While items of clothing are easy to clean in the washing machine, there are a few things to consider when cleaning fabric shoes. When it comes to textiles on your feet, dirt, unsightly stains and scuffs accumulate more quickly than on clothing. In addition, shoe care and cleaning are significantly different from those used for clothing fabrics. Luckily, you can make the cleaning process easier with the right steps and home remedies. Here are some tips and tried-and-tested cleaning methods you can use to give your textile shoes a freshen up just in time for spring.
How can you clean unsightly fabric shoes?
Maybe some of your favorite shoes look like they're past their prime. Of course, it's hard to restore them to new condition, but you can freshen up their look. Before you do this, there are a few factors you should consider. This can be different footwear, as well as bright orwhite canvas shoesor braided upper materials. It is therefore important to use the appropriate cleaning technique. Whatever the fabric, you can easily make it part of your favorite spring or summer outfit again.
In addition, cleaning fabric shoes should be done by hand, being careful not to damage them. In the warmer seasons, many people appreciate breathable fabrics, which require a specific approach and cleaning products. This not only improves your appearance, but also allows you to wear it for longer. However, before you begin cleaning your canvas or other sneakers, you should remove any loose dirt such as sand, grass, mud, leaves, sticks, or stones that have accumulated on and in the shoes. This can be done easily by shaking them outside or over a trash can. You can also hit the soles of your shoes against each other or on the pavement. Otherwise, you can use the following agents for the cleaning task:
- Old toothbrush
- Paper towels
- Soft cleaning cloths
- Dishwashing detergent
- Distilled white vinegar
- baking powder
- Ammonia-free and alcohol-free cleaning products such as glass cleaner
This way you can properly clean any fabric shoes
Textile shoes can be strappy sandals, sneakers, pumps or other sports shoes and shoe materials. Although there are ways to wash canvas shoes in the washing machine, for example, this isn't a particularly smart idea. Household appliance cleaning cycles such as spinning, combined with higher temperature and friction, can deform or even crack the shoe. For this reason, you should clean the upper materials of the fabric shoes by hand.
- Start by wiping off any excess dirt with a suitable cloth. You can submerge this in a homemade cleaning solution made from equal parts cold water and distilled white vinegar.
- Then you should air dry the shoes.
- First, you can polish out the scratches and other marks by dipping a damp cloth in some baking soda and scrubbing the sole with it. Gently rub the worn area and wipe off the residue with a clean cloth.
- Let the shoes dry again and polish them with a clean cloth.
- Restore shine with a spritz of ammonia- and alcohol-free glass cleaner and polish with a soft cloth.
- Then wipe the shoe fabric with a dry paper towel to remove any loose surface dirt, grime, or debris.
- First, mix a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in two cups of warm water.
- Use this to scrub the shoes by dipping a toothbrush into the soap solution and using it to clean the fabric shoes. Be careful not to get the shoe fabric wet and use circular movements to protect colored fabrics and prevent stains.
- You can then use a damp paper towel to wipe the cleaning solution from the shoes, although you may need to repeat this process.
- Finally, dab with dry kitchen paper and let it dry in the sun.
- To prevent the textile from deforming, you can stuff the inner shoe in the toe or heel area with paper.
Properly clean rope or cork shoe soles
The soles of both leather and textile shoes can be made of cork or have rope. This involves natural fibers, and shoe care should be a little different. Once you clean your canvas shoes by following the steps above, you can also treat such materials on soles with care. To do this, you can again make a homemade cleaning solution and apply it.
- Again, use 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to combine with 2 cups of warm water to form a solution.
- To do this, add a few drops of a non-aggressive and non-toxic cleaning agent.
- When scrubbing, try to work slowly through small areas and use an old toothbrush or cloth to clean the uppers.
- When it comes to rope on the soles, you should only clean the fabric shoes in one direction so that the rope does not fray.
- Now wipe off the homemade cleaning solution with a damp paper towel and let the shoes dry.
Can you clean running shoes and other fabric shoes in the washing machine?
As already written above, washing textile shoes in the washing machine is not recommended. However, there is an exception for running shoes or tennis shoes that are made of foam or other shoe materials. Such upper materials can also be wool or silk, although sports shoes usually have more robust footwear. Their construction could therefore use a machine wash from time to time.
- When washing, use a gentle cycle and a high-quality heavy-duty detergent.
- Before washing, it is also advisable to remove the insoles and shoelaces.
- As a rule, you can clean the laces of fabric shoes separately and by hand by treating them with dishwashing liquid or detergent in the sink.
- To remove bacteria and unpleasant odors from sports shoes, you can treat the insoles with a homemade cleaning solution made from equal parts vinegar and water. It is best to do this before putting them back into the shoes or simply replace them with new insoles.
- However, if there is a percentage of leather in the shoes, you should choose othersApply cleaning methods for leather shoes.
