Keeping Your Beloved White Kicks White

Years ago, what you buy and put on your feet doesn’t matter. The main objective of buying shoes was to protect your feet. However, the shoe industry evolved over time and somehow, it became a symbol of your personal preference. It’s the same how people would judge an individual’s smartphone. Adidas or Nike? Puma or Reebok? Off-White or Balenciaga? Vans or Gucci? No matter what, shoes isn’t just what your wear on your feet. It’s a symbol. It’s your identity.

Picture Courtesy of FILA

However, it all comes to how you perceive them. Shoes cost money and as we all know, money doesn’t grow on trees. For a cheapskate like me, I’ll go to great lengths to preserve what I know I would not be able to afford again. If you’re born with silver spoon shoved straight in your mouth, then I’m sure this article won’t suit you.

Ok, rude jokes aside.

Picture Courtesy of Hypebae website

So how to take care of your precious sneakers? I get that question a lot, especially when I’m wearing my white sneakers. Since I’m a white sneaker enthusiast, I dare admit I do know a thing or two, in fact several, about keeping ‘em brilliantly white. I’m going to share with you guys on how to take care of your white sneakers, preventing them from yellowing and so on. After these steps, I’m sure you guys will thank me.

Brush & Powder Detergent

If you search on Google, Yahoo, Firefox and etc, there are lots of chemicals and utensils you need to clean white sneakers. All these to prevent the white from turning yellow. To be honest, the simplest things actually get the things done. All you need are brush and powder detergent. Forget toothpaste and other shoe whitening chemicals as they’ll guarantee to bleach out the whiteness of your sneakers. You don’t know what chemicals they put into the toothpaste and shoe whitening that will react towards your sneakers. So, a simple brush and powder detergent will do.

P.S: Choose a soft bristle brush instead of the harsh ones especially those made of plastic to prevent tugging against your sneaker’s fabric. Picture Courtesy of Amazon

Take Off The Laces

Before you wash your dirty sneakers, both white and black. Make sure to ALWAYS take off the laces from your shoes. This is so that you’re not tugging the laces’ fabric about. You don’t want a bushy shoelace, right? And also, you gotta wash your shoe’s tongue as well.

Remember, shoelaces are part of the shoes too. Picture Courtesy Shopify 

Quick Rinse and Brush Gently

Fill a pail of water and powder detergent with a ratio of 2:1. This is where you need to be fast and gentle. Rinse your shoes quickly and gently brush your shoes. Why, you ask? First to prevent the soap from washing off the glue and also to prevent from tugging your shoe’s fabric. If your shoes are made of materials other than fabric, you are able to brush harder.

Pretending you're brushing this cute fox. GIF Courtesy imgur

Wrap

This is actually the crucial part to prevent your white sneakers from turning yellow. Correct me if I’m wrong, I have come to a realisation that the water causes our white sneakers to turn yellow. When it’s wet and slowly drying, the evaporating water from the shoes will leave water marks on the shoes. Well that’s my thesis on this. But what exactly keeps my sneakers white and stay white? Invest in a kitchen towel or tissue paper just for your white kicks. Wrap the washed shoes with the tissues to hinder water marks from forming on your sneakers.

Exactly like this picture above. Picture Courtesy of Dreamstime 

Patience is virtue

White sneakers, in my opinion need time to dry. Don’t rush the drying time. I usually leave them out under a shade for three days to dry. I also advise you guys not to dry your white sneakers directly under the sun. The gist is the warmth not the heat.

Yes, it is. GIF Courtesy gifimages

I have been doing this trick every time I wash my white sneakers and I feel my trick will help you guys out there who are struggling to keep your shoes white. But white sneakers are things and they are meant to wear off over time. And not to forget, don’t fret on washing them every time you wear them. Repeat this trick once a month.

May you have white, pearly kicks always.