How to clean white shoes at home

Before you start

Take the laces out. Pull out the insoles if they come out. Knock the shoes together outside to get rid of loose dirt, then go over them with a dry soft brush. An old toothbrush is fine. Skipping this step is the most common mistake, because water turns loose dust into mud that settles deeper into the fabric.

White canvas shoes

Mix a little mild liquid detergent in a bowl of lukewarm water. Dip the brush, not the shoe, and scrub in small circles. Wipe off the foam with a damp cloth as you go. Do not soak canvas shoes in a bucket. The glue between upper and sole does not like it.

White mesh and knit sneakers

Same mixture, but go gentler. Use a softer brush and dab more than you scrub, or the mesh starts to fuzz. Work in sections and blot with a dry microfibre cloth.

White leather sneakers

A damp cloth with a drop of mild soap is enough for most marks. Wipe, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth, then dry. Rub a little leather conditioner or even plain moisturiser into the leather afterwards so it does not dry out and crack.

What about the soles?

Scuffs on the sidewall come off with a melamine sponge, sold as a magic eraser. Yellowing is a different problem. It is oxidation of the rubber, so toothpaste and baking soda will not reverse it. That needs a proper sole whitening treatment.

Drying

Stuff the shoes with plain white paper, not newspaper, which can transfer ink. Leave them in a shaded spot with moving air. Never put them in direct sun, on a heater or near a hair dryer. Heat yellows white rubber and weakens the glue.

Things to avoid

• Bleach, which can turn whites yellow and weakens fibres
• The washing machine, which loosens soles and warps shape
• Direct sun to dry, which yellows rubber faster
• Scrubbing hard on mesh, which makes it pill