How to Clean White Canvas Shoes

White canvas shoes are comfortable, simple, and look great, but they are incredibly easy to get dirty. Since they are made of cotton, they are highly absorbent and stains are easy to stick to. But don’t give up just because of a few small stains on your white canvas shoes! You only need to do a preliminary cleaning, then remove the remaining stains. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Handwash

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Wait for the mud to dry before washing your shoes. When the mud is dry, knock the soles of your shoes together to shake off the soles. Use an old toothbrush to brush away large pieces of dirt and get into the grooves of the shoe.

Remove the shoelaces. Drop the shoelaces into a basin of water with a few drops of soap and soak. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can simply buy new shoelaces to save on the hassle of washing. Throw away your old shoelaces to craft or throw away. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Scrub the soles of the shoes. Mix 1 part baking soda and 1 part water in a small bowl. Dip a toothbrush into the mixture and gently scrub the soles of your shoes, then wipe clean. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Make a soap solution. Put a few drops of regular laundry soap in a basin of cold water and stir the solution.

Dip the toothbrush in the soapy solution. Start scrubbing the shoe in a circular motion from the edge of the stain to the center.

Instead of using a regular toothbrush, you can use an electric toothbrush instead. That way you will save a lot of effort!
Rinse the shoes with water and repeat until the fabric is clean. Once satisfied with the cleanliness of the shoe, you can rinse with cold water to remove any soap stains on the shoes. You need to rinse thoroughly, as soap when dry can also leave stains. Repeat this step with the other shoe.
When washing your shoes, try not to let water get inside.

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Dry the shoes. Place the shoes in a ventilated place to let them dry naturally. Drying your shoes in the sun is also a great idea. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

To keep the shape of the shoe when it dries, you can roll up a few sheets of tissue or a rag and stuff it inside the shoe. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Remember to let the shoes dry completely before use.

Scrub shoelaces and launder. Hang the shoelaces to dry. Once your shoes and laces are clean, wait for them to dry completely and enjoy your shoes as clean as new!

Use a washing machine

Let the mud or soil dry before washing your shoes. When the mud is dry, knock the soles of your shoes together to shake off the shoes. Use an old toothbrush to brush away dirt or debris. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

This step will make cleaning stains and washing shoes easier.

Clean shoe soles. Mix a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part baking soda in a small bowl. Dip an old toothbrush in the mixture and rub it gently on the sole of the shoe, then wipe it clean. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Take the shoes to the washing machine. Run the washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Add mild soap. Use half the amount of soap in a regular wash. Put soap in the tub when the water is half full. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Put the shoes in the washing machine when the water is 2/3 full. Run the machine through the full cycle and remove the shoes when washing is complete. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Advice

Put newspaper in shoes as they dry so they don’t lose their shape and water doesn’t get inside.
For stubborn stains such as grass and oil stains, you should use a stain remover solution first as you would when washing normal clothes. Use according to the instructions on the product label. Be sure to test the product on an inconspicuous area of your shoe first before scrubbing. With most stain removers, you need to soak the stain in the solution for at least 5-10 minutes. Rinse off stain remover and wash shoes by hand or washing machine. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Warning

Do not use bleach, even for white shoes. Bleach will turn the fabric from white to yellow. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Do not put shoes in the dryer. Hot temperatures will damage the shape of the shoe and loosen the glue on the sole.

Steps

Handwash

Use a washing machine

Advice

Warning

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