Q&A for How to Clean White Converse

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  • Question
    How do you clean Converse with detergent?
    Marc Sigal
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
    Shoe Care Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Dip a clean towel in some lukewarm water and a little bit of mild detergent. Then, take the towel and blot any dirty areas throughout the shoe.
  • Question
    Do I have to use a washer to rinse my shoes?
    Community Answer
    No, and it would be better if you washed them by hand, as washing them in the washer and dryer can be hard on the shoes, especially if done often.
  • Question
    Will putting the shoes in water and the dryer ruin them?
    Community Answer
    Converse shoes can be washed with water as outlined in this article. However, let them air dry as the heat from the dryer can melt the glue and cause the shoes to fall apart and can change the shape of the shoes. If you must use the dryer, pack the shoes with tissue paper to keep their shape, place inside a pillow case and tie around the shoes tightly, then use the lowest setting on the dryer. If you cannot change the setting on the dryer, don't use it at all. However, as noted in the article, use of the dryer is not recommended at all.
  • Question
    Will washing them using method 1 make the shoes smell bad?
    Community Answer
    No. You should rinse them with water after using the bad smelling stuff and letting them air-dry also stops the smell anyway.
  • Question
    Will baking soda and peroxide work instead of vinegar?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it actually works better. Peroxide is a very good cleaning tool that will leave your shoes looking just like new.
  • Question
    Is it essential to put them in a laundry bag when washing them in the washing machine?
    Community Answer
    No, it's not necessary. I have washed shoes without a bag and they turned out perfectly fine.
  • Question
    Will my shoes smell like vinegar after doing this?
    Community Answer
    They will smell like vinegar at first, but the smell will go away after you air-dry them. If you notice the smell lingering, give your shoes a few more days; it will eventually go away.
  • Question
    How long will it take for the shoes to air dry?
    Community Answer
    If it's in the sun, it usually takes about a day. If not in the sun, it takes about 2 days.
  • Question
    Will this work for black converse too?
    Community Answer
    Yes. You can't see the effects as well, but it works well on the white rubber parts of the shoe.
  • Question
    Can I use the dry erase method on colored chucks?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can! You would be better off putting them in the wash, though, because the color might fade if you use the magic eraser.
  • Question
    Can I wash them with just water?
    Community Answer
    You can, but it probably will not adequately remove stains from the fabric part of the shoe. It may remove scuff marks from the rubber soles, though.
  • Question
    Is there anything else I can substitute for baking soda or powder detergent to clean my white converse canvas shoes?
    Community Answer
    Yes! You can just use whitening toothpaste. It will work because it has baking soda in the formula.
  • Question
    Will my shoes squeak when I walk after I machine wash them?
    Community Answer
    No, they should not squeak.
  • Question
    Will the first method make it completely new, or will it still look slightly worn?
    Community Answer
    It depends on how dirty the shoes are. The less dirty they are to start, the newer they will look.
  • Question
    Will the shoes turn yellow if put in the sun to dry?
    Community Answer
    No, they will not.
  • Question
    Can I dry them with a hair dryer set on cool?
    Community Answer
    Just leave them out to dry. You won't need an air dryer as long as you open the shoes up and pull the tongue out a little.
  • Question
    Will cleaning the material part of the shoe make it turn yellow with any of these methods?
    Community Answer
    No, but getting petroleum jelly on the canvas part of the shoe will stain it, and getting bleach on the canvas part can damage the fabric.
  • Question
    How do I clean white shoes without baking soda?
    Community Answer
    Toothpaste is really good. You can use white nail polish for scuff marks. You can use warm water and soap, too
  • Question
    Can I dry the converse with a hairdryer set on warm if there's no sun out?
    Community Answer
    I do this most of the time, and it doesn't hurt the converse, so yes, you can. What I usually do is take a toothbrush and scrub the white part down. However, my cousin told me not to put them in the washer, so I don't.
  • Question
    Can you fix bleached spots on white Converse?
    Community Answer
    No, bleach stains can't be taken out of any fabric and will completely wipe away any form of color. From my past interactions with it, bleach has also made the fabric of my shoes and clothes weaker.
  • Question
    What kind of vinegar?
    Community Answer
    White vinegar is best. You should always keep some in the house, as it is wonderful for all sorts of cleaning jobs.
  • Question
    Will the first method work on yellowing Vans?
    Community Answer
    It should, but you have to be careful not to remove the color from your shoes. I would also let them dry longer than the recommended time just to be safe.
  • Question
    How often can I clean my Converse?
    Community Answer
    You can clean them as often as you like. Just be careful using certain chemical cleaners because they might deteriorate the shoes over time.
  • Question
    Could I use a lime instead of a lemon?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can use a lime, too. They have the same effect when cleaning your shoes.
  • Question
    Can I clean my Converse by hand, then put them in the dryer?
    Community Answer
    You can clean them by hand, but putting them in the dryer can melt the glue, making the shoes fall apart, and they can change shape.
  • Question
    Will these methods work with other types of shoes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as the shoe is the same canvas or rubber material. Make sure whichever products and chemicals you put on the shoe are safe for it before applying.
  • Question
    What if I already washed then wrong and caused the glue to bleed? Is there a fix?
    Community Answer
    If you could glue them back together, then yes, but I wouldn't recommend it.
  • Question
    Will the stain actually come out? I'm afraid it won't and it will ruin my shoes.
    Community Answer
    Yes it will, the methods shown above have no danger of ruining your shoes. Just don't put them in the dryer.
  • Question
    Can I clean them using a baby or hand-cleaning wipe?
    Community Answer
    No, it will not work.
  • Question
    Do any of these methods remove acrylic paint?
    Community Answer
    Yes. If you use bleach and baking soda, it wll come right off.
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