White Converse are an all-season wardrobe staple. The perfect shoe to slip on with almost any outfit for a chic everyday look.
Unfortunately, white Chucks stain easily and quickly look scruffy without proper care.
Don’t stress; white Converse shoes are easy to clean. You can handwash stains using either toothpaste or baking soda. Continue reading for our top tips on cleaning Chucks and keeping them spotless!
There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.
What You Should Know Before Cleaning Your White Converse Shoes
The first thing you should do is remove the laces before cleaning a pair of shoes. This will make it easier for you to clean around the eyelets and tongues of the shoe.
If your laces need a scrub too, you can clean them separately.
How To Clean White Converse Shoes In The Washer
Converse strongly recommend against using a washer for their shoes. If you still prefer to use a washer, follow these tips to protect your shoes during a gentle wash cycle.
1. Rinse First
Excess dirt on your Chucks can clog up the washer. So, it’s best to rinse your shoes under warm water before putting them in the machine.
2. Use a Laundry Bag
Shoes can be damaged by the zippers and embellishments on other items in the wash. You can protect your shoes from snags by placing them in a laundry mesh bag.
It’s worth using a mesh laundry bag even if you only wash your shoes in the washer. Otherwise, your shoes may catch on the metal edges inside the drum.
You can find mesh bags in a range of different sizes on Amazon.
Remember to remove the laces before placing the shoes in a mesh bag. Removing the laces will stop them from blocking the eyelets and tongues of your shoes from being washed.
We will cover how to wash the laces separately later in this guide.
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3. Use a Mild Detergent
Avoid using strong detergents or stain removers on your Converse shoes. Strong detergents, especially those that contain bleach, can turn your Chucks yellow.
Instead, use a mild detergent that is recommended for delicates.
4. Select a Cool Cycle.
Set your washer to a gentle cycle at the lowest temperature. Washing on a higher heat can loosen the glue and darken the brightness of your Chucks.
5. Air-Dry.
Once the cycle finishes, hang your Converse to dry. Never use the dryer, as the heat will damage your shoes.
You can maintain the shape of your shoes by filling them with paper towels. Avoid drying your shoes in direct sunlight, as this can cause discoloration.
How To Handwash White Converse Shoes
Handwashing your Converse is a great way to keep them clean, and is far safer than using a washing machine. Your shoes won’t be exposed to too much heat, and you won’t risk snags during a spin.
To handwash, make a cleaning solution using washing-up liquid, toothpaste, and baking soda. This is the best way to clean your white shoes.
You’ll also need water, a sponge, an old toothbrush, a cloth, and paper towels.
Instructions:
- Use a sponge or a damp cloth with room-temperature water to sponge off excess dirt.
- Mix together 50g each of toothpaste, baking soda, and washing-up liquid.
- Add water to form a thick paste.
- Apply the paste to your Converse using the toothbrush in a circular motion.
- Scrub your shoes with the toothbrush.
- Wipe away any dirt with your cloth as you clean.
- Rinse your shoes under lukewarm water.
- Fill your shoes with paper towels to maintain their shape while drying.
- Hang your Converse to dry, avoiding direct sunlight.
After handwashing, you may notice some tough stains remain. You can use baking soda or toothpaste as a spot-on stain cleaner to treat and remove these.
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How To Clean Converse With Baking Soda
If stains are still visible after handwashing your white sneakers, you can use baking soda paste. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and makes a great spot-on stain remover.
You can make a baking soda paste using white vinegar, and hot water. You’ll also need an old toothbrush (or any other soft brush) and a cloth for this method.
Instructions:
- Remove the laces. We’ll walk you through cleaning the laces after.
- Mix together baking soda, white vinegar, and warm water into a paste-like consistency.
- Fill a sink or tub with cool water.
- Submerge your Converse in the water.
- Apply the paste to the dirty spots and stained areas of your shoes using an old toothbrush.
- Rinse away the paste using lukewarm water and a cloth.
- Fill your shoes with paper towels to maintain their shape while drying.
- Hang your Converse to dry, avoiding direct sunlight.
You can repeat this process if the stains remain visible after drying.
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How To Clean White Converse Shoes With Toothpaste
After handwashing your Chucks, you can use toothpaste as a spot-on stain remover. When using toothpaste, select a paste product rather than a gel.
Avoid using colored toothpaste, as the dye will stain the material. Use a non-gel white toothpaste instead.
You’ll also need something to apply the toothpaste to the stains. An old toothbrush or scrubbing brush would work well.
Instructions:
- Remove the laces. We’ll walk you through cleaning the laces after.
- Using a toothbrush, apply the toothpaste on the stained areas of your Converse. Be generous; you can’t use too much!
- Leave to soak for 15 minutes.
- Rinse your shoes under lukewarm water.
- Fill your shoes with paper towels to maintain their shape while drying.
- Hang your Converse to dry, avoiding direct sunlight.
If the stains are still slightly visible after drying, you can repeat this process.
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How To Wash Converse Laces
Now that you’ve got spotless shoes, you’ll need to clean the laces to match! You can wash your laces by soaking them in a homemade cleaning solution for a few hours.
You’ll need washing-up liquid, toothpaste, baking soda, and warm water.
Instructions:
- If you haven’t already, remove the laces from your shoes. Place them in a tub or basin you don’t need access to for a few hours.
- Mix together 50ml each of washing up liquid, toothpaste, and baking soda.
- Add 200ml of warm water.
