Could your shoes use a little love? These easy tricks for How to Clean White Shoes and Shoelaces are such a game changer!

Then… don’t miss these genius ways to Keep Shoes From Smelling!

White shoes surrounded by fall leaves.
A small black button with the words Pin It.

How to Clean White Shoes & Shoelaces

Nothing beats the look of crisp, clean white sneakers… until they’re dirty!

Clean white tennis shoes can elevate any outfit, but dingy shoes can drag your whole look down.

That’s why we’re all wondering… how can I get my white shoes white again?

Well, these easy tips and tricks for How to Clean White Shoes will have your kicks looking as good as new in no time!

Whether your shoes need a good cleaning, or you just need to know how to clean white shoelaces, I’ve got you covered!

From white leather shoes to white shoe rims, and white sneakers to white shoelaces, it’s time to get your shoes crisp and clean again.

And it’s so much easier than you think!

Here’s how to clean white shoes at home…

And as always, I suggest spot testing any product you try.

Related: Score a deal on some cute new shoes at TJ Maxx!

How to Clean White Leather Shoes

Person wiping white shoes with a yellow cloth.

White leather shoes can be really simple to clean, thanks to the smooth leather surface!

Here’s how I keep my white leather shoes clean…

Wipe a dry microfiber towel to rub off dirt, debris & minor marks.

Then use Leather Cleaner to clean off stubborn marks & sneaker scuffs.

For rubber soles, make a Baking Soda Paste… in small bowl combine 1/4 cup Baking Soda + 1 1/2 tbsp. Warm Water, and stir.

Then using an old rag or toothbrush, apply the paste to your rubber soles and scrub to clean.

Once shoes are completely dry, you can add some Leather Conditioner for shoes to add back some moisture that leather loses throughout the year.

Here in Phoenix the air is dry, so I like to condition my leather shoes twice a year.

To clean the rims and shoelaces, see my favorite tricks below.

Person wiping shoes with the laces removed.
Person holding a white shoe with the laces removed.

How to Clean White Sneakers

Now when it comes to white mesh sneakers, you’ll want to go about things a bit differently than you would with leather.

I like to hand wash white mesh sneakers, as opposed to throwing them in the washing machine.

Hand washing is a much more gentler way to get your kicks clean.

First remove your shoelaces and set them aside. We’ll go over how to clean those later.

Then you can take your shoes outside and clap the soles together a few times to shake off any loose dirt.

At this point I simply use lukewarm water, a mild laundry detergent, and a rag and a soft toothbrush to get the job done.

Make sure to scrub gently if using a toothbrush on stubborn stains.

Then use a clean rag with lukewarm water to wipe off the soapy mixture. Repeat as necessary.

Allow your shoes to air dry… it’s so much better than tumbling around in a dryer.

Pair of white sneakers on a wooden surface.

How to Prevent Stains on White Mesh Shoes

Preventing stains in the first place on your white shoes is a great place to start!

When you first purchase your new white shoes, consider using a shoe spray designed to protect white shoes and prevent stains.

My husband sprays his white mesh shoes a few times before they ever take a step outside.

It’s a game changer!

Person spraying show spray on white shoes.

How to Clean White Shoe Rims

When it comes to rubber rims on white shoes, Magic Erasers can work like a charm!

Simply wet the magic eraser down, carefully wipe and scrub along the rims, then rinse rims with water and dry with a clean cloth.

You won’t believed how fast and easy they come back to their former white glory!

Person wiping white shoes with a Magic Eraser.
Clean white shoe next to a dirty white shoe.

How to Clean White Shoelaces at Home

Have your white shoelaces become dingy? Here’s a simple way to clean them!

Once you know how to clean dirty shoelaces, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try this easy trick sooner!

Remove shoelaces from your shoes.

Rinse under warm water.

Then spray with a laundry stain remover.

Place your shoelaces in a small garment bag, and zip up.

Then wash in the laundry.

Make sure to use a stain lifting detergent (I like to use Tide).

Also, instead of fabric softener, use 2 tablespoons of White Vinegar in the load. Vinegar can help to brighten whites.

Once the laundry load has finished, remove your laces from the garment bag, and hang dry to prevent laces from shrinking.

For stubborn stains and discoloration, you could always try using bleach.

Dirty white shoe laces.
Shoe laces in a garment bag in a washer.

More Easy Cleaning Tips

Wasn’t that SO easy?

Keeping your white shoes crisp and clean really isn’t that hard at all!

