If the rubber sole of your shoes appears faded, it is probably due to the dust and grime that has accumulated in it. Although shoes look old and worn, you can give them new life with a little bit of effort. Keeping the rubber soles of your shoes clean will make them look new for longer and save you from buying a new pair for quite some time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Sodium Bicarbonate and Laundry Detergent
Step 1. Remove all encrusted dirt
If the shoes are particularly dirty, you may want to start by taking them outside and banging them against each other to get rid of most of the dirt or dried mud. If you leave too much mud on your shoes, it will take longer to clean them properly.
- Go outside to bump your shoes sole against sole, so you don't get dirty in the house.
- You could also use a knife or wrench to descale the mud from the grooves in the soles.
Step 2. Use a dry brush to remove dirt
Before you start washing the rubber parts of your shoes, start brushing or even scraping off the caked dirt. The more dirt you brush off, the less you have to struggle once the cleaning solution is prepared.
- You won't have to brush too much - if the dirt doesn't come off quickly, it will when you use the cleaning solution.
- Use a dry brush, or even a toothbrush, but avoid using brushes with steel bristles, as you may damage the rubber sole.
Step 3. Mix one part baking soda and one part liquid laundry detergent
The amount will depend on how dirty you need to clean, but you probably won't need a lot of baking soda or detergent. Start by mixing a tablespoon of each component well in a small bowl. You can always add additional amounts of each ingredient if you think you don't have enough solution prepared.
- The baking soda will act as an abrasive helping the soap remove dirt.
- Do not use laundry detergents with bleaching agents.
Step 4. Clean the rubber with your cleaning solution
Use the brush to apply the combination of baking soda and detergent to the rubber parts of your shoes, then scrub well. Often the most effective way to remove dirt is to use circular motions.
- It is advisable to avoid using the cleaning solution on the fabric parts of the shoes, as the baking soda may be difficult to rinse off.
- You may want to make a separate mixture of just detergent and water to clean the fabric parts.
Step 5. Use a different sponge or cloth to thoroughly rinse the gum
Once you have properly scrubbed the cleaning solution on the soles of your shoes, take another clean cloth or sponge and wet it with clean water. Wipe it over the gum, rinsing it each time, until you have completely removed the mixture.
- If you don't remove all of the cleaning solution, the gum may appear discolored.
- Furthermore, if the cleaning solution remains on the shoes it could make them very slippery and therefore dangerous.
Step 6. Dry your shoes completely
Once you have washed off all the soap, use a clean towel to dry the gum before putting on your shoes again. When the shoes have dried, you can realize how clean they have actually been; at that point you can repeat the wash if you deem it necessary.
- If the shoes remain wet they can start to give off a bad smell.
- Wearing wet shoes can be dangerous, so make sure they are completely dry and soap-free before putting them on.
Method 2 of 3: Soak the Rubber Soles in Water
Step 1. Fill a container with about three centimeters of water
Find a container large enough to fit your shoes, then fill it with enough water to submerge the rubber soles. Make sure the water is warm and clean.
- When filling the container, keep in mind that dipping your shoes will raise the water level.
- If necessary, you can soak one shoe at a time.
Step 2. Add dish soap to the water
When the water level is right, add a splash of mild dish soap and mix well. Dish soap is essential, as water alone will not dissolve the dirt.
If your shoes are white, you can use a small amount of bleach on the white rubber instead of dish soap
Step 3. Let the gum soak for a few minutes
Leave the rubber part of your shoes in the water for a few minutes to get them wet. This way the encrusted dirt should come off and it will therefore be easier to clean the residue on the rubber.
- Make sure only the rubber parts are submerged in water.
- If the shoes are very dirty, you can leave them to soak for more than 15 minutes.
Step 4. Use a brush to remove any remaining dirt
When the rubber is well wet, remove your shoes and use the soapy water to brush off any residue of dirt still present on the soles. Do not use a brush with steel bristles as it may damage the shoes.
- If necessary, you can soak the shoes again after this step.
- If using a solution containing bleach, wear gloves to avoid potential skin irritation.
Method 3 of 3: Using Acetone on Scratches
Step 1. First remove any dirt or mud from the rubber
Acetone might be an excellent solution for removing stains and even grime from the rubber parts of your shoes, but it's not a good option if your shoes are caked with mud or are colored.
- Before using acetone on scratches, you should clean the rubber of your shoes with one of the other methods.
- Do not use acetone on fabric parts.
Step 2. Wet a cotton ball with acetone
You can also use other things to apply acetone to the rubber soles of your shoes, but the cotton balls are shaped and sized to easily clean the sides and other small parts.
- It is advisable to wear gloves while using acetone.
- You will need several cotton balls if the shoes are dirty.
Step 3. Remove any scratch marks
With the cotton pad soaked in acetone it eliminates all traces of scratches from the rubber soles. You will likely find that the area you are working on appears whiter than the rest of the sole that you have yet to clean.
- Remove all scratch marks before proceeding to clean the entire sole.
- You may need several cotton balls on stubborn marks.
Step 4. Clean the rest of the soles with acetone
Once the most noticeable scratches and stains have been removed, run the acetone-soaked cotton ball over the entire sole of the shoe, rubbing as needed to completely clean the entire surface.
If you don't clean the entire sole, the untreated parts will appear discolored compared to the bright white of the areas you treated
Advice
- Avoid using detergents or other products with bleach if you are not cleaning white shoes.
- Make sure your shoes are thoroughly rinsed, otherwise they could be extremely slippery.
- After cleaning your shoes, you can use acetone on new marks as they appear.
- You may need to repeat the cleaning process more than once before your shoes look like new.
