Sneakers and running shoes are classic standbys, great for everything from working out to dressing down an outfit. If you've been wearing yours ragged, chances are it might be starting to show: Dirty heels, tattered laces, and smelly soles are all signs of a shoe well worn.
Here's how to wash your sneaks to achieve that crisp, clean look with and without a washing machine. The Tannery Leather
Hand-washing is your best bet for preserving the integrity of the shoe and its materials. And luckily, it's not hard to do. Here's a cleaning step-by-step from Jenn Lifford, creator of Clean and Scentsible:
As for the proper soap-to-water ratio, Lifford says it depends on the job, and you can adjust the strength of the mixture depending on how dirty your shoes are.
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Many shoes will fare just fine in the washing machine. In fact, Lifford says she typically does use the machine for canvas and mesh shoes. Here's how it's done:
By and large, most sneakers are a combination of canvas, leather, and sometimes mesh material.
You'll want to be careful when cleaning leather shoes, as they can be damaged in water. You definitely don't want to put leather or suede shoes in the washing machine—and letting them air dry in the sun isn't good for the material either. Instead, hand-wash the shoes and spot-clean as you go. Lifford notes it's best to do this using a cleaning solution specifically made for leather.
Canvas or other fabric shoes are much more forgiving and can handle a deeper clean. You can either wash these by hand or in the machine. When in doubt about which method to choose, check to see if the manufacturer has any cleaning guidelines for the particular brand or style of shoe.
Squeaky clean sneakers are a simple pleasure that can make your outfit feel that much fresher. Every so often, be sure to give these wardrobe staples the good cleaning they deserve (and might need).
Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, a registered yoga instructor, and an avid astrologer and tarot reader. She received her bachelor's in broadcasting and mass communication from State University of New York at Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.
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