laces. There are lots of simple ways to clean your laces, and it is worth the extra effort.

Step 3: Choose a cleaning option from below

Deep Clean

Option #1 – Soap and Water

You will need:

Mild soap and water on a soft cloth should do the lion’s share of the cleaning. The soap will break down the grime, and the dirt should wipe away easily. If you need more scrubbing action, you could also use a toothbrush and gently scrub away the filth.

Option #2 – Toothpaste

You will need:

Note: You will first want to test the toothpaste on a small area of the shoe to ensure that it does not leave any discoloration.

Take a dampened toothbrush and add a small amount of toothpaste. Work in circular motions on any extra-dirty spots on your shoes. When you are satisfied, use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess toothpaste from the leather shoes.

Set your shoes out to air-dry.

Option #3 – Fels-Naptha Stain Remover

You will need:

For stains that are harder to remove such as grease, take a bar of Fels-Naptha and rub it over the surface of the shoes. Wipe the shoes with a damp cloth.

Air-dry in an open area

On-The-Go Quick Clean

Alcohol pads work great as an inexpensive yet effective option for spot cleaning white leather shoes. You could also use shoe cleaning wipes or baby wipes as well since leather is easier to clean up quickly than other shoe materials.  

How To Clean White Mesh Running Shoes

Mesh running shoes can be a little trickier to clean due to the risk of damaging the mesh or getting the shoes too wet. Not to worry, we have some solutions to clean them up.

Step 1: Clap together and brush off surface dirt

Clap your shoes together a few good times outdoors. The mesh easily traps dirt particles in the fibers, and clapping the shoes against each other will loosen the trapped dirt. Then you can use a soft brush to gently remove dirt and debris, if necessary. Don’t use a brush that is too stiff or you could mess up the mesh fabric. 

Step 2: Remove the laces from the shoes 

A clean white shoe is no good when you have filthy shoelaces, so it’s always a good idea to give your laces a wash as well. It’s easy to do, and the extra step doesn’t take any time at all.

Step 3: Choose a cleaning option from below

Deep Clean

Option #1 – Soap and Water

You will need:

WikiHow suggests washing white mesh shoes with dish soap and water. Take a cloth and lightly rub the mesh to clean the dirt and stains away. Always be careful not to scrub too hard as you don’t want the mesh to fray or get damaged in any way during washing.

Option #2 – Baking Soda and Vinegar

You will need: 

• 1 tablespoon warm water 
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar. 
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Mix up a paste in your bowl with baking soda, water, and vinegar. The paste should be thick enough to spread onto the shoe. Use a toothbrush and lightly brush the stained areas of the shoe away with the paste. Wipe away with a soft cloth to see your progress. Apply a second layer of paste over the entire mesh part of the shoe and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Grab a clean damp cloth and wipe away the excess paste. 

Air-dry in the sun or well-ventilated area. If there is still paste residue on the mesh shoes after drying, clap the shoes together to shake the baking soda loose and use a brush to remove any remaining residue.

Option #3 – Fels-Naptha Stain Remover

You will need:

Mesh shoes can get stained quickly, and the stains can be a pain to remove. Wet the bar of Fels-Naptha and dab it into the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Use a damp cloth to work out the stain.

Air-dry completely before wearing.

Option #4 – Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

You will need:

• ½ tablespoon warm water 
• ½ tablespoon hydrogen peroxide 
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Make a paste of water, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda in a bowl. Then use a soft cloth to gently scrub the mixture into the mesh material of the shoe. If you have tough grime, let the shoes sit with the paste for about 15-30 minutes. Wipe away any excess paste with a clean damp cloth.  

Set the shoes out to air-dry. 

Note: You can use the sun to dry your shoes, but if you do, you will want to cover the shoes with toilet paper to prevent a reaction with the peroxide that could cause yellowing. 

If you still see any residue leftover in the mesh after the shoes have dried, knock the shoes together or use a brush and the extra should come right off.

On-The-Go Quick Clean

Sneaker wipes are an excellent option for cleaning your white mesh shoes while you are on the go. A spray bottle of soap and water solution along with a soft cloth could be kept in your car or bag for easy accessibility. 

How To Clean White Rubber Shoe Soles Fast

This Hack Saves Your White Shoes if They are Yellowing

Did you accidentally wash your white shoes incorrectly, and now they are yellowing? This can happen with canvas or mesh materials, and it can be heartbreaking. If you are on the verge of throwing out your white shoes because they have yellow stains, then you might want to try this super easy hack as a last-ditch effort. 

Denture tabs – that’s right. Good ole Polident can save your white shoes from yellowing and restore them to their clean white condition. 

You’ll need:

Dissolve six denture cleaning tabs in a sink or bucket of hot water. Once the tabs are fully dissolved, add your shoes in and let them soak. How long they soak is up to you and the results you are seeing. A woman who tried this on her white Converse did an overnight soak. Her results were amazing.

You will want to use a toothbrush or cloth to scrub out tough stains. Rinse with water and let air-dry. 

Proper Care and Prevention

Prevent Stains Before They Happen

Before you wear your white shoes for the first time, be sure to use a shoe protectant that is both stain and water-resistant. Doing so will keep your shoes looking clean and fresh. Choose a protectant spray that is made for use on your shoe material. You don’t want to use something ineffective or worse, something that will discolor or do damage to your shoes. You will need to reapply the protectant spray every couple of weeks or so, depending on how often you wear the shoes. Lots of people swear by Crep Protect and the reviews are really good, but as with any shoe protectant, be sure that it is made for use on your specific shoe material.

Clean Your White Shoes Regularly

White shoes are higher maintenance than other shoes because they get dirty and stained so quickly. A good way to combat this is to wipe down your shoes after each time you wear them. For example, if you take your shoes off at the door when you come in the house, have some shoe wipes or spray and a cloth by the door to take care of any fresh dirt and grime that can be easily removed. 

If you get a stain, be sure to treat it as soon as you can so it doesn’t set into the material.  

Storage 

Store your shoes away from all other shoes. Don’t stack other shoes on top of your white shoes or they could get dirty from the soles of the other shoes. This most often happens when shoes are thrown into a pile or collective bin. We want to be much more careful to protect the white shoes.

The best way to store your white shoes long-term is in a box or bin. Place your shoes inside the box or bin either flat and side by side or with the soles of the shoes facing out and the tops of the shoes together. This way, the soles won’t accidentally get the top part of your shoes dirty. The container also keeps dust and dirt away in storage as well. I really like using plastic shoe boxes from the Dollar Tree for this, but you can find other bins at Walmart or on Amazon as well. 

Enjoy Those Clean White Shoes!

I did a lot of research on how to clean white shoes of all kinds, so I hope that you found some useful information here. Of course, you could always go the route of getting a commercial shoe cleaner, but I really love finding homemade options for the tasks in my home, and cleaning shoes is no different. I don’t own a lot of white shoes because I’ve always felt I’m not good at keeping them clean, but I learned that I am not alone in these thoughts. Now that I know how to keep white shoes looking their best, I may just go out and get that white pair of Converse I’ve been dying to have! Happy shoe cleaning!