Now check out more fun fashion and cleaning tips below…

Frugal Fashionista – Classy on a Budget 

Are you wondering how to dress classy… on a budget?  These Frugal Fashionista Deals and Tips will save you so much money, while helping you achieve that chic and timeless style!

White shirt, blue jeans, and blue shoes.

Keep Shoes From Smelling (6 Easy Tricks)

Here are some really easy ways to help remedy that stink and make all those shoes more tolerable once again!

Pair of blue Converse shoes.

How to Make Your House Smell Good (HUGE List of Genius Hacks)

Nobody likes a stinky home. So skip the stink, and transform your home into a paradise of lovely fragrances with my easy hacks!

Blue Dutch front door with the top half opened.

How to Keep your Washing Machine Smelling Fresh

Keep the odors away with this easy Smelly Washing Machine Fix!

Person pulling back the seal from a washing machine.

Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder

Slash the price of your laundry detergent when you make this Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe at home!

Blue scoop in a jar of laundry detergent.

DIY Wool Dryer Balls

I love my wool dryer balls.  I can’t even imagine doing laundry without them!

Four wool dryer balls in a wicker basket.

DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe

This foaming hand soap is used at every sink in my home.  This trick will save you so much money, and make your soap last SO much longer!

Bottle of foaming hand soap with flowers.

How to Get a Ring Off a Swollen Finger

Is your ring stuck? Don’t worry! These 3 easy DIY tricks will show you How to Get a Ring Off a Swollen Finger fast!

Person taking a ring off of her finger.

How to Clean Your Diamond Ring at Home (Trick to Make it Sparkle)

You won’t believe how gorgeous your ring will look after you try this easy trick for How to Clean Your Diamond Ring at Home!

Person holding a ring in front of a flower.

How to Clean Makeup Sponges & Beauty Blenders

Whether you’re wondering how to clean a Beauty Blender, your favorite Beauty Blender dupe, or your old faithful sponge that’s never let you down, you won’t believe how clean they’ll get with these easy little hacks!

Two pink makeup sponges in wire holders.

50 DIY Homemade Cleaners Recipes

Not only are these recipes a more natural version of your store-bought favorites, they’ll also save loads of money!

Collage of homemade cleaners.

So do you have any favorite tips or tricks for How to Clean White Shoes and Shoelaces?

Leave a comment and share!

About Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller is the creator of The Frugal Girls, where she shares easy recipes with massive flavor! She has been creating and sharing recipes online for over 15 years, and brings warmth, expertise, and a personal touch to every recipe. Her work has been featured on Today.com, NBC, Fox, Parade, People, Country Living, Woman’s World, and more!

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16 Comments

  1. Healthy World Cuisine says:

    Love your gentle ways of cleaning with baking soda to get out those tough stains. Bleach is so harsh. Your old white shoes look brand new!

    1. Heidi says:

      Aww… thank you! It’s always fun to get them looking new again!

  2. Her Digital Coffee says:

    Amazing tips, Heidi! I’ve been wearing white sneakers a lot lately and these tips will definitely come in handy, especially when it comes to cleaning the mesh part, I find that the hardest. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome!!

  3. delphine says:

    Merci pour tes conseils
    Bises

    1. Heidi says:

      Avec plaisir Delphine 🙂 Bises

  4. Lisa's Notebook says:

    My daughter has 4 pairs of white trainers (I know!) and they are all in desperate need of a clean so this post and your tips are perfect – thank you, Heidi 🙂

    1. Heidi says:

      Oh fantastic… I hope these tricks help with your daughter’s white shoes!

  5. Kathrine Eldridge says:

    I’ve been wanting to clean my shoelaces so these tips couldn’t come at a better time! Thanks for sharing Heidi!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome, Kathrine!

  6. Veronica Lee says:

    The baking soda paste trick for rubber soles is genius—I never knew it could work so effectively.
    And cleaning shoelaces in the laundry with vinegar instead of fabric softener? Brilliant!

    Thanks for sharing these practical tips, Heidi!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome, Veronica… I’m so glad you liked the shoe cleaning tip!

  7. Michelle says:

    Such great tips! Just bought my eldest white shoes, so will keep this bookmarked for when they get grungy!!

    1. Heidi says:

      Fantastic… these tricks really are a game changer!

  8. hena says:

    Excellent tips. I have on occasion used the magic eraser to get out scuff marks.

    1. Heidi says:

      That’s great, Hena… it works SO well!