You buy a pair of white Vans® and spend your days walking in style. However, it’s not long before your new sneakers look drab with everyday dirt and stains. Learn how to clean white Vans® shoes with a few techniques to ensure that your footwear remains tip-top.
While Vans® started as a famous skateboarding shoe, they are now a fashion statement among non-skateboarders, and white Vans® shoes are one of the most popular. They come in various classic styles, from Old Skool to Slip-On, and are a favorite shoe for all ages.
While white canvas, suede, or leather Vans® are stylish and comfortable, they require a special cleaning solution to maintain their pristine appearance. They attract everyday dirt, and white materials are always a magnet for stains. Fortunately, there are easy ways to clean Vans® footwear, whether canvas Vans® or suede Vans®.
Ways to Clean White Vans® Shoes
You don’t have to retire your beloved pair of Vans® simply because they have a stain. Instead, explore a few cleaning methods to help you restore your sneaker’s original good looks and keep them on your feet instead of in the trash can.
Cleaning White Vans® in the Washing Machine
Cleaning white Vans® in the washing machine is the easiest way to clean your shoes. Although you can put Vans® in your washer, it’s vital to check the care label to ensure they are machine-washable since materials like suede and leather may get damaged.
Place your canvas Vans® shoes inside a mesh bag to help them keep their shape during the cleaning process, and set them in the washing machine. Add your favorite laundry detergent and clean them with the cold delicate wash cycle.
Remove them from the washer, stuff them with white washcloths or a paper towel, and let them air dry.
How to Hand Wash White Vans® Shoes
If you’d rather not use the washing machine to clean your shoes, hand-washing is your best bet. Use a homemade shoe cleaner for white Vans® to get your footwear looking new.
Fill the sink or wash tub with water and add a couple of squirts of laundry detergent or mild dish soap. Remove the shoe laces from your shoes. There are multiple ways to clean and whiten shoelaces but you can wash and rinse them if they aren’t too dirty and set them aside or buy new ones.
Place your canvas shoes in soapy water and clean them with your hands. Cleaning white running shoes with mesh is also easy using this method. Scrub soiled areas and remove stubborn stains with an old, clean toothbrush, and rinse your sneakers with clean water. Stuff them with dry towels to absorb moisture and set them on a shoe rack to air dry.
Homemade Shoe Cleaner for White Vans®
This homemade shoe cleaner for white Vans® is natural and safe for your sneakers to remove tough stains and dirt. All you need is peroxide and baking soda and a little elbow grease.
When you need to start removing black scuff marks from shoes, combine the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water in a small bowl to form a paste. Apply the cleaner to the stain on your shoe with a toothbrush or soft brush.
A non-gel toothpaste is an excellent alternative if you don’t have baking soda and peroxide. Gently scrub your sneakers to remove loose dirt and wipe away the cleaning residue with a damp cloth.
How to Clean White Vans® Shoes with White Vinegar
White vinegar is common in the home, and has acidic qualities that make it perfect for cleaning tough stains. Use this miracle solution to clean your white canvas shoes.
Add equal portions of water and vinegar to a sprayer bottle, shake the container well, and spray the liquid onto a soft cloth. Rub the damp cloth on the stained area of your white canvas shoes and repeat the steps until the entire shoe surface is clean.
Ways to Clean Leather White Vans®
Cleaning white Vans® is reasonably easy if they are canvas or fabric. However, using different techniques to clean leather and suede materials is vital to prevent damage to your shoes.
Mix just enough water and baking soda in a small bowl to make a paste-like substance. Set your leather shoe on a flat surface and apply the paste to the stain.
Use a soft cloth to clean the areas with a circular motion, and wipe the residue away with a damp towel. After the shoe is clean and dry, use a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and supple.
To clean a suede Vans® shoe, brush away loose dirt and grime with a suede brush, and remove stubborn stains with a damp cloth. Finish by brushing the suede once more to give the shoe a finished look.
Getting Stubborn Stains Off White Vans® with Oxiclean
While it’s tempting to clean white shoes with bleach, this chemical often leaves yellow stains on materials. Oxiclean is a safe alternative to chlorine, and water activates the oxygen in this product for easy stain removal.
Pour warm water into a container and add a small amount of liquid soap and Oxiclean. To clean white shoes that turned yellow or eliminate other stains, dunk the head of an old clean toothbrush into the cleaner and rub the surface of each shoe with it until they are clean. Dry the canvas sneakers with a towel and set them aside to air dry.
You may find that this remedy is the best way to deep clean grass stains off white shoes or eliminate other challenging stains.
Removing Scuff Marks from White Vans®
Dirt stains aren’t the only problem while wearing your Vans®. Scuff marks are a common issue, leaving an unsightly defect on the side of your white shoes. Here are some ways to remove scuffs from your white sneaker using erasers.
There are two simple methods for removing scuff marks from Vans® shoes. The first is with a Magic Eraser. Get the corner of the eraser wet, wring out the excess water, and rub it on the affected area of your shoe to remove scuffs.
The second way to get a scuff mark off a white shoe is to use a pencil eraser. Locate the scuffs on your shoes and use the eraser to gently buff the blemishes away.
We all love a good pair of white shoes. However, these shoe types are magnets for dirt and stains, and it’s important to use the right cleaners for the job to prevent damage to the material. Fortunately, cleaning White Vans® is not any more difficult than cleaning other footwear with a little bit of time and patience.
Knowing how to clean white Vans® shoes means you get to keep wearing your favorite pair of sneakers, so why not share our Vans® shoe cleaning techniques with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook?