Ask a Shoe Professional How to Wash Sneakers and Pumps at Home

Jun 30, 2021
The shoes you wear every day and the shoes you wear in the rain will inevitably get dirty. Even if you didn't intend to get it dirty, you've probably had the experience of finding it black before you know it. So, in order to keep your favorite shoes clean for a long time, we will introduce you to how to wash your shoes. This time, we will look at how to wash fabric sneakers, which are often worn on a daily basis, and pumps, which are often handled by mamin, using familiar detergents and items.

How to wash fabric sneakers

First, how to wash fabric sneakers. There are two ways to wash cloth sneakers: hand wash and machine wash. In any case, dry in a shaded and well-ventilated place. Be careful not to dry it in direct sunlight, as the cloth may shrink.

wash hands

General hand washing as a way to wash cloth sneakers. You will need laundry detergent, enzymatic bleach or baking soda, hot water, a large basin, a brush, and a melamine sponge. Chlorine bleach releases toxic fumes when in contact with acidic liquids. Considering when bleach remains on your shoes, it is recommended to choose an enzyme-based product. The ideal brush is animal hair, but if you don't have one, you can use a toothbrush. ① Roughly remove dirt When you are ready, lightly remove dirt and dust on the surface of the sneaker with a brush. If the rubber part is black, you can easily remove the dirt by rubbing it with a melamine sponge. 2. Soak and rub off After roughly removing the dirt, put the detergent and hot water on the sneakers in a large washbasin, and soak the sneakers and shoelaces that have been removed. After leaving it for about 30 minutes, scrub the entire surface with a brush to clean it. ③ Scrubbing Most of the dirt will come off just by soaking, but if it has not been washed for a long time, stubborn dirt may remain. For stubborn stains, use diluted bleach or baking soda with a little water and a brush to scrub. After washing, rinse off the detergent and bleach thoroughly with water.

machine wash

In fact, fabric sneakers can be washed in the washing machine. Even if you use a washing machine, it doesn't change much until you roughly remove the dirt and soak it. After removing the dirt, remove the shoelaces and insoles, separate them from the main body of the shoes, and put them in a laundry net. You can easily clean your shoes by putting the laundry net containing the shoes, shoelaces and insoles into the washing machine with liquid detergent and washing them on the normal cycle.

how to wash pumps

Next, let's take a look at how to wash the pumps. When washing pumps, pay attention to the material. Pump materials are mainly genuine leather, synthetic leather, cloth, and enamel. Among these, it is better to refrain from washing enamel materials and tanned leather with a coating on the surface. Also, since suede and nubuck are brushed, it is safer to use a special cleaner. Other materials can be washed with water, even genuine leather. What you need to prepare is detergent, a sponge, scraps, and a large basin. Ideally, you'll want to use a commercial shoe detergent, but you can substitute baking soda + laundry detergent.

1 Remove surface dirt and oil

First, remove any visible dirt with a brush or cloth. Scrub gently, as rubbing too hard can damage the fabric. For leather shoes, use a dry cloth to wipe off oil from the surface of the shoes.

②Foam wash

Next, soak the sponge in detergent and lather it well. By creating fine, dusty bubbles, you can remove dirt without damaging your pumps. If you rub the pumps with a sponge without foaming, the fabric will be damaged, so be careful. Let's wash using the foam so that it turns around the whole. Finally, wash off the detergent with water.

③ Adjust the shape and dry

When drying, put the shoe keeper inside the shoe and be careful not to lose its shape. Be especially careful with genuine leather pumps as they tend to wrinkle easily. As with sneakers, choose a well-ventilated shaded area that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

It is important to prevent dirt on sneakers and pumps!

This time, I explained how to wash fabric sneakers and pumps. Even though it's relatively easy to clean, it doesn't mean you wash it very often. Therefore, it is recommended to take measures to prevent it from getting dirty on a regular basis. The waterproof spray for shoes can also repel water-based stains, so even if you spill a drink or get caught in a sudden rain, your shoes will be less likely to get dirty. Also, if it is a sneaker, light dirt can be rubbed off with a melanin sponge or brush without using detergent, so it is a good idea to take care of the dirt before it hardens. In the case of pumps, depending on the material, it is better not to wash them with water. There are some mamian shoes that can be washed with water and some that cannot be washed, so if you want to wash them, it is safer to consult with us.


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