Have you ever bought shoes that you immediately regret? It’s common. Chances are, your shoes are too big, too small, or just plain ugly.
If you’re looking for a cheap way to clean your old, used pair of shoes, here are some tips for cleaning them.
We all know that shoes take a beating over time. Even if you try to keep them in tip-top shape, after a while, they can get worn out, scuffed, and stained.
Now let’s learn how to clean used shoes.
Steps to Clean Used Shoes:
I bought some new running shoes recently and they had a lot of dirt on them. I was excited about them, but they were covered in black mold and grime when I got them home.
Here’s how to clean used shoes so you don’t end up with a gross pair of shoes! I’ll walk through all of the steps of cleaning my shoes and how it works.
First, let’s look at what you can do before you get started. If there is any kind of stain on your shoes, that is already preventing them from being cleaned well. You can also remove these stains using any of the methods below.
STEP 1: Remove Any Stains
The first step in cleaning your shoes is to remove the stains. This is done by either rubbing out the stain with a dry toothbrush or soaking the entire shoe in vinegar. You will want to take extra care when doing this because vinegar will dissolve most of the fabric and damage your shoes.
STEP 2: Remove Dirt
Now it’s time to clean the dirt off. The best way to do this is to soak your shoes in a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice. If your shoes are old and have lots of creases, use only lemon juice. I would not recommend using soap for this process, it is too abrasive. This will remove any oil residue and give your shoes a fresh look.
STEP 3: Clean the Shoes
Once your shoes have been soaked, it is time to wipe them down and apply your preferred method of cleaning. I prefer to use a soft cloth with a lot of lint and a dryer sheet on my shoes. Dryer sheets also help to add a nice fresh scent.
Material You Will Need:
- A shoe brush (this will help to remove the dirt)
- Your favorite shampoo
- Vinegar
- Soap
- White vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Your preferred method of cleaning
- A cloth
Clean Old Shoes Using Household Items:
Shoes can be great friends. They’ll make sure you stay warm, keep your feet clean, and protect your feet when walking. The only problem is that over time, shoes get dirty and don’t always smell that great either.
Luckily there are plenty of ways you can clean old shoes that work well and won’t damage them. You can even do some of these on your own, although it might take a bit more effort than you expected. Let’s look at some of the easiest ways to clean old shoes.
Boil Water:
Boil water is probably the most straightforward way to clean old shoes. The first step in this process is to boil the shoe, so all you need to do is fill up the pot or pan with enough hot water to completely submerge the shoe.
Don’t worry if you forget about the shoe while it boils. Once it starts bubbling, just leave it alone. After about 30 minutes, the water should be the perfect temperature to wash and clean your old shoe.
Make sure to use soap and lukewarm water, and wipe the shoe down before wearing it again. This works well for leather shoes that aren’t too old but might have a little bit of a smell or some stains on them.
Use Vinegar:
The next option is to use vinegar. All you need to do is add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a bowl of water and pour it on your shoe. You can also use an old toothbrush or a rag soaked in vinegar to gently scrub away any dirt.
If you want a strong cleaning, you can add a bit more vinegar to the mixture. When using vinegar, it’s best to use only lukewarm water, and make sure that you don’t soak the shoe or let the water sit on it for too long.
This method works great if you have some kind of leather shoe that you can clean yourself. If it’s not leather, though, you might have to use some elbow grease.
Use Bleach:
Bleach is another good option to use when cleaning shoes. The process is similar to vinegar, but bleach is much stronger. Just add 1/2 cup of bleach to a bucket of water and soak your shoes.
Make sure to only use warm water and wash the shoes as soon as you’re finished. If you want to use bleach, be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after you use it. You can also use baking soda mixed with some vinegar in place of bleach for a similar effect.
Use Soda:
Mixing soda with water is another simple way to clean old shoes. You need to combine 1/2 cup of baking soda with some warm water in a small container and pour that on your shoe.
Make sure to use warm water, as cold water will cause the baking soda to becoming harder and more likely to damage your shoes. Just remember that soda will leave some kind of chemical residue on your shoes.
So you’ll want to wash them as soon as possible. If you don’t have a washer, you can rinse your shoes with some warm soapy water. This is a quick method that works well for shoes that don’t have much dirt on them.
Use Salt:
Adding salt to water is one of the oldest cleaning methods around. Salt is very effective at removing dirt, but it does need to be mixed into a bucket of water.
It’s best to mix salt into hot water, though, as the hotter the water, the better. Add 1/2 cup of salt to 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. Put the shoes in the bucket and let the salt soak them for several hours or overnight.
After soaking, you can use soap or another cleaning solution to remove any remaining salt and then use a towel to gently scrub off any leftover dirt.
Use this method if you have dirty or stained shoes that you need to clean, or if you want to keep your shoes from smelling. It might not be the most pleasant way to clean your shoes, but it works great for removing stains and odor.
Wrapping It All Up!!!
Clean your shoes with soap and water and then use a shoe brush to remove the dirt. You may need to use a scrubber and/or a vacuum. Make sure the shoe cleaner you buy is safe for your children.
There are some great products available online that do the job well. However, I also think there are a lot of people out there who are using them without realizing they have chemicals in them. So if you do not want to damage the shoes make sure to follow the tips that we have mentioned above.
