How to Clean White Canvas Shoes

Want to get your white sneakers looking fresh and clean? Follow these simple steps to learn how to wash and bleach canvas shoes to get them looking as white as the day you bought them.

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Whether you’re gearing up for the first day of school or making a fashion statement in a suit and tie, nothing brightens up an outfit like a new pair of white canvas sneakers. But as we all know, nothing attracts germy dirt and stains like a new pair of white canvas sneakers. Luckily we’ve got a few tips for keeping those classic kicks smelling fresh, feeling clean and looking brilliant.

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A clean sneaker routine

First, a word on regular sneaker maintenance. You’ll want to freshen up those white canvas shoes every time they’re worn, just to help keep sweaty germs at bay. Just hit them with a few sprays of Clorox® Disinfecting Mist. The innovative spray works on hard and soft surfaces, and doesn’t require wiping. 

However, if you’re looking to bring those classic canvas sneakers back to their original bright white condition, you’ll want to use a little elbow grease, some hydrogen peroxide, and Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.

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What you need

Steps for cleaning white canvas sneakers

  1. Prep your sneakers

    With the (dry) nylon brush, brush the shoes to remove loose dirt or soil. This makes them easier to clean. Remove the shoe laces and set them aside to clean later.

  2. Mix a bleach solution

    Add 1 tablespoon of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach with CLOROMAX® to 1 quart of water in a measuring cup and stir to mix.

  3. Scrub your sneakers clean

    Working on one shoe at a time, dip the brush in the bleach and water solution, and then gently scrub the canvas in a circular motion, applying the bleach solution until the entire shoe has been treated.

  4. Spray with peroxide

    Wait one minute, and then spray all the treated areas with hydrogen peroxide.

  5. Rinse your sneakers

    Rinse the first shoe completely with clean water before starting the second shoe.

  6. Check for stubborn stains

    If stains remain, scrub them thoroughly with the nylon brush, then spray with the hydrogen peroxide before rinsing.

  7. Dry the shoes

    Allow your sneakers to air dry overnight.

  8. Soak the laces

    Let shoelaces soak for 5 minutes in the bleach and water solution before rinsing thoroughly and laying them flat to air dry.

  9. Wash the laces

    Toss the laces into a lingerie bag and wash them with your regular bleach load.

Tip

Wait until shoes and laces have dried completely before you lace them up.