How to machine wash and hand clean your sneakers at home

Many people consider sneakers to be the ideal shoes for everyday wear. These shoes should be properly maintained as they get dirty due to frequent use. To keep your sneakers clean, you need to know how to properly wash your sneakers in the washing machine.

How to machine wash sneakers

A common cleaning method for dirty sports shoes - machine washable... However, before washing your sneakers at home, you will need to familiarize yourself with the main steps of this procedure.

Prepare the shoes before washing them

No sneakers should be washed without prior preparation. First of all, you need to get rid of insoles and shoelaces, which are better not to put in the washing machine without a special bag for washing. Then the sole is carefully cleaned with a brush from pieces of dirt, stones and other adherent debris. In addition, each shoe is pre-rinsed with cold water.

Selecting a wash cycle and temperature

Many people wonder at what temperature it is better to wash sports shoes so that they do not deteriorate. Most models of modern washing machines are equipped with special programs that allow you to choose the optimal temperature regime.

Experts recommend washing your shoes on the delicate wash program so that the water does not heat up more than forty degrees. If you use other modes, you can accidentally damage the screen installed on the filling valve of the machine.

Choice of detergents

Using an automatic machine to clean sneakers, many people think about which detergents to use. To do this, apply:

• Liquid products. Many people consider liquid detergents to be the best choice because powders leave light stains on shoes that are hard to get rid of.
• Laundry soap. Ideal for washing white trainers or sports shoes. This soap has a whitening effect and should therefore not be used on clothes made from brightly colored fabrics.

Shades of drying

Even using the spin cycle, the washed sneakers will be damp. Therefore, people have to dry them themselves so that they dry faster. Often they use a regular hair dryer to dry.However, when using it, you cannot activate the hot blow mode, as this will damage the upper layer of the fabric. Washed shoes can only be blown with fresh air.

What types of sneakers can not be machine washed

There are contraindicated crosses for washing in a washing machine. These include:

• Cheap models. They are made from poor quality materials that can be damaged by washing.
• Damaged shoes. Even with minor damage, you will have to refuse to wash.

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How and how to wash shoes by hand

Sometimes it is not possible to use a washing machine, so you have to clean your shoes yourself. There are several common detergents that are often used during washing.

With soapy water

Often, when cleaning shoes, a soapy solution based on laundry soap is used. To create it, 350 grams of soap and baking soda are added to five liters of water. Then the composition is boiled for 5-10 minutes, after which it is infused until it cools completely.

The prepared solution is evenly applied to the surface of the sneakers and rubbed with a brush. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times, after which the shoes are rinsed with cold water.

With toothpaste

Another common cleaning product is toothpaste. When working with sports shoes or sneakers, it is better to use a whitening paste that does not contain any inclusions. It is ideal for cleaning fabrics. Toothpaste is applied to the contaminated area, after which it is carefully rubbed into the tissue.

To rinse the paste from the surface, use a damp sponge or cloth.

With liquid soap

Many people use liquid soap to clean their shoes because it is the most readily available detergent. The cleaning process is carried out in several stages:

• Soak. First, the crosses are soaked for 5-10 minutes in hot water heated to 35 degrees.
• Application of soap. After soaking, the shoes are rubbed with liquid soap, paying special attention to dirty places.
• Rinsing. Finally, the shoes are rinsed with cold water to rinse off the soap.

Micellar water

Often this water is used by girls to remove makeup. However, it can also be used to clean stains from white sneakers. To do this, just moisten a cotton ball in micellar water and treat all the dirty spots with it.

Household chemicals

Sometimes the aforementioned products do not help to clean your shoes and you have to use special bleaching agents. Before use, they are diluted in water so that the composition becomes less concentrated. The diluted product is applied to the crosses for half an hour, after which it is washed off.

How to properly wash insoles and laces?

When cleaning shoes, you need to wash the insoles with laces separately. To remove dirt from them, you need to familiarize yourself with the cleaning features of these shoe elements.

Clean the soles

When cleaning soles, the following sequence of actions is performed:

• Removal of soles. First you need to carefully remove the insoles from the sneakers and clean them with a brush from debris.
• Preparation of a soapy solution. To do this, warm water is collected in a small bowl and mixed with liquid soap. Water should be heated, as it is much more difficult to wash off stubborn dirt in a cold liquid.
• Cleaning.After preparing the soap solution, the soles are cleaned. To do this, they are soaked for 10-15 minutes, after which they are carefully rubbed with a dish brush.
• Drying. When the insoles are completely free of dirt, they are dried.

Cleaning the laces

Anyone can clean the shoelaces from dirt, because it's quite simple to do. To do this, you will first need to moisten the laces in warm water and lather them with laundry soap. Then their soapy surface is rubbed with a toothbrush. At the end, each lace is washed in lukewarm water to get rid of the foam.

How to clean your sneakers without washing

It is known that not all models of sneakers tolerate washing well, and therefore some of them are cleaned of dirt by other means. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the products used for cleaning shoes that cannot not be washed in advance:

• Hair conditioner. A universal product that helps clean dirt from all shoes. When cleaning, the air conditioner is gently rubbed into the fabric with a brush, then wiped with a sponge or dry cloth.
• Lemon juice soda. This is an effective method that many people use to clean their athletic shoes. With this method, a small piece of fabric is first soaked in a soda solution, then in lemon juice. After that, wipe off the dirt on the crosses with a damp cloth.
• Gum. You can use an eraser to remove small stains from your shoes. It is ideal for cleaning leather models.
• Alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is used to clean stubborn dirt on the soleplate.

