Chances are, you’ve had every friend tell you their home remedy to keep your sneakers looking that sparkling white for their whole life. You may even be one of the 1200 South Africans who turned to Google for answers last year. If you were one of those people, you would have seen over 470 million results. And most of them would have given you the wrong advice.
Sneaker LAB is the scientific authority on cleaning, caring and protecting sneakers and can help you bust 5 white sneaker cleaning myths:
1. Dishwashing liquid. You’ve probably been told more than once to use dishwashing liquid to clean your sneakers. This advice gets a hard no from Sneaker LAB shoe care expert Cody Felix. Dishwashing liquid will likely turn those gloriously white shoes into a dull yellow.
2. Bleach-based cleaner. It’s also nix on the bleach, peroxide, or any other chemical you might be considering. These chemicals will damage the fabric of your shoes. Instead, turn to products such as water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide which make a great white shoe cleaner. They are also safe for use on all fabrics and care for and protect your sneakers.
3. The washing machine. Running a close second to bleach on the list of “The worst things you can do to a sneaker” is putting them in the washing machine. Washing machines and tumble dryers are a no-no for sneaker cleaning, as the water and heat can warp your shoes or destroy the adhesive used on them.
4. Prevention is better than cure. Your mom was right about this one. After admiring those Air Force 1s in the box, take them out and spray on a protective product to prevent them from getting stained. This will save you a lot of tears when you have to walk through dust and dirt, as your sneakers will be protected from stains from Day 1.
5. Leather doesn’t need specific cleaning products. Leather needs nourishment and protection to maintain its quality. Once you’ve cleaned your Stan Smiths, nourish and protect them with a leather care product. This will keep your leather sneakers looking newer for longer.
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