Clean shoes with alcohol

Clean shoes with alcohol: Stains and odors are no longer a problem

In this blog, we will go over:

  • Cleaning yellowed white shoes with alcohol(Alcohol + Toothpaste)
  • Cleaning mildew spots on leather shoes with alcohol
  • Removing stubborn stains with alcohol(Alcohol + soap)
  • Using alcohol to remove odor from shoes

Can alcohol clean shoes?

Yes, of course. ‌Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol can be used to clean shoes.

Alcohol is a solvent that dissolves many types of stains and grease and has a bactericidal and disinfecting effect. It can be used to clean the surface of shoes to remove dirt and odors.

Can alcohol clean shoes

Alcohol is suitable for all types of shoes, including sneakers, canvas shoes, and leather shoes, and is particularly suitable for removing common stains such as asphalt, ink, grass stains, oil stains, and some food stains.

Cleaning principle:

Alcohol is a volatile liquid that evaporates quickly and removes stains. In addition, alcohol can kill bacteria and remove odors, making shoes cleaner and fresher.

If your shoes are dirty and difficult to clean with detergent, you can use alcohol to clean them.

clean white shoes

Cleaning shoes with alcohol involves pre-treating, applying the alcohol, wiping it clean, and drying it.

Cleaning steps:

  • Pre-treatment

Before you start cleaning, gently wipe the surface of the shoe with a damp cloth or sponge to remove dust and impurities. For stubborn stains, you can use a brush to gently wipe.

wipe the surface of the shoe
  • Apply alcohol‌

Pour alcohol onto a cotton ball or soft cloth and gently wipe the stained part of the shoe. Avoid rubbing too hard to avoid scratching or damaging the shoe. If the shoe has stains or marks, you can focus on these areas and wipe gently.

Apply alcohol‌
  • Wipe clean‌

Wipe the shoe with a cloth or sponge dampened with clean water to remove any residual alcohol and stains. Ensure the alcohol is completely removed to avoid leaving any chemical residue on the shoe.

Wipe the shoe with a cloth or sponge
  • Drying‌

Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area to dry. Do not place them in direct sunlight or use heating equipment to speed up the drying process, as this may cause damage to the shoe material.

dry shoes in a well-ventilated area

Before you start cleaning with alcohol, you need to know

Notes:

  1. Alcohol may not be suitable for all types of shoes. Especially for high-end leather shoes.

  2. Do not use alcohol near flammable materials and make sure to work in a well-ventilated area.

  3. Alcohol may cause fading of some materials, so be sure to perform a spot test on the shoe.

  4. If you are unsure how to clean a specific type of shoe, it is best to follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer or seek professional advice.

Alcohol can be used with other materials to clean shoes to achieve better cleaning results.

Cleaning yellowed white shoes with alcohol

Alcohol + Toothpaste

White shoes are a common type of shoes. Although they look good, they are easy to get dirty or even yellow, and they are also very difficult to clean.

Cleaning yellowed white shoes with alcohol

The combination of alcohol and toothpaste is also an effective cleaning method, especially for cleaning yellowed shoes.

This method uses the property of alcohol as an organic solvent to dissolve stains, while the abrasive and whitening effect in toothpaste can also help remove stains and restore the whiteness of shoes.

  1. Prepare some alcohol and toothpaste
  2. Add a desired amount of rubbing alcohol to a bowl.
    Add a desired amount of alcohol to a bowl
  3. Squeeze a little toothpaste onto your shoes.
    Squeeze a little toothpaste onto your shoes
  4. Use a soft brush to dip in alcohol to scrub.
    Use a soft brush to dip in alcohol to scrub
  5. Use a soft cloth to wipe off the foam on the surface of the shoes and wipe them gently. The shoes become very clean and white.
    wipe off the foam on the surface of the shoes

We use alcohol and toothpaste to scrub because alcohol is an organic solvent, which can dissolve some substances that cannot be removed by household detergents.

Toothpaste contains abrasives and surfactants, which also have strong stain removal capabilities, so the combination of the two can better remove stains.

Cleaning mildew spots on leather shoes with alcohol

Leather shoes are one of the shoes we often wear in our daily life, but sometimes due to improper storage or long-term non-wearing, leather shoes will grow mold spots, which not only affects the appearance of the leather shoes but also damages the material of the leather shoes.

Cleaning mildew spots on leather shoes with alcohol

Alcohol is a great disinfectant and also a great cleaner.

Apply 75% rubbing alcohol to the mildew spots, and then wipe them with a soft cloth, so that the mildew spots can be easily removed.

Apply 75% rubbing alcohol to the mildew spots

However, be careful not to use too strong alcohol when using alcohol, otherwise, it will damage the material of the leather shoes.

Clean mildew spots on leather shoes

Removing stubborn stains with alcohol

Alcohol + soap

Pour the alcohol into a small spray bottle and spray it on the soap.

Use a soft brush to dip the soap and scrub the shoes, focusing on the stubborn stains and scrubbing several times.

Remove stubborn stains with alcohol

After a few minutes, the shoes will be as good as new.

Remove stubborn stains of shoes

Using alcohol to remove odor from shoes

Alcohol contains ethanol, which has a good sterilizing and disinfecting effect.

Alcohol removes the odor of shoes by evaporation.

  • ‌Spray alcohol directly‌

Pour 75% alcohol directly into a spray bottle, and then spray it evenly on the insole and inside the shoe, Leave the shoe overnight.

Alcohol has a bactericidal and disinfecting effect, and its volatile properties can help quickly remove the odor of shoes‌.

Use alcohol to remove odor from shoes
  • Spray after dilution‌

Use ordinary medicinal alcohol, pour out some, and dilute it with water;

Spray the insole and the inside of the shoe with a small tool with a nozzle, or soak it with paper and drip it inside. The odor can be removed.

Both methods use the bactericidal and volatile properties of alcohol. By spraying alcohol inside the shoes, bacteria, and odors inside the shoes can be removed. At the same time, the evaporation of alcohol can also take away moisture and bad odors inside the shoes, thereby achieving the purpose of deodorization.

It should be noted that when using alcohol, ventilation should be ensured and open flames should be avoided to ensure safety.

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