Vans are a brand of canvas skate shoes, mostly produced with white soles, which look much better when fresh and clean. If you want your shoes to look brand new, you can learn some quick techniques to clean them, bleach white areas, or do a deeper cleaning whenever you want to get the most out of these shoes. The methods shown in this tutorial are also effective for other canvas shoe designs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Whiten the White Edges
Step 1. Choose a cleaning product
It's common to want to get the rubber sole back to its natural white, so you should put in a little more effort and get those tools that give your old Vans a fresh look as if they just came out of the box. This method also works for other canvas shoes, such as Toms or Keds. To bring out the original white of the Vans, you can use a variety of common products you find around the house, such as:
- Bleach;
- Liquid nail polish remover (acetone);
- Alcohol;
- Glass cleaners;
- Magic eraser;
- Hydrogen peroxide;
- Baking soda and water;
- Lemon juice.
Step 2. Place the shoes on a covered work surface
Lay both your shoes and cleaning products on a clean towel and use an old toothbrush or shoe brush to apply the product. If you plan to clean them inside the house with bleach or some other cleaning product that is particularly aggressive on colors, be sure to cover the work base very well.
It is best to use acetone and bleach outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
Step 3. Cover the colorful Vans canvas
If you apply one of the particularly strong detergents described above to the colored areas of your shoes, indelible stains will remain, so tape them to protect them, at least where they join the sole.
Alternatively, some people find bleach splashed Vans to be cool and trendy. The choice is yours alone
Step 4. Dip the brush in the cleaner
Put a small amount of product on the brush or old toothbrush and rub it vigorously on the rubber sole of both shoes, making circular movements and dipping the brush again if necessary. Work all around the outside of the shoes and on the base if desired.
Step 5. Gently rinse them with clean water
When you've finished the process for both shoes, wipe them off on the upper side with a paper towel or tea towel lightly moistened with fresh water. The shoes should now be a bright white color on the rubber edges.
Method 2 of 3: Quick Clean
Step 1. Remove the external encrusted dirt
If the Vans are really very dirty and you want to start cleaning them thoroughly, start from the outside. Place them on a surface that you can shake them on and then drop the dirt.
- If your shoes have mud, let them dry completely before brushing them. This will make the cleaning process easier.
- Use a soft shoe brush or toothbrush to scrub away dirt deposits. Tap the soles together to remove any small particles of dust and dirt.
Step 2. Use some dish soap and hot water
Half fill a bucket with warm water and add a tablespoon or two of mild dish soap (15 to 30ml). Shake the water a little until foam begins to form on the surface.
Step 3. Take a medium to large-sized soft brush and dip it into the soapy water
Taking a shoe in hand, slide the brush with the other hand, rubbing the shoe along its entire length.
If the shoes are rather dirty, dip them lightly in the water and brush firmly to clean the sole
Step 4. Rinse with warm, clean water
After scrubbing them thoroughly, rinse them quickly with fresh warm water into another bucket.
Step 5. Thoroughly dry your shoes
Lay the wet footwear on a clean white towel and wrap it around each shoe. Press the shoe to remove the excess water present in the canvas and absorb it with the towel. Repeat with the other shoe.
- Leave the shoes open to the outside to dry. If they are white in color, place them in direct sunlight to whiten them slightly.
- Tuck into them some towels or plain white paper napkins to soak up the water. This prevents them from shrinking and also prevents those typical dark lines from forming where the shoe bends as you walk.
Method 3 of 3: Deep Cleaning
Step 1. Apply this method to canvas or synthetic Vans only
Vans are on the market in various different materials, including leather, which would be damaged if wet. Check the shoe label to see if it is made of canvas or another synthetic material.
If your Vans are made of leather or suede, to clean them you must follow the same instructions as for other leather shoes. You don't have to soak them in water or use a detergent
Step 2. Treat shoe stains with a light pre-treatment product
If you have accidentally entered a large mud puddle or have greased your shoes with oil or grease, apply an enzymatic stain remover or other commercial product of your choice to loosen the dirt a little before washing. Apply the product to the stains and let it sit while you prepare the washing machine.
Step 3. Set up a gentle wash cycle with cold water
You must set the most delicate and coldest possible washing on your appliance, both for the safety of the shoes and of the washing machine itself. It is generally not okay for the shoes to keep banging in the basket but, if done gently, no problems should arise.
Step 4. Wrap the Vans in a pillowcase
Many people worry that the glue and seams on these shoes will come loose during a machine wash. If you first put your shoes in a pillowcase and put them in a wash cycle with other dirty items, such as towels or small rugs, it can be a good solution to fill the basket sufficiently and prevent the shoes from bouncing too much. This way your Vans should remain intact.
- Usually it is not recommended to wash your shoes in the washing machine more than once every six months or so, otherwise you risk damaging them.
- If you are worried about the insoles or inserts of the Vans, you can decide to take them off during the wash and put them back at the end or replace them with new ones.
Step 5. Use only half the normal amount of detergent you usually use
Make sure it's a gentle product for the washing machine or hand laundry, and place the shoes in the pillowcase with the rest of the clothing.
To reduce the time the shoes remain immersed in water, wait to insert them until the drum is half full of water (if you are using a washing machine with a top load). The shoes will still be clean, but they won't soak for too long
Step 6. After washing in the washing machine, let the Vans dry outdoors
Do not put them in the dryer. This could dry out the canvas and soles, causing cracks along the seams. In addition, you also risk damaging the dryer.
