The 4 Best Ways to Clean White Shoes

White shoes are stylish and bright when they’re new and clean, but they can easily get dirty from normal wear and tear. Luckily, it’s super easy to clean your shoes and remove stains with items you’ve already got at home. Whether you’re rocking your favorite sneakers, canvas lace-ups, or white leather shoes, we’ve got a solution for you. Get ready to freshen up your kicks with our step-by-step guide to making your white shoes look new again.

Things You Should Know

The easiest way to clean white shoes (of any material) is with dish soap and water.
For canvas shoes or mesh sneakers, you can also use diluted bleach, baking soda, or even toothpaste to remove stains.
To clean the soles, start with soap and water and a damp cloth, then use a melamine sponge (like a Magic Eraser) to remove scuffs and yellowing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Soap and Water

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Mix dish soap into 1 c (240 ml) of warm water. Any liquid dish soap will work for cleaning your shoes. Use about 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of soap so the water is sudsy but still clear. Stir the cleaning solution so it’s evenly mixed. Then, using a soft cloth or toothbrush, gently scrub the shoes with the mixture, working in circular motions.^{[1]
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- Soap and water work best on all kinds of shoes, including canvas shoes, tennis shoes, and white leather.
- If you don’t want to use dish soap, you can substitute ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of white vinegar.^{[2]
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Scrub stains with a stiff-bristled toothbrush. Dip the head of the toothbrush into the water so the bristles are wet. Work the bristles in small circular motions on the surface of your shoes, focusing on heavily stained areas. Use a slight amount of pressure to work the cleaning solution into the shoe’s fabric.^{[3]
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- Keep the toothbrush you use to clean out of the bathroom to avoid any confusion.
Tip: If your white shoelaces are stained, take them out of your shoes and scrub them with your toothbrush separately.

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3
Clean the soles and rubber pieces with a magic eraser. Dip the magic eraser into your soapy water and wring it out. Wipe in short back and forth motions along parts of your shoes made of leather, rubber, or plastic. Keep working the eraser until all scuffs and stains are removed.^{[4]
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- Magic erasers can be found in the cleaning section of your local department store.
4
Pat excess water away with a towel. Use either a cloth or paper towel to pat the soapy water and dirt off of the shoe. Avoid wiping the towel across the shoe’s fabric since you could spread the dirt across the fabric again.^{[5]
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- Don’t try to completely dry your shoes with the towel. Just lift off the excess cleaning solution from the surface.
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Let your shoes air dry. After you initially pat them with a towel, put them in a well-ventilated area in your home so they can dry completely. Leave them alone for at least 2-3 hours before wearing them again.^{[6]
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- Clean your shoes at night so you can leave them to dry overnight.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Bleach Solution

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Dilute 1 part of bleach with 5 parts water. Work in a well-ventilated area in your home, and mix the bleach and water in a small container. Be careful not to use more bleach or else it could give your white shoes a yellow tinge.^{[7]
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- Bleach works best for white fabric shoes.
- Wear nitrile gloves while working with bleach to prevent any skin irritation.
2
Work a toothbrush in small circles to loosen stains. Dip the toothbrush in your bleach solution and start scrubbing your shoes. Focus on soiled areas and deep stains, applying slight pressure to the fabric. You should notice the stains lift out of the fabric.^{[8]
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- Start with your shoes’ fabric before moving onto harder surfaces, like the soles.
3
Wipe the bleach solution off your shoes with a damp towel. Wet a soft microfiber towel in clean warm water and wring it out until it’s damp. Apply gentle pressure as you wipe the towel over your shoes.^{[9]
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- You can also remove the insoles from your shoes and run your shoes under the faucet.
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Let the shoes dry in a well-ventilated area. Leave your shoes in the room to dry for at least 5-6 hours before you plan on wearing them again. Try to let them dry overnight if you can to dry completely.^{[10]
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- Put a fan in front of your shoes to speed up the drying process.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