- Pour the solution into the tub or basin containing the laces.
- Leave the laces to soak for around three hours.
- Rinse your laces under lukewarm water.
- Hang to air-dry.
How To Clean The Rubber Or Sole On White Converse Sneakers
The rubber soles of Converse trainers can get dirty quickly. You can keep them in tip-top condition using acetone to remove scuff marks.
Converse soles are made from rubber, making acetone a safe solution to use on them. But, do NOT use acetone on the canvas of your shoes as this can cause discoloration.
Acetone is a powerful cleaning solution often used as a nail polish remover. Make sure to buy pure acetone with no added ingredients.
You can find acetone at your local chemist or order it online from Amazon. You’ll also need some clean cloths to clean rubber soles with acetone.
Instructions
- Pour acetone onto a clean cloth or a cotton ball.
- Wipe down the soaks with the acetone-soaked cloth.
- Wet another cloth with water.
- Wipe away the acetone from the soles of your Converse.
- Leave to air-dry.
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How To Clean White Converse Shoes Without Turning Them Yellow
You may have experienced your white Converse turning yellow before. This usually occurs due to incorrect cleaning methods used on the shoes’ canvas.
The bad news, yellow stains can be almost impossible to remove. The good news, you can prevent this from happening again by avoiding the following cleaning mistakes:
Do NOT use bleach on canvas.
Yellow stains are often caused by products containing bleach. While the rubber soles and laces can cope with harsh chemicals, the canvas is more delicate.
Avoid using bleach solutions and opt for baking soda paste or toothpaste instead.
Ensure water is clean.
Dirty or cloudy water can cause yellowing of the canvas of your Converse shoes. Always use fresh water when cleaning your shoes.
If you are unsure of the water quality in your area, use freshly filtered water to be safe.
Rinse thoroughly.
Ensure you thoroughly rinse your Converse under lukewarm water after cleaning. Detergent residue can cause yellowing during the drying process if not rinsed properly.
Air-dry away from direct sunlight.
Another common cause of yellowing Converse is direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays have a bleaching effect which can cause fading and discoloration.
When air-drying your shoes, place them somewhere warm but out of direct sunlight. If you don’t have anywhere safe to dry your shoes, you can wrap the canvas in paper towels.
This way, the shoes will still dry, but the canvas won’t be exposed to sun rays.
How To Clean White Converse That Turned Yellow
Usually, yellowing results from incorrect cleaning methods. If your Chucks have turned yellow, use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste.
You’ll also need an old toothbrush and a clean cloth. Mix together hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and lukewarm water to form a paste.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub the paste over the soles of your shoes. Leave to settle for ten minutes.
Then rinse away the paste thoroughly with lukewarm water and a clean cloth. You can repeat the process if the stains are still visible.
What Not to Do When Cleaning Your White Converse
Using the wrong cleaning methods on your Converse can cause discoloration and damage. So, to recap, here’s a list of things to avoid when cleaning your Chucks.
- Avoid using bleach or acetone on the canvas of your shoes.
- Don’t use a washer. But if you do, select a gentle, low-heat cycle.
- Don’t rush the rinsing step. Detergent residue can lead to yellowing if not thoroughly rinsed.
- Don’t use dirty or cloudy water when handwashing. Make sure water is fresh and, if needed, filtered.
- Never use a dryer to dry your shoes.
- Don’t dry in direct sunlight.
How To Clean White Converse Shoes Fast?
If you’re in a rush, you can give the soles of your shoe a quick shine with a magic eraser. Unlike a full wash, you won’t need to wait a few hours for the Converse to dry before wearing them.
Simply wet the magic eraser and rub over the stains on the soles of your shoe. Then dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
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How to Protect Your White Converse
One of the easiest ways to protect your white Converse is to apply a shoe protection spray (also known as a sneaker protector) like Crep Protect.
Spray shoe protectors over your shoes for an invisible protective coat. They usually last for a few weeks before needing to be reapplied.
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To prolong the life of your Chucks, pay attention to the weather. Opt for a more resilient, waterproof shoe on rainy days.
By reserving your white Converse for dry days, you can ensure they stay spotless longer.
FAQs On How To Clean White Converse Shoes
Does peroxide remove yellow stains from white Converse shoes?
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can remove yellow stains from white Converse by breaking down discoloration when applied directly.
Mix it with water and dab on stains; allow it to sit 5-10 minutes, then rinse. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first.
Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for stains on white Converse shoes?
Hydrogen peroxide is more effective at removing stains from white Converse than vinegar.
As a bleaching agent, peroxide can lift discoloration and whiten shoes better. However, you can try vinegar first for mild stains.
Does vinegar remove yellow?
Vinegar can help remove some yellow stains due to its acetic acid, but it’s not as strong as peroxide.
Use vinegar first on mild stains, then try peroxide for tougher discoloration. Test vinegar in an inconspicuous spot first.
Does peroxide and Dawn remove from white Converse shoes?
Yes, peroxide and Dawn dish soap together can remove stains from white Converse. Peroxide lifts discoloration, and Dawn cuts through grease and dirt.
Mix them with water, apply to stains, let sit briefly, then rinse shoes. This can brighten and get rid of yellowing.
Conclusion
That’s the end of our guide; we hope it helped! Now you know how to keep your white Chucks in tip-top condition.
And how to protect your white Converse from yellowing in the future. Don’t forget to reapply your shoe protector regularly for the best results.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
