By Pearce Hungate
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Welcome back to Hogs at Home, the Razorbacks’ number one stop for activities to keep busy while staying at home under quarantine. In this Wednesday edition, we head into the closet to refresh your well-worn sneakers.
Whether you rock Air Force 1s, Adidas Superstars, or the sorority-classic Fila Disruptors, it doesn’t take long for your kicks to start getting scuffed, smudged, and dirty. Instead of clogging the e-commerce lanes with your orders for new shoes, we can bring your old beaters back to like-new condition with a little bit of hard work and household cleaning supplies.
What You’ll Need:
- Mild Detergent
- Warm Water
- Washcloth
- Toothbrush
- White Eraser
- Pillowcase
- Leather conditioner
For those unsure what constitutes a mild detergent, any dishwashing detergent that is made for washing dishes by hand is mild. Think of Joy, Ivory, Dawn, or any budget brand like Great Value. It’s important to use a mild detergent, because harsher detergents might discolor your shoes.
Start by knocking the soles of your shoes together to free any loose dirt. Then use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to dislodge more of the dirt from the soles. This will make things easier for you in the next step.
Once you’re done removing dirt and grime mechanically, fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Dip the washcloth in the mixture and work to clean any stains or smudges.
It’s important to note that if your sneakers contain suede material that any amount of water will discolor and stain the suede. For tips on how to clean suede shoes, skip ahead. If your shoes are suede-free, continue on.
After you have finished cleaning your sneakers with the mild detergent, take a washcloth dipped in warm water to wash away any suds. A toothbrush dipped in the same warm water can work to better clean outsoles on the edge of your sneakers, if necessary.
If your shoes are leather, apply a small amount of leather conditioner. This might not be something that most keep just lying around, but it’s well worth the investment and goes a long way towards bringing your sneakers back to like-new condition.
Unlace your sneakers and throw the laces into a pillowcase and run them in your washing machine set to cold/delicate with laundry detergent. If your shoe sports removable insoles, then you can throw those in with the laces. If your shoe has a problem with persistent bad odors, then it’s oftentimes all trapped up in those insoles, and washing them can return your shoes to smelling fresh and new.
Suede shoes are a great fashion statement but require just a little more care to clean than their counterparts. It’s important to note that you cannot use water to clean suede; it will stain the material. Using a dry toothbrush, gently work at any surface stains or dirt. Deeper stains will require slightly more pressure with your brush.
You can buy suede polish kits, but oftentimes you’ll find that a regular white eraser can do just as much good for cheaper, and besides, you’re much more likely to have a white eraser laying around than a suede polish kit.
If your stains are just too worked in, then as a last-ditch effort, you can take a white washcloth dipped in white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and try to remove the most stubborn stains. This, of course, should be used as a last resort, only if all the previous steps failed.
Canvas shoes like Converse, Chuck Taylor’s and some Vans can be scrubbed a little more liberally. Use that old toothbrush to scrub any dirt or mud before filling a bucket or bowl with warm water and mild detergent. Dip the toothbrush in and clean any problem areas. Once the shoes are clean, rinse with warm water. Use a clean towel to soak up any extra water.
To help your canvas shoes keep their shape, stuff them with paper towels and leave them in a warm spot indoors to air dry. Direct sunlight or heat will warp and discolor your shoes though, so avoid putting them in windowsills or in front of space heaters or radiators.
For a little effort and time, you can save a lot of money and have shoes that look new all the time. With as little time as it takes, this can be something that you include in your daily routine even after the quarantine. After all, what good are your clean shoes if you’re socially distancing and no one can see them?
Tune into Hogs at Home every Monday and Wednesday for new tips and tricks to keep busy, happy and healthy under the quarantine.