How to Clean White Vans Shoes

White shoes are often beautiful, but they are very easy to get dirty. However, Vans shoes are not difficult to clean and the instructions below will help you do so effectively.

Table of Contents

Clean Vans shoes by hand washing

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Mix cleaning solution. Using a mixture of detergent and warm water is the easiest way to clean Vans shoes. Place in a large bowl 1/4 cup laundry detergent and 2 cups warm water. If your vans shoes are too dirty, you should make a new laundry detergent mixture to clean the second shoe. If you run out of detergent, try some of the following detergents:

Mix 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid with 2 cups warm water.
Mix 1/4 cup of window cleaning solution with 2 cups of warm water.
Mix 1/4 cup shampoo with 2 cups warm water.
Use store-bought Vans shoe cleaner.

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Prepare a bowl of clean water. You will use it to wash towels when you clean your shoes.

Dip a towel or brush in the cleaning solution and scrub the shoes. Only scrub one spot at a time, dip a towel/brush in water and rub the shoes in a circular motion. When the towel is dirty, put it in clean water to wash, then dip it in the detergent solution and continue scrubbing until you clean the fabric on the entire shoe.

You can use the same method to clean the inside of your shoes.
If you want to clean shoelaces, pour some cleaning solution into another bowl and soak the shoelaces in it. Once the shoes have been cleaned, remove the shoelaces and rinse them with warm water.

Clean the rubber part with a toothbrush or small brush. Dirt can stick to the rubber part of Vans shoes, so you’ll need a stiffer object instead of a towel to clean that stain. Dip an old toothbrush into the cleaning solution and use it to scrub the sides of the shoe sole and the entire rubber part of the shoe.

If you don’t have a toothbrush available, use a rough surface on a dish sponge or use a small brush.
If the rubber part of the shoe is not dirty, you can use a wet cloth to clean the scratches and color streaks.

Wipe the shoes one more time with a wet towel. Use a towel to wipe away any dirt or soap residue on the shoes. When you’re done, double check to see if you’re happy with the color of the shoe. If you find areas where the cleaning solution cannot clean, you need to resort to stain removal methods.

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Stuff the shoes with newspaper and let them dry. Using newspaper will help keep the shoe’s shape after it dries. Leave the shoes in a sunny place and allow them to air dry before lacing them up and putting them on.

Clean Vans shoes by machine washing

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Remove shoelaces and insoles. This method is only for canvas Vans that are covered in mud (don’t use it on leather or suede shoes). Untie the shoelaces and remove the pads so everything is clean.

Put shoes and other parts in the laundry bag. Using a laundry bag will protect shoes and washing machine from strong impact when the machine rotates. Remember to fasten the laundry bag so that things don’t fall out during the wash.

Set the washing machine to gentle wash with warm water. This will effectively clean the shoe without damaging the shoe. Don’t use hot water, no matter how dirty your shoes are. Hot water will melt the shoe glue.

Remember to add a little detergent the same way you do when you wash your clothes.
Do not wash shoes with other clothes, especially thin clothes. Shoes will damage clothes.

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Stuff the shoe with newspaper and let it dry. Do not dry the shoes, even on low heat as the heat will damage the glue in the shoes. Stuffing with newspaper will help keep the shape of the shoe, then dry it in sunlight.

Check if you are satisfied with the shoes after being cleaned. If you still see stains, use an additional stain removal method.
When the shoes are dry, lace the shoes and insert the insoles.

Remove stains and scratches

Use a magic eraser or a stain remover. Magic eraser foam contains detergent that effectively cleans stains on white Vans shoes, including mud and grass stains. You can also use it to remove scratches on the soles of your shoes. Use a magic eraser or stain remover according to the product instructions.

Use rubbing alcohol. This is an effective cleaner for cleaning scratches, ink stains and other small stains. Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and apply it to the stained area. Gently scrub the stain with a cotton ball. Rub continuously until the stain is gone.

You can also use nail polish remover to clean scratches and ink stains.
If your Vans shoes have paint on them, dab some paint thinner on them.

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide make up a mixture to clean white shoes. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide at home, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water. Here’s how to do it:

Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 teaspoon of warm water.
Use a brush or toothbrush dipped in baking soda and scrub away the stain.
Leave the baking soda mixture on the shoes for at least 30 minutes until it dries.
When the baking soda mixture dries, wash the shoes with clean water. Repeat this until the shoe is clean.

Use lemon juice. This is a home remedy that can effectively remove stains. Mix 1 part lemon juice with 1 part water. Use a sponge to absorb the mixture and rub it over the stain. Once the stain has been scrubbed, rinse with water.

Use bleach. If you need to clean stubborn stains on Vans shoes, bleach is another option. Bleach is a dangerous substance so be careful not to inhale it or get it on your skin. Change clothes so you don’t have to worry if bleach gets on them as it will bleach the fabric. Here’s how to use bleach effectively:

Mix 1 part bleach to 5 parts water. Because undiluted bleach can cause white fabrics to appear yellow.
Use a brush or toothbrush dipped in the bleach mixture and scrub the stain.
Then rinse with water.
Repeat this until the stain is gone.

Use toothpaste to cover the stain. If you have to go somewhere and can’t do the full cleaning steps for white shoes, carefully apply some white toothpaste to the dirty area. Apply until stain fades. You can then clean the stain with the above methods.

Advice

Don’t regularly use bleach on white Vans shoes as it can cause the fabric to turn yellow.
Make shoes waterproof. When you buy a new pair of Vans shoes, you can prevent them from getting dirty by making them waterproof. Buy a waterproof blend and make it yourself at home or at a shoe store.

Warning

Bleach can discolor colored areas of shoes.
Dip shoes in water to clean unsuitable shoes made of leather.

Steps

Clean Vans shoes by hand washing

Clean Vans shoes by machine washing

Remove stains and scratches

Advice

Warning

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