White converse shoes are pretty popular for casual wear. You can also use it for hiking, jogging, and other regular tasks. However, the white converses get dirty pretty quickly, and some yellow marks remain even after a proper wash. So, how to clean white converse without turning them yellow?
You can apply various combinations with baking soda such as bleach, laundry powder, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, etc. Then make a paste and apply it over your shoes. Leave your converse for sometimes and after a while wash the shoes properly. You can also use various spot removal products. But for the scruffs, use lemon, ED-40, petroleum jelly, plain soap, etc.
Read on to learn proper cleaning steps and ensure you dry your converse shoes properly, or else the yellow spots might appear again. A good wash will make your shoes as white as new!
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Why Do White Converse Turn Yellow After Washing?
Sometimes the converse doesn’t come back to its original white color even if you wash them properly. So, to get back the white color, you need to know why they turn yellow after washing.
Inadequate Drying
The most common reason is insufficient drying. We often keep the washed shoes under the sunlight to speed up the drying process. Though the converse dries faster, they will turn yellow after a couple of hours due to the influence of UV light.
Unrinsed Detergent
Even if a small amount of detergent isn’t rinsed correctly after the wash, you will notice yellow spots. So, select proper detergent to clean your converse.
Subpar Sole Material
Sometimes the sole material can react with the washing powder. So obviously, you need to choose suitable material for the converse, to begin with.
In some rare cases, the converse materials are so poor that it doesn’t suit to wash. So, any attempt to clean the shoes can cause yellow spots.
How to Clean White Converse without Turning Them Yellow?
Cleaning the white converse shoes has some tricks, especially when you don’t want them turning yellow. Let’s take a look at them and clean the white converses effectively.
Method 1: Using Baking Soda & Bleach
In this process, you will need warm water, a toothbrush, baking soda, toothpaste, and bleach. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 01: Mix the baking soda and toothpaste into a big bowl where you can soak the shoes.
Step 02: Take 50ml of liquid bleach from the container and mix it with the paste.
Step 03: Add some hot water to make it a perfect combo.
Step 04: Apply the mixture over your shoes with a plain layer.
Step 05: Wait for a couple of hours. Then put them into the washing machine for cleaning. You can also clean the shoes manually with cold water.
Step 06: If any spots are left unclean, you can sprinkle baking soda or lemon on your shoes. That’s because lemon has natural bleaching properties.
Method 2: Using Baking Soda With Laundry Detergent
In this process, arrange some water, an old toothbrush, baking soda, and laundry detergent. Go through these easy steps:
Step 01: Take the laundry detergent and baking soda in equal parts.
Step 02: Gradually add a small amount of water into the mixture to make it a paste.
Step 03: Apply the paste over your converse shoes.
Step 04: Take the lace out and soak it in the liquid.
Step 05: Leave the shoes for about 30 minutes. You can use a washing machine or manually wash the shoes afterward.
Step 06: Hang the boots to dry slowly.
Method 3: Using Acetone Or Nail Polish Remover
Arrange some cotton pads, and nail polish remover, which is basically acetone. Below are the steps you can follow:
Step 01: Dip the cotton pads into the nail polish remover or acetone.
Step 02: Rub the cotton pads over the stained areas. It would help if you also scrubbed your converse thoroughly.
Step 03: Wash your shoes with cold water or plain soap water. You can also use the washing machine for final cleaning.
Step 04: Hang them outside to dry. However, it’s not as practical as baking powder.
Method 4: Using Lemon
Lemon is another suitable choice when it comes to removing the scuff marks. It’s excellent as a natural alternative to chemical cleaners. Here’s how you can use it:
Step 01: Just cut a lemon in half, make some slides and apply it over the scuff marks.
Step 02: Rub it properly. Squeeze the juice over the soles.
Step 03: Then leave them for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 04: Rinse them with cold water and give a proper wash.
Method 5: Using Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline or petroleum jelly is very helpful in removing dirt particles. Although it’s not as effective and practical, it’s good for a quick fix. Here are the steps:
Step 01: Apply some jelly over scuff marks and wait for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 02: After that, wipe the jelly with a clean rag.
Step 03: Wash the shoes in your washing machine.
Method 6: Using Spot Cleaning Products
You will find several spot removal products in the market that can clean the white converse shoes without turning them yellow, such as a magic eraser or spot cleaner.