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Some people try to clean their sneakers with plumbing detergents. However, their use is contraindicated, since they contain components that can damage the tissue.

The nuances of cleaning patterns from various materials

Sports shoes are made from different materials. It is necessary to get acquainted with the nuances of cleaning the most common materials from which sneakers are made.

Leather or imitation leather

Leather sneakers cannot be washed and are therefore cleaned in other ways. To remove dirt from the surface of the leather, use a cloth dampened with soapy water. After wetting, the towel is well wrung out so that it is not too wet.

The surface of the shoe is gently wiped in a circular motion so that no traces of dirt remain on it. If there are traces of soap after treatment, wipe the crosses again with a dry towel. This procedure is recommended every time after using sneakers.

Wash cloth shoes

A washing machine is used to clean the fabric sneakers. To stretch the crosses, do the following:

• put the sneakers in a special washing bag and put it in the washer;
• fill the powder container with bleach;
• switch the washing machine to delicate mode which works without drying or spinning;
• rinse washed shoes.

Experts advise against putting several pairs of sneakers in the washing machine at the same time, as this will disrupt the operation of the washing machine.

Ways to clean and bleach white sneakers

In order not to yellow the crosses, you need to bleach them regularly. There are several common ways to clean white shoes:

• Essence.When using this method, a cotton swab is moistened in gasoline, after which it is applied to the most contaminated areas of sneakers. Then the surface is wiped with a cloth dampened with water.
• Vinegar powder. When a yellow tint appears, the surface is wiped with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, washing powder and vinegar. The liquid is applied to the shoes with a toothbrush, left for 10-15 minutes, then washed off.

How to clean suede products

Suede shoes are water resistant and therefore washable. In this case, it is better to use heated water so that the material does not deteriorate. When cleaning suede, use a soapy solution of laundry soap.

Wet spot cleaning

Wet cleaning is used to remove dirt from sneakers. There are five effective products that can be used for wet spot cleaning.

Oxi-branded household bleach and stain removers

These are effective means that do not damage the fibers of the fabric of the material from which the shoes are made. Before using these bleaching agents, they are diluted in water. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the instructions for use of the product, which indicate how to do it correctly.

Sneakers are moistened with bleach, after which they are washed in warm water.

Steam cleaning

Steam cleaning your sneakers is easy. To do this, place a container of water on the gas stove and bring it to a boil. Then the container is removed from the stove and placed on the floor. After that, the sneakers are hung above the jet of steam emanating from the heated water and left to hang for 10-20 minutes. This steam treatment greatly simplifies the cleaning of dried and stubborn dirt.

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Ammonia

To clean suede shoes, an ammonia-based mixture is often used. To create it, add a tablespoon of alcohol to 100 ml of water. The surface of the crosses is wiped with the prepared alcoholic liquid, after which they are again wiped with a dry cloth.

Soda and milk

To make your own stain remover, use milk and baking soda. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of one to two. Then a cotton ball is moistened in the liquid and the sneakers are wiped with it.

coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are used to clean dark brown suede shoes. To quickly remove the stain, it is completely treated with a thickener. After drying, it is wiped with a dry brush.

How to restore the former whiteness of the sole?

The sole, which is sometimes difficult to clean from dry dirt, is an integral part of sports shoes. Cleaning is difficult because the sole has a raised surface.

To restore it to its former appearance, you must use bleach. It is poured into a container, after which dirty sneakers are placed there. They are soaked in bleach for at least forty minutes. Then the crosses are removed and cleaned with a toothbrush under running water. If after such a procedure there are minor dirty spots, it is repeated.

In addition, a product based on vinegar and acetone is used to treat the soles. Some people add citric acid to the solution, which is great for removing dirty stains. When cleaning, a cotton ball is moistened in a liquid, after which the plantar surface is wiped with it.

What means can be treated to avoid pollution

To prevent sneakers from getting very dirty, you need to take care of them.Therefore, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations for shoe care:

• Don't wear the same pair every day. Sometimes people love their shoes so much that they wear them every day. However, with constant use, they wear out and get dirty faster. Therefore, you should not constantly wear sneakers.
• Careful use. Do not wear sneakers when there is slush outside, because in such conditions they get dirty instantly. These shoes are best worn in dry, sunny weather.
• Regular washing. Experts recommend washing your shoes once a week so that dirt doesn't accumulate there. Regular cleaning not only maintains its appearance, but also significantly extends its life.
• Treatment with protective equipment. Today there are many fluids that protect the surface of sneakers from dirt. Water repellents are popular because they prevent dirt from sticking to the sole. It is necessary to use these products at least twice a week.

Conclusion

It's hard to find someone who doesn't have sneakers in their wardrobe. These sports shoes are popular and almost everyone has them. Often people face the problem of cross contamination.

There are many different methods for cleaning dirt from shoes. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of their use in order to restore the crosses to a presentable appearance.