How to clean the sole of a sneaker

There are several ways to clean the white soles of your sneakers. Machine wash will whiten it quickly and effortlessly. Manual cleaning is the only option to restore the color of the sole of capricious and difficult-to-care models.

How to clean white sneaker soles in a washing machine

Machine wash easiest. It is enough to carry out just 1 cycle for a very dirty sole to be like new again. As a bonus, you also get a pristine top. Machine wash has several limitations:

1. Can't wash leather and suede pairs,
2. Some cheap models can be spoiled.

In other cases, it will take no more than an hour to clean the white sneaker sole in an automatic machine.

You are guaranteed to get your sneakers clean and whole if you follow these simple rules:

• do not use detergents and cleaners with chlorine;
• wash at t 30-35 ̊C;
• choose delicate or manual modes;
• put steam in a laundry bag or wrap with rags;
• the optimal spin mode is not more than 700 rpm.

Before washing, very dirty sneakers will have to be cleaned of clods of earth, small stones, plant residues and other inclusions that can clog the drain of the washing machine.

To avoid messing with all this rubbish, put the steam in a bowl of cool water and let it sit for 1-2 hours. Take out your sneakers, and dirt, rocks and debris will remain at the bottom. You will need to lightly squeeze the steam and transfer it to the drum of the washing machine.

How to clean a rubber sole on a sneaker

Don't want to mess with the laundry? You can manually clean the white rubber sole on your sneakers without washing them entirely. By the way, this is the only possible way for models made of leather and suede. They cannot be washed, but the sole must be cleaned somehow!

1. Collect 0.5-1 cm of water in the basin,
2. Dissolve the stain remover, powder or soap solution in it,
3. Place the sneakers in the basin so that the water covers the sole, but does not wet the top,
4. Leave the steam to soak for 1-2 hours,
5. Take out your shoes and brush them thoroughly with an old toothbrush or shoe brush.

If the household has a melamine sponge, it will help clean the white rubber soles on sneakers, even without household chemicals. Just wet the sponge and rub the sole thoroughly with it.

Some contaminants do not even lend themselves to a melamine sponge. Particularly stubborn stains of fuel oil, bitumen and paint can be cleaned with acetone. It is better to use a cotton swab for this purpose - there is less risk of ruining the fabric or leather upper.

Some dirt can be easily wiped off with an ordinary eraser. Only it must be new. Otherwise, you will smear the traces of lead or ink on the white rubber sole.

From folk remedies, you can try lemon and soda. Cleaning the soles of sneakers with baking soda is, of course, more difficult than washing them in the machine. But if the machine is not yet available, and the farm only has soda - it will do too. Mix baking soda with vinegar in a 1: 1 ratio and wipe all dirty areas with the resulting foam. Lemon juice whitens yellowed gum well, so generously lubricate the white sole with a quarter of lemon and leave to clean for 10-15 minutes. Rinse your shoes thoroughly under the tap.

A couple of tips in the end ... Use the tools in which you are confident. Check all new methods and means for cleaning in some inconspicuous area!