3 of 4

Write now Article Tools

There is nothing more frustrating than buying a new pair of sneakers and getting them dirty the first time you put them on. It is tricky, because the point of buying sneakers is to wear them, but avoiding dirt is nearly impossible. Instead of constantly worrying about getting them dirty, you can learn some simple ways to protect and clean your shoes. Here is a guide outlining some of the easy methods to prevent your shoes from being ruined by dirt and water.

1. Be smart to protect your shoes
If you use your common sense you will be surprised how well you can keep your sneakers clean. First, you can buy a second pair of sneakers to use when conditions are muddy. This will help protect your good pair. If you are wearing your good pair, you can also protect them simply by avoiding mud puddles that you encounter while wearing them. Just by being smart, your shoes can stay much cleaner.

2. Waterproof the sneakers
Another step you can take to protect your sneakers is to use a waterproof spray to protect the shoes from water. When you are at the store, be sure to read the labels on each of the different sprays to be sure that you get the right one for the material that your sneaker is made out of.

2. Tips for cleaning shoes
If your shoes do end up getting dirty, there are some great ways to clean them after the fact. You don't do this by sticking them in the washing machine, but by purchasing a good shoe cleaner. Here are the steps you should take to clean your sneakers:
- Remove the shoelaces from the sneakers and wash them in the washing machine. You can then dry them in the dryer on a low-heat setting or air them out to dry. You can also choose to replace laces as they are pretty inexpensive.
- Next, you can clean the shoes themselves. Buy a shoe cleaner for the material of your sneakers and proceed to clean the outside and inside of your shoes. You can also use warm, soapy water for this step instead of shoe cleaner. A good tool to clean the shoes is an old toothbrush, which are great for scrubbing. For white parts of the shoes, you can add a bit of bleach to brighten them up and keep them perfectly white. After cleaning the shoes, you should then wipe off all the excess cleaner using a paper towel.
- After the shoes are dry, you can lace them with the clean shoelaces. Finally, you can sprinkle some baking soda into the sole to keep the sneakers smelling fresh. If there are any nicked parts of the sneakers you can use shoe polish to touch them up.

Since shoes are in fact the boundary between you and the filthy ground, avoiding dirt is near impossible. But, as you can see there are several ways to prevent ruining your sneakers.

Learn more about this author, Bella Cooper.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to clean your sneakers?
We want to hear your view. Write now!