No matter how careful you are with your footwear, no matter how hard you try you will always end up with dirty canvas sneakers. This is irritating due to the fact that canvas sneaker material scares many people from throwing them in the wash. This type of shoe is great for any casual occasion but dirty shoes are a no no. The canvas sneaker is normally considered a cheap casual shoe that does not need maintaining. In recent years canvas sneakers have become a high valuable pair to peoples collection. Many brands such as converse are selling high end shoes for as much as you would pay for any other type of sneaker. Nowadays you could pay any amount for a pair from $10 to $80 in some cases. If you’re shoes are high end or just a cheap replacement, they will still need cleaning. Before getting to grips with cleaning you canvas vintage sneakers you need to know what material they are made from.
Canvas is usually made from material called hemp and is normally used for the casual shoe market. In other cases some manufactures will make the sneaker from cotton. A cushioned Rubber material is normally used for the sole.
Essential items for Cleaning:
- Old toothbrush not in use anymore or a Nylon bristle brush
- Deep cleaning detergent used for laundry, dishwashing liquid or a “suede and fabric” shampoo.
- Nylon scrub pad
- Baking soda
- Plain paper
- White shoe polish normally used for tennis shoes.
Knock off any dirt that is loose by smacking both pairs on a hard surface, or bash the soles together over a waste basket or newspaper. You will then need to remove any caked dirt with a warm damp cloth, remove laces if necessary.
You will need to rinse the sneakers in warm water inside and out. Remove any remaining dirt on the outside with a toothbrush with a mix of water and washing detergent. Finally rinse again to remove any detergent with clean warm water.
Washing in a Washing Machine
Sometimes you can get good results by cleaning canvas sneakers in the washing machine, be careful though you could end up with ruined shoes. Most shoe manufacturers do not encourage to put their products in the wash. The reason is that it can ruin the adhesives which purpose is to glue the shoe together.
To dry the insides of your canvas sneakers stuff with paper towels, do not use newspaper. For best results let the sneakers air-dry at room temperature alongside the laces. Do not try and speed up the drying process by placing them near a heat source such as fireplace or heater. canvas fabric can become dried out and brittle if they are placed close to a heat source when drying. When sneakers and laces are thoroughly dry, insert the new laces. If you continue to have scuffs and stains on your white canvas sneakers, lightly apply white liquid shoe polish.
