How to wash sneakers at home, cleaning rules and methods

Many people are interested in the question of how best to wash sneakers. Experts generally advise against using an automatic washing machine for this purpose. Such an aggressive procedure can permanently ruin your shoes. To get rid of dirt on sneakers, a dry cleaning method is usually used. If difficult stains appear on the shoes, it is recommended to apply a deep cleaning.

General cleaning rules

To determine the advisability of using a particular method of cleaning shoes, it is useful to understand the characteristics of these shoes. In appearance, sneakers resemble indoor slippers. However, these shoes are designed for street walking.

Slipper soles are usually made of jute. The upper part can be made of various materials - cotton, leather, suede, denim. Often, sneakers are adorned with various decorative details. Sometimes they are supplemented with ties or laces.

Jute, from which the sole is made, is a natural material that absorbs moisture well.

There is a risk of the material swelling when exposed to liquid. Consequently, it will not be able to return to its initial position.Therefore, it is not recommended to wash espadrilles in an automatic washing machine. Better to use dry cleaning methods.

Use a dry cleaning method

This is the safest cleaning method. It is not associated with any risk. Dry cleaning is particularly effective for light soiling. It is important to remember the sense of proportion. To do this, clean the stains with a small brush. This should be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the rope material. If it is not possible to cope with the stain, more intensive cleaning will be required. To do this, you must perform the following actions:

1. Take a container of clean water and prepare a small clean cloth.
2. Dip it in water and gently rub the sneakers.
3. In case of heavy soiling, you will have to use special means for cleaning shoes.

Look at Also

How and in which mode is it better to wash a jacket on a polyester padding in a washing machine

Deep cleaning

If dry cleaning does not work, you must use a special product designed for cotton. It is usually sold in spray or pencil form. To do this, you need to follow these steps:

1. Spray or smudge with a pencil on the soiled area.
2. Leave the composition to dry at room temperature. In this case, the shoes should be sheltered from the sun.
3. Gently brush your sneakers with a soft brush.

You can also use a proven folk recipe - laundry soap. Also, sneakers, shampoo or powder are suitable. It is allowed to use colorless dishwashing compound. To use these substances, you must follow these steps:

1. Take any suitable product and pour it into a small basin.
2. Pour lukewarm water into another basin.
3. Wipe down your shoes first with soapy water, then with a clean solution. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to immerse the sneakers in water.
4. Manipulations are repeated until the desired result is achieved. Clean the inside of sneakers in the same way.

It is recommended to wash the laces separately. To do this, simply soak them for a while in soapy water, then rinse them with clean water.

How to wash

The washing of this type of shoe depends on many characteristics:

1. First of all, it is worth deciding on the only material. If your sneakers have rubber soles, machine washing is a good idea. In other cases, this method should not be used, as it will damage the shoe. In such a situation, it is recommended to use the manual cleaning method.
2. Remove the insole before washing it in the washing machine. Other removable elements are also removed from the shoes. If this is not done, they can get lost in the drum.
3. Take a special bag designed for washing delicate items.
4. Set hand or delicate wash mode.
5. Select the water temperature. It should not exceed 40 degrees. This will help maintain the attractive shade of the fabric.
6. Select low speed and exclude automatic spin. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the shoes.
7. After washing, remove the sneakers to the fresh air to dry them. To speed up the process, newspapers can be placed inside the shoe.

Look at Also

How to machine and hand wash a faux leather jacket at home

Rules of care

To reduce the need to wash or clean your shoes, you should follow a number of maintenance rules:

1. It is not recommended to wear sneakers in dirty or rainy weather. It is important to avoid puddles.
2. It is recommended to remove dirt immediately after it appears. The longer the stains are on the surface of the product, the more difficult it is to get rid of them.
3. Dry your sneakers thoroughly if they get wet. To do this, they must be stuffed with newspapers and taken out into the fresh air.
4. Before going out, sneakers should be treated with special anti-moisture compounds.
5. Shoe boxes should be used for storage. This will prevent dust from settling and minimize the risk of surface staining.
6. Clean with soft brushes after each ride. This will help prevent stains from building up on top of each other.

Common Mistakes

When cleaning this type of shoe, many people make the following mistakes:

• use an automatic car wash;
• choose aggressive chemical compounds;
• folk recipes are misused.

Additional tips and tricks

For small fresh dirt, the tools available will help to remove them. To do this, you can use the following compositions:

1. If dirt settles on your sneakers, leave them on the balcony or in a ventilated place for 2 hours. When the dirt is dry, it must be thoroughly cleaned with a special shoe brush.
2. Absorbents should be used to remove grease stains from cotton or suede. Starch, salt, soda are suitable for this. To do this, a small amount of the substance is applied to the surface of the fabric and left for half an hour. Then the composition should be shaken off and the product should be cleaned with a brush.
3. It is recommended to remove paint stains with solvents. Refined gasoline is suitable for this. You can also use acetone. To do this, moisten a clean towel with the composition and gently wipe the problem area.
4. An elastic band will help remove the traces of grass. For this, it is recommended to actively rub off the dirt.
5. If you need whitening, it is worth preparing a special composition. To do this, it is recommended to mix 20 grams of baking soda and 50 milliliters of hydrogen peroxide. Treat dark areas with the resulting mixture and leave for 30 minutes. Then wipe the sneakers with a damp cloth.

Look at Also

How to properly wash woolen clothes in the washing machine and by hand

It is important to keep in mind that the use of caustic compounds such as gasoline, kerosene or acetone can damage your shoes. In order not to spoil the product, it is worth testing the substance in an inconspicuous area.

Espadrilles are a popular shoe that can be cleaned with chemicals or folk remedies. At the same time, machine washing in most cases is not recommended, as it can damage the shoes.