How to properly clean your white sneakers

Here are a few handy tips to keep your beloved kicks looking schmick.

How to clean white leather shoes:

1. If you’re one of those rare types of folk who looks up this sort of info before you’re at the point of no return (well done, you) then it’s time to spray your white sneakers with a leather protector because prevention is better than cure.
2. If you’re like us and your white leather shoes are looking a little lack-lustre, start by giving them a wipe. Duh, we hear you say. But a simple wipe with a wet cloth and a little soapy water can do wonders. If you’re lucky this might be all the cleaning you need.
3. For any tricky stains, you can try an old toothbrush or a little nail polish remover on a cotton ball.
4. While you should never throw your leather shoes in the washing machine, you should definitely remove your laces and run them through the wash. These can even be bleached if they’re particularly dirty.
5. If your leather has cracks, you can try a little white nailpolish to fill them out.
6. If your sneakers get wet while you’re cleaning then, stuff them with old newspaper to dry out and retain their shape.
7. Avoid leaving your white sneakers outside or in direct sunlight as they are prone to fading and yellowing discolouration.
8. Once they're nice and clean you can always give them a little something extra with a leather shoe polish.

How to clean white canvas shoes:

1. As above, your first point of call is a good traditional wash with some soapy water.
2. If that fails, try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Combine a table spoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and a cup of water then scrub with a cloth or old toothbrush.
3. You can also pop canvas shoes through the washing machine, though there's always risk involved here - and if your kicks have embellishments or metallic detailing you want to avoid this.
4. For any stubborn stains you might need to invest in a stain remover.
5. Once you've finished cleaning, make sure you dry your sneakers out and stuff them with some old newspaper to help them retain their shape.
6. If all else fails, designers from Saint Laurent to Golden Goose are just giving in to the worn-in look and selling them pre-scuffed, so we'll take that as permission...

This article was originally published on Marie Claire