How To Whiten White Sneakers With Some Homemade Tricks

White sneakers get dirty easily and tend to turn yellow with use. So that they don’t look dirty, it’s a good idea to wash them from time to time. However, currently there are a lot of products that can be useful to whiten them.

However, it is not advisable to use products such as bleach, which can deteriorate the shoes or leave a tone that is not exactly white. Additionally, according to a publication in the National Center for Biotechnology Information , this bleach can irritate mucous membranes, skin, and respiratory tract.

It is convenient to look for safe and ecological alternatives that can be used safely. Do you want to know some options? Next, we’ll share the best homemade tricks to whiten white sneakers.

1. Coarse salt and soap

Coarse salt has many uses in our home and can be used to clean white sneakers. Its properties help to remove adhered dirt and can also enhance white tones when they start to become opaque.

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 cup of coarse salt (150g).
• Soap or detergent (two scoops).
• A brush.

How to make?

• Use the dry brush to remove excess dirt from the inside and outside of the shoe.
• Rub coarse salt on the inside and outside of the shoe, and let it act for approximately one hour.
• After this time, rinse with cold water and apply your usual detergent.
• Separately, remove the insoles and soak them in a container of soapy water.
• Let it dry in the sun.

2. Salt and milk to whiten white sneakers

Some people mix salt and milk to make a whitening solution for fabric sneakers. While it is a possible alternative, there is no evidence that it is a 100 percent effective remover.

Ingredients

• 1 liter of milk
• 1/2 liter of water
• 1 and 1/2 cup of coarse salt (150g)
• Optional: soap or detergent (amount required)

How to make?

• Put the milk and water in a bucket and add the salt.
• Then put on your shoes and let them soak for three hours.
• To finish, scrub with a brush and rinse with soap and water.

3. Toothpaste to clean white sneakers

Toothpaste is a good solution for cleaning the white rubber of soles or sneakers that are made from synthetic materials such as plastic or imitation leather.

Ingredients

• 1 toothbrush
• White toothpaste (amount required)
• 1 damp cloth

How to make?

• Moisten the toothbrush with a little water, add a good amount of toothpaste and rub over the areas of the shoe you want to whiten.
• Little by little a foam will form in which the dirt will come out.
• To finish, let it act for a few seconds and wipe it with a damp cloth.

4. Baking soda and white vinegar

One of the natural whiteners par excellence is the mixture between baking soda and white vinegar. Both ingredients clean the fabrics and plastic of the soles.

The combination of these ingredients has the added benefit of the antibacterial qualities of the two ingredients, which can help fight bacteria and fungi that cause bad foot odors.

Ingredients

• 1 brush
• 1 cup of white vinegar (100ml)
• 6 tablespoons of baking soda (60

How to make?

• Mix baking soda with white vinegar in a container.
• Wait for the foam that forms to subside.
• Then wet the brush and rub your shoes.
• Leave to act for 30 minutes and rinse.

Also read: 6 ways to clean the bathroom with white vinegar

Another solution for your white sneakers

Ammonia is a substance widely used to clean the home. It is also an excellent product to eliminate stains, without discoloring objects. In the case of shoes, we can mix it with water and a little detergent to make the shoes clean, white and as if they were new.

Ingredients

• 1 brush
• 2 liters of warm water
• 1 teaspoon of ammonia (5ml)
• 1 tablespoon of detergent (10ml)
• Optional: 1 tablespoon of baking soda (5g)

How to make?

• First, use a brush to remove dust and dirt that has accumulated inside and outside the white shoe.
• Then dilute a spoonful of ammonia in two liters of warm water and also add the detergent.
• Soak the shoes for an hour and then rinse them.
• If you notice your sneakers still have stains, rub them with baking soda after you’ve soaked them and let them dry in the sun.

Important!

When using products such as ammonia, you must apply certain safety measures. According to a publication in Chemical Safety Facts , ideally, the area you are handling is well ventilated (open windows and doors). Also, it is convenient to wear proper clothing and eye protection.

In conclusion

Remember to use any of these homemade whiteners when washing your white sneakers to keep them in perfect condition. In order to keep them longer, it is advisable to leave out, as far as possible, aggressive products such as conventional whiteners.