Keep Your White Sneakers Pristine With These Simple Tips

As the fashion industry constantly evolves, the trend of white sneakers has remained a timeless staple for any wardrobe. Not only do they provide comfortable support for your feet, but can they can elevate an outfit without being too overpowering. There are several ways to style your favorite comfy sneakers, but how can you wear them if they're not in good condition? While there are pairs that look better when they're worn-out, a clean and fresh-looking pair can give you a classic look. They look exceptional especially in casual wear, giving you a sleek look aiming to impress. White sneakers are essential, as they can elevate one's outfit — but admit it, it's a pain to keep them looking pristine.

One of the common problems with owning white sneakers is that after wearing them a few times, they tend to accumulate dirt. Not only does a pair of worn, dirty white sneakers affect the overall appeal of your outfit, but it can also make your sneaker less durable over time. Several specialty sneaker shops offer a service of restoring the beauty of your sneakers back to their bright and original state, but such a service could be costly in the long run. Luckily, these tips can help you save money and clean your beloved white sneaker to maintain its beauty.

Keeping your white sneaker looking pristine in the comfort of your home can be done with ease with two common household ingredients. Baking soda and vinegar can help you revive your dirty white sneakers. There are countless ways you can use baking soda around the house, but it can also help you with your white sneakers. By using baking soda and vinegar, not only are you avoiding harsh chemicals found in some commercial cleaning products, but you are also saving money by using items already in your pantry. Keep your white sneakers looking brand new with this simple and eco-friendly cleaning solution.

The first thing you need to do is to mix one part baking soda with two parts vinegar. After mixing the two, add warm water to the mixture to form a paste. Apply the paste to the dirty areas of your sneaker with the use of an old toothbrush or cloth. Let the paste sit for a few minutes until the baking soda dries up the solution. Once you're done, wipe the sneakers using a clean cloth and let them air-dry.

Who would have thought that the combination of a pencil eraser and white vinegar can make your suede sneaker look brighter? These two readily available items at home can effectively remove the scuffs and stains from your sneakers. Before even starting with this method, make sure to completely dry your sneaker using an absorbent material. This is important since using this method to clean a damp sneaker would only make it worse as the dirt would be harder to remove.

Once the sneaker is dry, use the pencil eraser to gently rub any scuffs or dirt on the sneaker. After that, use a paper towel to dry the sneaker again, but don't rub it into the suede. Rubbing the paper towel will only help the stains spread on your shoes. If the stains still remain, dip a clean cloth into white vinegar and gently scrub the surface of the stain. Once you're done, let the shoes air-dry and rub the outside with a suede brush to have that velvety texture finish.

The first thing you want to do when cleaning your white sneakers is to use a brush to take all the loose dirt off. Skipping this step would damage your sneaker further. Steven Tran, co-founder of Sole Fresh, a Jersey City-based shop that specializes in shoe care and restoration, told NBC News, "Failure to do this and just going straight into using the solution for wet cleaning will further embed the dirt into the material, especially for canvas [or] prime knit materials."

After brushing off the dirt, take out the laces and wash them separately. It's best to hand wash them with a small amount of dish soap and gently scrub and rinse with water and then dry them using a microfiber towel. And lastly, clean the sneaker's parts including the tongue, soles, and sides. Cleaning these parts would require a bit of cleaning solution and some gentle scrubbing. Then use a microfiber towel to dry the sneakers.

Tran also suggests buying a good sneaker cleaning kit, especially those that come with a selection of brushes. These kits come in handy to clean off different types of sneakers.

For those who are always on the go, keeping your white sneakers squeaky clean can be a real challenge. Fortunately, there are several cleaning wipes that are specifically designed for cleaning sneakers easily. Quick wipes are a popular choice among sneakerheads these days because they come in handy when you're out and about. There are individually wrapped wipes available — perfect after a ride on messy public transit.

What's great about these wipes is they are safe to use for most materials like suede, nubuck, and knits. Some of these wipes are also equipped with a gentle cleaning solution to help you wipe the dirt off your precious white sneakers. The New York Times recommends Crep Protect Wipes as a great cleaning alternative. Each Crep Protect Wipe contains an exclusive solution that can help clean and protect your sneakers. These wipes are designed to be gentle yet powerful in removing dirt and stains without damaging the materials of your sneakers. With their convenience and effectiveness, Crep Protect Wipes are must-haves for sneaker enthusiasts looking to keep their kicks in top condition.

When it comes to maintaining white sneakers, one often overlooks the impressive benefit of sunlight in keeping these sneakers pristine. Sunlight can help brighten and whiten your shoes, leaving them looking like new. Drying your sneakers under the sun is an easy, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative. To properly dry your sneakers with the use of sunlight, stuffing them with crumpled newspaper can help to wick away moisture and prevent the shoes from losing their shape as they dry.

Although this method seems great, you have to be careful when placing white sneakers under the sun. One of the biggest problems with this method is that white sneakers sometimes turn yellow when left under the sun. The reason for this is a chemical reaction due to sun exposure. The UV rays can cause oxidation of the materials in the shoes, which leads to yellowing.

Just like how you protect your hair and skin from sun damage, you also have to protect your white sneakers from UV rays. To prevent yellowing, some sites recommend to cover them in tissues before leaving them to dry outside. Once clean, it's best to not store your white shoes in direct sunlight.