All of them have instructions printed on their sides, but here’s a general protocol you can follow for most cleaning products:
Step 01: Remove the shoelaces and moisten your converse.
Step 02: Now grab the magic eraser and rub it from toe to heel. Use a sponge for the job. Its abrasive foam is pretty helpful in removing tough stains.
Some spot removers can directly be applied to the stained areas. No moistening is required. Rub the stick properly over the spots.
Step 03: Afterward, put the shoes on a washing machine to wash them properly. You can also use plain soap water for the final wash.
How Do You Whiten Yellowed White Converse Shoes?
You can quickly whiten your yellowed white converse shoes without having the tension of the yellow color. Follow these techniques for a good result.
Method 1: Use Baking Soda & Vinegar
The combination of baking soda and vinegar is a unique solution to whiten the yellow converse. It will give a crisp white appearance to your shoes. Here’s how you can use it:
Step 01: Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Ensure the paste is not too thick or too diluted.
Step 02: Dilute the paste with one cup of hot water. And keep the shoes in a bowl of warm water.
Step 03: Take an old toothbrush or clean cloth to rub the paste over the shoes.
Step 04: Dry the shoes gradually.
Method 2: Use Alcohol
Alcohol is pretty good in stain removal. But you can also use it to whiten the yellowed converse shoes. Here’s how:
Step 01: Take a cotton or sponge ball and soak it in the alcohol. After that, leave the alcohol over the shoes for a few minutes to set down.
Step 02: Then rub the ball over the yellowed areas. Rub a little hard if the strains are too rigid. Sometimes it might help with whitening if you rinse the shoes in alcohol.
Step 03: Use fresh and clean water to wipe the alcohol.
Method 3: Use Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide
Instead of vinegar, you can use hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to make the paste. Here are the steps you can follow:
Step 01: Prepare the paste first. Make sure it has the proper ratio. Use half a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon of baking soda.
Step 02: Then, apply the paste over the yellowed areas. Use an old toothbrush for the task. Apply a thin layer, or it will fall off when the outer layer is dried.
Step 03: Keep the shoes under sunlight and wait for a few hours. Let the boots soak the light and dry the paste naturally.
Step 04: Remove the stiff dried paste from your converse shoes. Make sure you leave no paste on the soles.
Method 4: Use Tartar Mix
Tartar is also helpful in yellowed whitening shoes. Typically, you can buy tartar cream from the stores and follow these steps for a quick fix:
Step 01: Take half a cup of tartar cream and dissolve it with hot water. Use a bowl to make the solution.
Step 02: Dust off the shoes and soak them in the solution overnight. You will notice whitened converse shoes the following day.
However, if your shoe size is too large, you can use a tartar-soaked cloth and place it over the shoes. It will do the job in the same way.
Method 5: Toothpaste
As for the toothpaste choice, you need to use non-gel white toothpaste to whiten the converse shoes. Using the colored toothpaste will demolish the plain white color of your converse, and those colorful pastes will stick permanently over the boots. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 01: Apply a small amount of paste to the yellowed areas on your shoes. Then use the brush to make a plain layer on those areas properly.
Step 02: Wait for 10 minutes and notice if the spots are fading or not.
Step 03: Afterward, take a towel or clean rag to wipe out the paste. You can repeat multiple times if the shoes have not whitened enough.
Read Also: How to Get Blood Out of Shoes Without Making a Mess?
Some Tips on Keeping Converse White when Using Regularly
Some easy tips and tricks will help keep your converse white even after regular wash. These are not precisely conventional, but they help get the job done!
- Use dirt and water repellent spray on your shoes before the first use.
- If your shoes get dirty, don’t let the strains sit permanently. Rinse them into the water and use mild soap to clean the loose dirt.
- If the spots are tough, use hot water with detergent.
- Take a sponge and give a good rub after rinsing the shoes for enough time. It will help to clean the boots quickly.
- You can also keep some spot remover at home for instant cleaning.
Conclusion
Dirty converse shoes can decrease the motivation to go on jogging or do other tasks. But you would hardly need any effort to clean the converses and make them white again.
Hopefully, you have acknowledged how to clean white converse without turning them yellow. Don’t let any dirt sit permanently on your shoes. And keep the converse white and without yellow spots. A pair of converse can last long enough. Best of luck with your jogging!