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Mix baking soda, vinegar, and hot water into a paste. Stir 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hot water, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda together in a bowl. Continue mixing the solution together until it forms a thick paste. The baking soda and vinegar will start to fizz and bubble as it reacts.^{[11]
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- Baking soda works best if you’re trying to clean canvas, mesh, or fabric shoes.
- If your paste is runny, add an additional teaspoon (5 g) of baking soda.
2
Work the baking soda paste into your shoes using a toothbrush. Dip the head of the toothbrush into your paste and brush it into the fabric of your shoes. Apply gentle pressure to the bristles so the fabric absorbs the paste. Cover all of the exterior surfaces of your shoes with the baking soda paste.^{[12]
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- Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly when you’re finished so the paste doesn’t dry in the bristles.
3
Let the paste dry onto the shoes for 3-4 hours. Set the shoes in direct sunlight so the paste can dry or harden. Leave them outside until you can scratch the dried paste with a fingernail.^{[13]
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- If you can’t keep your shoes outside, put them near a sunny window or in a well-ventilated room.
4
Clap your shoes together and use a dry brush to remove the dried paste. Hit the soles of your shoes together outside so the paste breaks apart and falls to the ground. If there’s any dried paste chunks leftover, scrape them off with a dry toothbrush until your shoes are clean again.^{[14]
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- If you can’t work outside, lay down a sheet to catch the dried paste.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Toothpaste for Stain Removal

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Wipe your shoes with a damp cloth to get them wet. Wet the end of a microfiber cloth or towel and gently wipe it across your shoes. Get your shoes slightly damp but not soaking wet so the toothpaste can foam up.^{[15]
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- Try using toothpaste on fabric, mesh, or sneakers.
2
Rub a pea-sized dab of toothpaste into the shoes with a toothbrush. Put the dab of toothpaste directly onto your shoes where there are heavy stains. Spread the toothpaste thin so it coats the entire area before working your toothbrush in small circular motions. Work the toothpaste into the shoes’ fabric thoroughly before letting it set for 10 minutes.^{[16]
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- Make sure to use a non-gel toothpaste that’s white. Other colors may leave stains on your shoes.
You can use the same wet cloth as before to wipe the toothpaste off of your shoes. Make sure to get all of the toothpaste off your shoes so it doesn’t leave any marks.^{[17]
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Let your shoes air dry completely for 2-3 hours. Set your shoes in front of a fan or in a well-ventilated room. Leave the shoes to completely dry. Once they’re dry, your shoes should look a few shades lighter.^{[18]
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- Leave your shoes outside in the sun to speed up the drying process.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the best way to clean the rubber soles on my shoes?

Penny Simmons
Shoe Care Specialist
Penny Simmons is a Shoe Care Specialist and the Founder of Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company Inc. in Toronto, Canada. With over 25 years of experience, Penny specializes in shoe cleaning and shining. Penny offers shoe shining at special events, kiosks in Toronto’s underground city, The PATH, and drop-off services. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company also operates the oldest shoeshine parlor in Canada. Penny Loafers Shoe Shine Company has been featured in Best of The City - Toronto Life, Saturday Night Magazine, National Post, Globe & Mail, and Toronto Star.

Penny Simmons

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Take a toothbrush and dip it in some soapy water. Then, scrub the rubber soles on your shoes. Do that periodically to keep them clean.

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What’s the best way to clean Adidas shoes?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

If you’re cleaning sneakers, you can usually clean them by wiping them down with a little warm water and mild laundry detergent on a washcloth. Use a toothbrush to scrub the edges of the soles. You can also use a little leather conditioner if your Adidas shoes are made of leather.

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How do I clean white suede shoes?

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Suede is tricky to clean because water can damage it. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to blot up any moisture. To remove dried-on stains, scrub them off with a pencil eraser. You can also try rubbing away stubborn stains with white vinegar. After the shoe dries, rub it with a suede brush to restore the texture of the suede.

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Tips

Spot clean your shoes as soon as you notice they’re dirty. That way, stains won’t be able to set into the fabric.^{[19]
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Look at the shoe tag underneath the tongue to see if there are any specific cleaning instructions.

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Avoid wearing white shoes to places where they’re prone to stains, such as restaurants, bars, or outdoor trails.

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Tips from our Readers

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Try using a water and stain repellent spray designed for shoes. This can help keep them cleaner for longer.

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Warnings

Avoid putting your shoes in the washing machine since it could damage the material and make your shoes break down faster.^{[20]
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