Can You Bleach White Converses?

If you’re brave enough to own a pair of all-white Converse shoes, I applaud your optimism! Secondly, I need to tell you how to clean them when they inevitably get a little grubby.

Converse sneakers look best when the rubber welt and toe cover have been thoroughly cleaned. What’s the point of spending all that money if you’re not going to keep them clean and healthy? 

Can You Bleach White Converses

Regular maintenance and shoe care will make them more sturdy and long-lasting. You can’t afford to buy a new pair of shoes after only a month of wearing them.

That is why, if you want your wallet to look good, you must maintain and care for your cool converse shoes.

If your Converse shoes are the all-white kind, you’re fortunate enough to be able to use bleach in the cleaning process. It’s important to note that bleach should never be used on colored canvas shoes, as it will stain them.

Even just dropping a little bleach onto the “ALL-STAR” logo on the tongue of your sneakers can ruin them, as this logo features shades of red and black, neither of which react well to bleach.

So, when cleaning the fiddly areas such as the tongue, soles, and laces, it’s best to use a Q-tip dipped in a bleach solution to carefully dab away any visible dirt in these areas. 

Here are the steps you should take when bleaching your white converse shoes:

  1. Make the bleach you’ll be using to clean your white Converse sneakers. Pour a little amount of bleach solution into a small dish and grab an old toothbrush. Add water to the bleach and thoroughly mix it in.
  2. After that, dip the toothbrush in the bleach solution and brush it on the dirty area. You can keep going until your shoes are clean.
  3. Once that part is completely clean, rinse it thoroughly with cold water.
  4. Now you should be left with sparkling white Converse sneakers that look as good as new!

Alternative methods to cleaning your white Converse shoes:

Vinegar and Baking Soda Method

Cleaning your converse with plain soap or detergent, vinegar, and baking soda is a traditional method. Take any kind of soap you like, but make sure it’s chemical-free.

After you’re certain, combine warm water with a few drops of soap and continue to mix until bubbles appear. Take a brush and rinse it with bubble water before rubbing it in a circular motion. After that, rinse and dry the shoes.

Another popular traditional method for cleaning white shoes is to use soap, vinegar, and baking soda. Take little, equal amounts of both components and combine them with warm water to make a paste.

Apply this liquid to the soiled areas of the shoe (you can actually use it all over the shoe as well).

Lemon Method

When life gives you lemons, use them to scrub up your shoes!  As many of our grandparents taught us, lemons have a use for almost everything in life, including grease-cutting, spot treatment in the laundry, and countless other techniques.

Simply start by cutting a lemon in half and then set it aside. Then, sprinkle it all over the unclean areas and brush it off. It’s now time to simply rinse your shoes with water. That’s it! 

Toothpaste Method 

The next method for cleaning your white converse is to use toothpaste. Because you must have toothpaste for your personal grooming regimen, this may be the simplest approach to clean your white shoes at home.

Simply take a small amount of toothpaste and rub it into your unclean shoes. If you’re still unsure about how to clean your shoes, here are some guidelines to help you.

  1.  Apply a tiny amount of whitening toothpaste to the scuff mark and brush it away until the dirt is gone. 
  2. Repeat the process until all of the shoes are clean.
  3. If you have badly discolored white shoes, you can clean them with a paste of toothpaste and baking soda.
  4. After you have finished rubbing the shoes, thoroughly rinse them.
  5. Finally, let the shoes dry completely before removing them.

Can I put my white Converse shoes in the washing machine?

No. Well, you shouldn’t. Converse, unlike Vans (which does not provide care suggestions on its website), particularly warns against washing its sneakers in a washing machine.

The brand doesn’t specify why, but we assume it’s because it can’t forecast how vigorous the washer would be and how much harm it will inflict to the shoes.

Converse sneakers are simple enough to clean by hand, therefore we believe that is the best option.

How do I keep my white Converse sneakers clean?

Spray your white shoes with a water and stain-resistant spray before the first wear and after each cleaning to help them stay cleaner for longer.

This Kiwi Sneaker Protector is a firm favorite among Amazon reviewers for both leather and canvas shoes.

KIWI Unisex Adult Shoe Waterproofer Sneaker Protector, 4.25 Oz, Black, 1 Count Pack Of 1 US

If you don’t have time to properly clean your shoes after a spill, at least spot-clean stains immediately away with a mixture of mild dish soap and water to make them simpler to remove later. 

Remove scuffs and markings from the rubber trim with an eraser sponge, such as this one, in between cleanings.

STK 20 Pack Extra Thick Magic Cleaning Pads - Eraser Sponge for All Surfaces - Kitchen-Bathroom-Furniture-Leather-Car-Steel - Just Add Water to Erase All Dirt - Melamine - Universal Cleaner

Keep a Shout Wipe & Go Instant Stain Remover in your purse for on-the-go stain removal.

Shout Wipes, Wipe and Go Instant Stain Remover, Laundry Stain and Spot Remover for On-the-Go, 12 Count

They are individually packaged so they stain moist and are my preferred go-to anti-stain remedy.

Keeping all of this in mind, if you believe your shoes are fully wrecked, stop wearing them and donate them to someone else who really needs them.

Next, head to your local sneaker store and treat yourself to a brand new pair of white Converse shoes! If you take care of your white converse shoes as instructed, they should last you a long time.

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