Stains on white sneakers after washing

Sports shoes have long been worn outside of gyms and stadiums. They have confidently "crossed over" into everyday life and are prized for their lightness, comfort, style, practicality, and ability to seamlessly integrate into everyday wardrobes. Basic sneakers in light shades are especially attractive, but despite all their advantages, they have a significant drawback: they get dirty quickly and are difficult to wash. But it's not all bad: stains on white sneakers after washing can be both prevented and removed at home. Now let's find out how.

Various contaminants

It's best to prevent yellow stains rather than fight them. This isn't difficult if you know the causes. White sneakers turn yellow for several reasons, the main one being improper or insufficient cleaning of the shoes.

Before washing, sneakers need to be prepared for the process. Otherwise, dirt stuck to the soles or debris accumulated inside the drum will escape their "location" and transfer to the light-colored fabric of the sneakers, which is susceptible to stains. To prevent this, before cleaning, you should:

• thoroughly clean the boot tread using soap, an old toothbrush and a knitting needle;
• remove the laces and insoles (they are washed separately);
• shake out the sneakers;
• Treat all exterior stains with a suitable stain remover.

Only high-quality sneakers without damage or defects can be washed in the washing machine.

It's best not to delay cleaning and treat stains immediately after they appear. Fresh dirt is easier to remove from fabric fibers, while ingrained dirt, on the other hand, takes longer and is more difficult to remove.

It is advisable to pre-soak prepared shoes in a warm soapy solution for 30-60 minutes. The insoles and laces are treated separately with soap, and it is recommended to use detergents with a bleaching effect. After soaking, rinse the sneakers under running water, place them in a special mesh bag, and load them into the washing machine. No more than two pairs can be placed in the drum at a time. If the sneakers are old, worn, or have defects or damage, it's best to hand wash them.

Tap water or powder

Not only dirt but also poor tap water can cause yellowing of white sneakers. This can also lead to stains on other items washed in the machine. This is because, without proper filtration, various impurities, limescale, and iron can enter the machine.

The vast majority of city apartments receive hard water, which becomes even dirtier after traveling through old, rusty pipes. To remedy this, it's recommended to regularly use special water softeners, such as store-bought Calgon. A 9% vinegar solution added to a water dispenser is an excellent homemade alternative. However, it's better to invest in a high-quality filter for your washing machine.

White sneakers can turn yellow due to poor tap water and low-quality detergents.

Yellow stains can also be caused by using cheap or improperly selected detergents. The problem is cost-cutting: while housewives often buy expensive detergents for washing clothes, they use regular powder for shoes. As a result, stains from sneakers are difficult to remove, especially sweat that has been absorbed into the fabric. Furthermore, the dry granules don't have time to dissolve, penetrate the fibers, aren't fully rinsed out, and turn yellow as they dry. It's best to play it safe and opt for special gels that don't contain chlorine.

The water is too hot

Yellowing of light-colored shoes can also occur due to water that's too hot. It's important to remember that high-temperature settings shouldn't exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Going beyond the maximum will cause the fabric to yellow and the sole to become deformed.

To avoid setting the wrong temperature, we recommend washing white sneakers on a special program—"Sport" or "Sports Shoes." You can also use a delicate or hand wash cycle. A pre-soak cycle can be activated if desired. It is recommended to turn on the rinse cycle twice, and the “Spin” and “Drying” functions are contraindicated.

Moisture was removed incorrectly

If you took pure white sneakers out of the washing machine and they turned yellow after drying, it's not the washing process, but improper drying. Sneakers have specific "rules" for drying, and violating them can ruin their appearance. These rules include the following:

• Automatic drying in a washing machine is prohibited;
• it is necessary to find a ventilated room;
• It is important to avoid artificial heat sources, heaters, radiators, as well as direct sunlight;
• After washing, it is recommended to immediately remove most of the moisture by blotting the item with a dry terry towel;
• Insoles and laces are dried separately.

You shouldn't wear wet sneakers - dirt sticks to damp fabric faster and is harder to remove.

