Should I use bleach to clean shoes?

To preserve and clean shoes, many people often use specialized products specifically designed for this purpose. So what about bleach?

Should I use bleach to clean shoes?

There are cases where bleach, a product commonly used to clean and preserve everyday items, can also be an effective shoe cleaning method. However, before applying this method, we need to clearly understand the safety and effectiveness of using bleach to clean shoes.

Bleach is a chemical that helps remove stains, mold, and stains from various surfaces. When used properly, it can be effective in cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing utensils. However, they can reduce the life of shoes for the following reasons:

• The ingredients of bleach often contain strong whitening compounds, which can cause alkalinity in the solution, damage the fabric of white shoes, cause discoloration and weaken the material of the shoe.
• Soaking shoes in bleach solution for too long can cause corrosion of the rubber sole, losing the shoe’s grip and original shape. Especially for sports shoes, this can affect the adhesion and friction of the sole.
• Bleach of unknown origin or containing unsafe additives can create yellow stains on the shoe surface that are difficult to remove, reducing the natural beauty of the shoe.
• Bleach can leave an unpleasant odor on shoes after cleaning.
• Some ingredients in bleach can cause irritation and health effects, especially if they come into direct contact with skin or eyes. This increases the risk of skin allergies, infections and eye damage.
•  Using bleach to clean shoes in large amounts will harm the environment when the bleach enters the wastewater system. It produces dangerous toxins that take years to dissipate.

So should you use bleach to clean shoes? Please depend on the material of the shoe to decide. For white shoes, it is recommended to use cleaning products specially produced for this.

Avoid using bleach solutions that are too strong and soaking times that are too long. You should use a soft brush and clean gently to avoid damaging the material and shape of the shoe.

Avoid washing shoes in the machine and drying them with a heater, as this can deform the shoes and damage the material.

To keep your shoes clean and durable, you need to clean them periodically.

Tips for cleaning stained white shoes

With only familiar ingredients available at home, you can easily clean stained white shoes. Some tips below will help you have clean shoes like new.

Use baking soda and white vinegar

Just mix baking soda, white vinegar and hot water and you can remove most of the yellow stains that often appear on shoe fabric after a few months of use.

Mix a spoonful of white vinegar, a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of hot water in a bowl, and apply the mixture to your shoes with a brush or old toothbrush. Gently scrub both the sole and fabric, then dry the shoes for at least 3-4 hours in the sun and then remove excess powder by tapping the two pairs of shoes together. This is also a good solution to eliminate odors caused by bacteria accumulating inside shoes.

Baking soda and laundry detergent

To thoroughly clean white canvas shoes, you must remove the laces and soak them in water before applying the fabric whitening mixture.

First, you need to wet both the shoe and the laces with warm water. Mix baking soda and laundry detergent in a 1/1 ratio, use a brush or old toothbrush to rub the mixture on the shoes, paying more attention to dark stains. Finally, to remove the used soap mixture, rinse it or soak it again in water, use a sponge to absorb the water and then dry it with a microfiber cloth.

Use salt and milk

When white shoes start to turn yellow, you need to clean them to regain their original white color. 

Soak your shoes for at least 3 hours in a mixture of half a cup of coarse salt mixed with 1 liter of milk. Use a brush to gently rub to remove remaining stains, then clean with soap and dry in a cool place.

Use salt and soapy water

With any soap you have at home and a little coarse salt, you can easily remove those pesky stains from your favorite white shoes. In particular, salt is also a great ingredient to deodorize shoes.

Rub your shoes with a dry brush both inside and outside to remove excess dirt, then scrub again with at least 150 grams of salt. Leave the salt on the shoes for at least an hour and then wash the shoes again with cold water and liquid soap.

Use toothpaste

With some types of shoes with thin fabric, cleaning must also be gentler. Use an old toothbrush to rub toothpaste on the stained surface of your shoes until they become white again (don’t forget to clean the dirt from the edges of the shoe soles). Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then use a damp cloth or clean sponge to thoroughly wipe off the mixture. You will get amazing results.