How to Clean White Shoes: Leather, Canvas, Mesh and Yellow Soles

How to Clean White Shoes by Material

There is no single method, because the right one depends on what the upper is made of. These are the recipes the makers and cleaning brands we read publish.

Baking soda and vinegar appear in almost every recipe. Note the one exception: Cleanipedia, a Unilever brand, says vinegar’s acid may damage leather, so it suits rubber and canvas better (Cleanipedia). Clarks does use a little white wine vinegar on leather, in a very weak solution. Test a hidden spot first.

Step by Step: The Basic Method

The structure is the same across Clarks, Lacoste and ThredUp. Adjust the cleaning liquid for the material using the table above.

1. Take out the laces and insoles. ECCO also suggests shoe trees or newspaper to keep the shape (ECCO).
2. Dry brush first. Loosen dirt and dust, including on the soles (Lacoste).
3. Mix the cleaner. Lacoste suggests 1 tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of soap or white vinegar and just enough warm water for a paste, and none on leather.
4. Scrub in small circles with a soft brush or old toothbrush. Do not forget the tongue and the sides.
5. Wipe off with a damp cloth. Repeat if needed, and do not soak, especially suede and leather.
6. Air dry, stuffed with paper towels to hold the shape and absorb moisture (Lacoste, Clarks, ThredUp). Lacoste gives no drying time.

For stubborn marks on fabric, Lacoste suggests toothpaste or a magic eraser. ThredUp says to leave white, non-gel toothpaste on a stain for about 15 minutes. A magic eraser is abrasive, so ThredUp says not to scrub fabric parts hard.

How to Whiten Yellow Soles

Soles turn yellow mainly through oxidation, when white rubber is exposed to oxygen, heat and sunlight, and dirt can add to it (Cleanipedia). That means a stained sole is not always something you did wrong, and you cannot fully stop it, only slow it down.

Cleanipedia says whitening can take a few hours to several days depending on the method and the stain. If the soles are PU (polyurethane), ECCO sells a dedicated sole cleaner and says to keep it off the upper because it can stain (ECCO).

Bleach and Sunlight: What the Sources Disagree On

Two questions get opposite answers depending on who you ask. Instead of picking a side, here is what each source says.

General advice: the pattern that fits all of them is to keep bleach and strong sun for rubber soles that you are deliberately whitening, and keep both away from leather and fabric uppers. That is our reading, not a rule any one source states. Koio’s page for white leather says to dry at room temperature, with no heat (Koio).

Can You Put White Shoes in the Washing Machine?

Only canvas, and only after checking the label. Lacoste says to remove the insoles and laces, put the shoes in a laundry bag or pillowcase, use cold water and mild detergent, and air dry only. ThredUp adds a few towels in the load and a gentle cold cycle. Cleanipedia says to check the label before machine-washing sneakers. All of them say no tumble dryer, because heat can warp shoes, weaken glue and shrink fabric. Clarks says not to machine wash leather or suede.

How to Clean White Laces

ThredUp suggests soaking laces for about 15 minutes in roughly two cups of warm water with a tablespoon of detergent, rubbing gently, rinsing thoroughly and laying them flat to dry. Between washes, white toothpaste can spot-clean small marks.

How to Keep White Shoes White

None of the sources gives a cleaning schedule beyond “regularly”. ThredUp comes closest: wipe after each wear and do a deeper clean every few weeks. The rest of the advice is about prevention.

• Protect after cleaning. Clarks sells a rain and stain protector for leather, suede and textiles, applied after drying. ECCO says to spray its repellent from about 10 inches away and let it dry for 15 minutes. Lacoste recommends a water-repellent spray.
• Do not let detergent residue stay in the shoe. Clarks says yellowing is often caused by detergent residue. Rewash with a gentle cleaner and rinse well.
• Mind socks. Lacoste warns that coloured socks can stain white fabric.
• Clean regularly. Lacoste says to clean regularly instead of waiting until they look dirty.
• Know the limits. Oxidation of white soles cannot be prevented entirely (Cleanipedia).

For white leather you can also follow our leather shoe cleaning guide and, for a shine, the polishing guide.

Mistakes That Ruin White Shoes

• Soaking leather or suede. Clarks and Lacoste both say too much water damages them.
• Tumble dryers, heaters and direct sun on uppers. They can warp shoes or cause fading and yellowing.
• Sole cleaner on the upper. ECCO warns it can stain.
• Scrubbing fabric hard with a magic eraser. ThredUp says it is abrasive.
• Skipping the patch test. Cleanipedia says to test any product on a small, hidden area first.

Cleaning Kits for White Shoes

If you would rather buy a ready-made cleaner than mix your own, these are listed on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean white shoes at home?

Brush off dirt, then clean with a method for the upper: baking soda and vinegar paste on canvas, a damp cloth with soap or weak vinegar on leather, baking soda and warm water on mesh (Clarks, Lacoste). Air dry with paper towels inside.

How do I make white shoes white again?

Clean the upper for its material, then work on the soles. Cleanipedia lists baking soda with vinegar or peroxide, toothpaste and diluted bleach for rubber soles, and says it can take hours to days.

Why do white shoe soles turn yellow?

Mainly oxidation from oxygen, heat and sunlight, plus dirt (Cleanipedia). It cannot be fully prevented.

Can I use bleach on white shoes?

Sources disagree. Lacoste says avoid it unless the shoe is fully white and bleach-safe, Koio says no bleach on white leather, ThredUp gives a diluted mix with gloves and a rinse. Keep it off leather.

Can I wash white sneakers in the washing machine?

Only canvas, per Lacoste: laces and insoles out, laundry bag, cold water, mild detergent, air dry. Check the label first (Cleanipedia).

How do I stop white shoes turning yellow after washing?

Clarks says detergent residue is a common cause, so use a gentle cleaner, rinse thoroughly and avoid sun and heaters while drying.

Does toothpaste clean white shoes?

Lacoste and ThredUp both suggest it for touch-ups. ThredUp says use white, non-gel toothpaste and leave it about 15 minutes.

How often should I clean white shoes?

No source gives a fixed schedule. ThredUp suggests wiping after each wear and a deeper clean every few weeks.

The Short Version

Match the method to the material, keep leather and suede out of the water, treat yellow soles as a separate job, and protect the shoes once they are dry.

Keep Reading

Sources

• Clarks: How to clean white sneakers and shoes
• Lacoste: How to clean white sneakers
• ECCO: White sneakers care
• Cleanipedia: How to whiten yellow soles
• ThredUp: How to clean white sneakers
• Koio: How to clean white leather shoes