How to clean white shoes and make them look brand-new

For many people, white shoes are a wardrobe staple. A pair of white canvas or white leather shoes pair well with your everyday outfits. White suede shoes can make your otherwise bland business attire look smashing. But as useful and stylish as they are, white shoes are more susceptible to dirt and scuff marks. 

Replacing them when this happens is unsustainable, so what can you do? Cleaning white shoes yourself from time to time is necessary to preserve your wardrobe. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to clean white shoes. 

How to clean white canvas shoes

It’s worth knowing how to clean white canvas shoes, as they’re comfortable to wear, inexpensive, and go with almost any outfit. This means you’re likely to wear them often and get them dirty. 

Fortunately, their material makes them relatively easier to clean than other types of white shoes.  

What you’ll need

• Old toothbrush

• Soft-bristled brush

• A soft cloth or paper towels

• Eraser sponge

• Bleach pen

• Baking soda (3 tbsp)

• White vinegar (1 tbsp)

• Mild liquid or powder detergent

• Rubber gloves

Step 1. Do general cleaning

Start by removing the shoelaces and setting them aside for separate cleaning. Loosen any large bits of dirt or mud on the shoes by knocking the soles on the floor or against each other. 

After removing any large bits of dirt, mud or other debris, prepare the items for cleaning the surfaces of both shoes.  

Go over the surfaces of both shoes with a soft-bristled brush to get rid of loose dirt. Give the shoes’ tongues, outer edges of the tongues and the soles special attention with the brush since they have nooks and crannies where loose dirt may settle. 

Step 2. Clean the shoe surfaces

Next, make a cleaning solution by mixing the white vinegar and baking soda in a small container. Mix the two until it forms a paste. Dip the old toothbrush in the paste, and apply it to the entire surface of each shoe. 

Place the shoes in a warm, dry area away from direct sunlight and allow the paste to air-dry. 

Make sure the shoes air-dry away from direct sunlight, as any excess moisture exposed to sunlight may turn parts of the shoe yellow as the paste dries. After letting it sit for a few hours, brush off all the hardened paste, then wash off any residue with warm water. 

If the shoes have stubborn stains, you can do spot-cleaning with a bleach pen. Apply the pen directly on the stain and leave the shoes to dry for a few minutes. Then, you can brush off the bleached spot with a paper towel or soft cloth. You can then wash off the rest of the cleaning solution with warm water. 

Pro tip: A vinegar and baking soda solution is one of the best ways to clean white shoes, but it mostly works best on canvas or cotton. Don’t use this on leather or suede! 

Step 3. Clean the soles

Use an eraser sponge (like Mr Clean Magic Eraser) to remove dirt or scuffs on the soles. Simply follow the usage instructions; wet the sponge and scrub all the surfaces of the soles. 

To clean the undersides of the soles, use a soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush and mild detergent.

Step 4. Dry the shoes

Finally, crumple up some paper towels into balls and stuff them into the shoes. These balls of paper towels are meant to absorb excess moisture and retain the shape of the shoes as they dry. Make sure to let the shoes air-dry in a clean area away from direct sunlight.

How to clean white leather shoes

Knowing how to whiten shoes made of leather is important since this type is more stylish and expensive. White leather shoes can be a good investment since they can make formal outfits look fetching, almost as well as more formal footwear. 

As with casual canvas shoes, the only drawback to white leather shoes is that they lose their appeal if they’re dirty. Here’s how you can clean them. 

What you’ll need

• Eraser sponge or pencil eraser

• Old toothbrush

• Soft cloth

• Dish soap

• Warm water

• Paper towels

Step 1. Remove loose dirt

Start by removing the shoelaces for separate cleaning. Go over the entire surface of each leather shoe with an old toothbrush or soft-bristled brush to remove loose dirt. 

Step 2. Do a thorough clean 

Progress to a more thorough cleaning with dish soap and warm water. Mix 3 to 4 drops of dish soap with the water and stir until homogenous. Dip an old toothbrush into the soapy water and apply it on the surfaces of the leather shoes. 

To avoid damaging the leather, remember to gently scrub the shoes to remove any dirt. Slightly dampen the soft cloth with water and wipe away the dish soap mixture. 

Step 3. Clean the soles

Use the eraser sponge to remove any scuff marks or dirt on the sides of the soles. Dampen the soft cloth and wipe down the sides of the soles. After the sides have dried, clean the underside of the soles with the cleaning mixture, then wipe with the cloth. 

Leave the shoes to dry in a clean area away from direct sunlight.  

How to clean white suede shoes

White suede shoes can be the most difficult to clean due to their delicate nature. Use these tips to clean these stylish shoes, but if your white suede shoes have tough stains, you’d best find a professional cleaning service. 

Pro tip: Never clean suede shoes or suede portions of your shoes if they’re wet. Wiping or brushing wet suede may push stains into them that will be difficult, if not impossible, to remove!

What you’ll need

• Suede cleaner, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol

• Suede eraser or eraser sponge

• Suede brush or old toothbrush

• Soft cloth

Pro tip: Never drench a suede shoe or suede part on any shoe, but instead, lightly dampen the suede.

Step 1. Remove dirt and debris

Suede is a magnet for loose dirt and debris. After removing the laces, lightly rub the suede with a suede brush or toothbrush. A soft, dry cloth is a good alternative if you don’t have a suede brush. 

Be sure to brush the suede in a gentle side-to-side motion – this will make lifting dirt and debris off the suede fibres easier. 

Step 2. Rub out marks

With a specialised suede eraser from a shoe store, eraser sponge or even a pencil eraser, scrub away any marks or stains on all the suede surfaces. Do this with a side-to-side motion but with a little more pressure. 

Don’t apply too much pressure, as doing so can damage the suede fibres.

Step 3. Remove stains

Serious stains on your suede shoes may be removed with a suede cleaner applied with a soft cloth. Rubbing alcohol or white vinegar are viable substitutes if you don’t have a suede cleaner. 

Remove the stain with the damp cloth (but never drench the suede!) and do a light massaging or circular motions on the stain. Repeat until the stain is removed.

You can consult a shoe cleaning expert if the stain persists. 

Cleaning white shoelaces

To clean the laces, make a bleach solution from 3 tablespoons of bleach mixed with about 4 litres (1 gallon) of water. Don’t overdo the bleach; if the solution is too harsh, it can loosen the laces’ fibres and cause them to come apart. 

Immerse the laces in the solution for about 10 minutes. Should the laces still have stubborn stains, toss them into the washing machine and use regular laundry detergent. Hang up the laces on a clothesline to dry.

Caring for your white shoes

Part of keeping your white shoes clean and looking new is to give them proper storage space. Check out these helpful storage ideas. Once you’ve decided on a storage option, why not hire a carpenter to build it? Another aspect of caring for your white shoes is using the right protective sealants or sprays. 

Get expert help cleaning your white shoes

As long as you have the time, materials, and inclination to clean your white shoes, this can be easy – fun, even. But when you prefer to devote your free time to other pursuits, remember that you can book a cleaning expert on Airtasker. Booking a Tasker is certainly preferable to the hassle of taking your shoes to a cleaning service!  

Besides cleaning your white shoes, many Taskers can do other cleaning jobs for you. You can also access our wide range of resources on cleaning.