Everyone has a few pairs of canvas shoes in their shoe cabinet. They are not only versatile but can be worn all year round. However, canvas shoes are also easy to debond and fade, especially white ones, which can easily turn yellow if not properly cared for. When cleaning canvas shoes, to avoid debonding and fading, you can follow the steps below:
Preparation
- Tool preparation
Prepare a clean, soft cloth or towel, an old toothbrush (or a soft brush), toothpaste (for stubborn stains), a neutral detergent (such as dishwashing liquid or a special shoe cleaner), a dry towel, and toilet paper.
- Environmental preparation
Make sure the cleaning location is well-ventilated and avoid doing it in a humid or closed environment.
Cleaning steps
1. Preliminary cleaning
Use a clean soft cloth or towel to gently wipe off the dust and impurities on the surface of the canvas shoes. For the dirt on the sole, you can use a waste toothbrush or a soft brush to gently brush it off.
2. Local cleaning
For stubborn stains on canvas shoes, such as oil stains, mud stains, etc., you can first gently wipe the stain with a wet towel, and then take a small amount of toothpaste or neutral detergent and apply it on the stain. Use a waste toothbrush or a soft brush to gently scrub the stain, and be careful not to use too much force to avoid damaging the canvas fiber. After brushing, wipe the detergent residue with a wet towel.
3. Comprehensive cleaning
If you need to clean the canvas shoes comprehensively, you can dissolve an appropriate amount of neutral detergent in warm water (note that the water temperature should not be too high to avoid damaging the canvas material). Use a soft cloth or a waste toothbrush to dip in the cleaning solution and gently wipe or scrub all parts of the canvas shoes. Be careful not to use too much force during the scrubbing process, especially for easily worn parts such as the toe and heel.
4. Rinse and control water
After cleaning, rinse the canvas shoes with clean water to ensure that the detergent residue is rinsed clean. After rinsing, gently press the canvas shoes with a dry towel to absorb excess moisture, but avoid wringing them hard to avoid deformation
5. Air dry naturally
Put the canvas shoes in a ventilated place to air dry naturally, and avoid direct sunlight or high-temperature baking to avoid fading and deformation. During the air drying process, you can wrap the surface of the canvas shoes with toilet paper to absorb excess moisture and prevent the upper from yellowing.
Precautions
- Avoid soaking: Try not to soak the entire pair of canvas shoes in water to wash, so as to avoid the shoes from degumming or deformation.
- Gentle cleaning: Choose a neutral detergent for cleaning, and avoid using corrosive detergents such as strong acids and alkalis.
- Gentle operation: Be gentle during the cleaning process to avoid excessive force that may damage the canvas fibers or cause the decorations to fall off.
- Regular maintenance: Regularly maintain the canvas shoes, such as applying waterproof spray, antifouling agent, etc., to extend their service life and maintain their beauty.
How to Clean Yellowed Canvas Shoes?
Canvas shoes are a wardrobe staple for many due to their comfort, versatility, and casual charm.
However, they can easily lose their appeal when they develop yellow stains over time. Whether it’s due to dirt, exposure to sunlight, or improper washing, yellowing can seem like a death sentence for your beloved shoes. Fear not! With the right cleaning techniques and a bit of patience, you can restore your yellowed canvas shoes to their former glory.
Toothpaste cleaning method
1. Prepare materials: Choose white, non-gel toothpaste containing bleaching ingredients, and an old toothbrush.
2. Apply toothpaste: Apply toothpaste evenly on the yellowed part of the canvas shoes.
3. Gently scrub: Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the yellowed part, and be careful not to use too much force to avoid damaging the fibers of the canvas shoes.
4. Rinse: Rinse the shoes with clean water to ensure that there is no toothpaste residue.
5. Dry the shoes: Place the shoes in a ventilated place to dry naturally, and avoid direct sunlight to prevent the shoes from deforming or fading.
A mixture of baking soda and white vinegar
1. Prepare materials: baking soda, white vinegar, water, a soft cloth, or an old toothbrush.
2. Make baking soda paste: Mix baking soda and water into a paste and apply it to the yellowed part of the canvas shoes.
3. Let it stand: Let the baking soda paste stand on the shoes for a while to fully react.
4. Wipe clean: Use a damp cloth or an old toothbrush to wipe clean to remove the baking soda paste and stains.
5. Wipe with white vinegar solution (optional): If there are still residual stains, mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio, dip a soft cloth in it, wipe the shoes, and then rinse with clean water.
6. Dry the shoes: Also place the shoes in a ventilated place to dry naturally.