It's best to place wet sneakers on the balcony, finding a shaded spot. To speed up drying, you can stuff the shoes with white paper. Avoid using newspapers, magazines, or colored napkins for stuffing, as the pigment from the sheets will transfer to the fabric of the sneakers. Wearing wet sneakers is strongly discouraged, as dirt will stick to them faster and penetrate deep into the fibers.

How to remove yellowness?

If your white sneakers have yellow stains after cleaning, it's worth trying to wash them. The surest way is to repeat the wash, avoiding the initial mistakes. Oxygen bleach can help remove stains. Find the product and follow the instructions:

• soak the sneakers in warm soapy water;
• mix bleach with water until it becomes a paste;
• generously apply the resulting mixture to the yellow areas;
• leave the product on the shoes for 2-4 hours;
• we go over the shoe with a soft brush;
• rinse the sneakers in water;
• Place the sneakers in a mesh washing bag and put them in the drum;
• set the cycle (“Delicate mode” with double rinse and minimum spin);
• add bleach or stain remover to the powder dispenser;
• We start the machine.

You can remove yellow stains from white shoes using oxygen bleach, baking soda, dishwashing gel, and vinegar.

If you don't have industrial bleach, you can use a homemade alternative. A mixture of baking soda and liquid soap or dishwashing gel is excellent for removing yellowing from white sneakers. Dilute the ingredients to a consistency similar to sour cream, apply to the affected areas, and leave for 1-2 hours. Then, scrub any stains with a brush, then rinse and wash the boots again.

You can restore light-colored sneakers to their original appearance with a warm soapy solution containing soap, washing powder, and 9% vinegar. Simply soak the sneakers for 2-3 hours, then wipe them with a swab soaked in the acid. After rinsing, wash the shoes again and dry them properly.

Cleaning without water

You can clean white sneakers and remove rust stains without washing them. The key is to choose an effective detergent. Toothpaste, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, and vinegar have proven effective at removing yellowing. Now, let's take a closer look at each recipe.

1. Toothpaste or powder. Whitening toothpaste is often used to remove stains and smudges. Colored toothpastes are not suitable, as the pigment may transfer to the light-colored fabric of the sneakers. Application is simple: apply the gel to the affected area, scrub with a brush until the stain is completely removed, and then rinse with clean water and a sponge.

Whitening toothpaste can remove yellowness and grayness from white sneakers.

2. Ammonia. Soak a cotton ball in ammonia and apply it to the stained surfaces. Then rinse thoroughly. The downside is that the solution will last only 2-3 hours.
3. Mixture. A solution made from lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar is effective for cleaning yellowed fabric. All ingredients are combined in equal parts, and for best results, add a spoonful of regular laundry detergent. Apply the mixture to the stains and leave for 5-7 minutes. Then rinse, rinse, and dry.

When using hydrogen peroxide, be extremely careful. While it effectively bleaches, you must rinse the fabric thoroughly after use. Peroxide remaining in the fibers will have the opposite effect when exposed to direct sunlight, causing yellowing.

What if the stains couldn't be removed?

Sometimes, after washing, sneakers develop such stubborn yellow stains that even multiple cleanings fail to remove them. But this isn't a reason to throw out otherwise intact, high-quality shoes. It's much cheaper to conceal the yellowing.

• By painting. Yellowed sneakers can be dyed by choosing a special textile pigment from a hardware store. The dye is available as a powder or spray in any color. Be sure to carefully read the instructions on the packaging before use.
• Decor. If the yellow stains are limited, try covering them up with embellishments such as patches, keychains, or badges.

Light shades are very difficult to care for and, if not washed and dried correctly, often turn yellow or gray. Avoiding streaks is possible—all the secrets are revealed above.

   

1 reader comment

1. June 29, 2021 at 6:27 PM

   Guest:

   If the sneakers are originally a dirty white, there's no way to whiten them. I've tried everything, but the result is the same: the yellowing remains.

   Answer