Any pair of shoes looks better clean. It takes time to deep clean footwear and eliminate stains and odors, but the following fast fixes improve the appearance of shoes in a matter of minutes. The right cleaning methods and supplies depend on the shoe material and design. Here are a few tips for cleaning up mens, womens or kids shoes in just five minutes.
Brush or Wipe Off Dirt
The first step toward cleaning shoes is eliminating excess dirt. You can use a shoe brush, sponge or paper towel to get soil off of shoes. This step will not restore the appearance of men’s shoes, but is an important preliminary measure prior to damp cleaning footwear with a suitable formula.
Dip an old toothbrush in a solution of one teaspoon dish soap in one cup of warm water or one-half cup of white vinegar in one cup of warm water and scrub at dirt on the rubber outsoles of shoes. Do not overly wet shoes that you plan to wear immediately after cleaning. These solutions can also be used to clean shoes more thoroughly and allow footwear to dry overnight.
Polish Away Scuffs
Scuffs form when shoes make contact with other objects or surfaces. These marks may not be removed by brush cleaning. The material shoes are made of will determine the best way to eliminate scuffing. Leather shoes can be polished with a formula made for a particular type or color of leather. Shoes made of faux leather or that have a patent finish can be polished with petroleum jelly or glass cleaner.
If you do not have a leather polish, you can buff away scuffs on leather with baking soda and a damp, soft cloth. Rub at the scuffs with the cloth and wipe away any residue with a clean cloth. Wait a few minutes for the shoe to dry and buff the area with a clean cloth. Shoes made of materials such as nubuck, sheepskin or suede can be maintained with a soft bristle brush. A pencil eraser can remove scuffs from these soft materials.
Try a Magic Eraser
The best way to get rid of scuffs on kids, mens or womens white sneakers is to use a magic eraser. Dip the magic eraser in clean water and wipe down the shoe. You can use the eraser to clean rubber outsoles as well as the uppers of sneakers or other shoe styles. You may have to scrub to eliminate scuffs or stains. Shoes should be ready to wear in a few minutes.
A more extensive cleaning process can restore the appearance of worn shoes. Some canvas or athletic shoes are safe to clean in the washing machine and air dry. The glue on other shoes may become loose or leather materials may become damaged. Wipe down and polish these shoes. Shoe insoles may also be removed and cleaned or replaced. Deep cleaning measures take longer than five minutes and damp shoes can take hours to dry. The measures covered above can clean up shoes for immediate wear.
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