How to remove yellow stains from shoes is a must-know treatment for shoe lovers. This will make your shoes nice to use and last longer.
white shoes are a great addition to every kind of outfit. They go seamlessly with everything from a blue pinstripe suit to a denim jacket and jeans. Also, who doesn’t love white shoes?
Wearing white shoes is great for style because they suit almost all of your fashion tricks. You can wear them with jeans, shorts, tights, skirts, dresses, you name it.
They’re pretty much your shoe go-to. Your white shoes will match almost anything that you wear.
However, after some time, dirt tends to start building upon them. If you use white shoes frequently, it usually means you wear them almost every day.
As a result, they become particularly dirty and because of that, the white color turns yellow. It is inevitable for white shoes to get yellow-stained and dirty.
Do not worry!
In this article, we want to talk about how to remove yellow stains from shoes.
Contents
Why do your white shoes turn yellow?
1. Your shoes are exposed to the sun too long
Sunlight contains many different radiation spectra, including ultraviolet light. Your shoes get dirty mostly from the ground by absorbing UV light, so after a long time of sun exposure, the color of your shoes will turn yellow.
This is an interesting phenomenon that happens because of a chemical reaction in the shoe’s paint.
2. Stains that accumulate and are never cleaned
Your shoes will get dirty; it’s an unavoidable fact of life.
Just like dirt, stains can accumulate inside a shoe. This is especially true for work shoes because you’re going to come in contact with a lot of dirt and stains.
If you neglect to clean your shoes after getting dirt on them, the dirt will continue to stain the shoes and will make your shoes turn yellow slowly.
How to remove yellow stains from shoes
1. Toothpaste
Yellow stains on your shoes also be a pain to remove. However, these stains are not impossible to remove. One way you can remove stains from your shoe is by using toothpaste.
Toothpaste contains peroxide, which acts as a bleaching agent and removes yellow stains from clothes and shoes.
To clean your shoes, wet them thoroughly with plenty of water so you don’t skip any stains.
Take some toothpaste and put it on the stained areas. Take a toothbrush and brush them until they are clean.
Brushing vigorously is important so that no stain is left behind. Rinse the shoes thoroughly to remove all of the paste dry by hanging in a windy area with good airflow.
2. Dish soap
Dish soap is a popular detergent that is used in households to wash dishes. It helps to remove food stains from your favorite plates and cups.
Needless to say, dish soap can be used for cleaning oil, grease, and even tar off surfaces. Although it cleans a lot of things, you can use it to clean yellow stains on white shoes or clothes.
The composition of dish soap is made to dissolve oil and grease. This makes it excellent for removing stains caused by petrochemicals. Its powerful properties make it an excellent tool for removing yellowish stains on white shoes.
First, you need to wet the shoes and apply dish soap on them. Rub the shoes with a sponge or cloth gently until clean. Also, for the toughest stains, you can soak shoes before cleaning them. Once done, don’t forget to air them so they can air dry.
3. Shampoo
Shampoo can be used to remove yellow stains from shoes that are white. To clean your dirty white shoes, take the necessary amount of shampoo that you think is enough for your dirty shoes.
You may then apply it to the dirty white shoes and rub gently using an ordinary cloth or toothbrush.
After cleaning the area where the yellow stain is, let it dry by air alone in an open area.
Do not expose the area to direct sunlight as it may cause reactivation of the yellowing effect.
4. Bleach
You can use household bleach to remove yellow stains from rubber and synthetic materials like white shoes, sneakers, and athletic/running shoes.
To clean the stains, apply a sufficient amount of bleach to the dirty shoes, then brush gently with a toothbrush or sponge until clean.
When the shoes are clean, dry them in an open area that has good air circulation. You can also air dry them in an indoor location that has good ventilation if the weather outside is wet or cold.
Remember, always wear protective gear when using bleach to clean your white shoes. It could cause irritation and allergy.
5. Baking soda
You can use baking soda to remove yellow stains from shoes. This is ideal if you are an eco-conscious consumer, as baking soda is a natural product made from sodium bicarbonate.
It’s found in most kitchens and is an effective chemical ingredient to clean your white shoes.
Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and three tablespoons of water in a bowl, then mix them until you get a thick paste.
Apply the baking soda mixture on the shoes and let it sit for about five minutes. Now rub the stains with an old toothbrush or sponge until they disappear. Air dry your clean shoes in an open area.
6. Vinegar
Another effective chemical ingredient to clean your white shoes is white vinegar.
Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar together in a bowl, then dip the shoes in the solution for about 30 minutes.
The dirt will eventually lift off, but you should work this by scrubbing at the stained material with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.
Allow them to dry overnight, then wear them outdoors to make sure they look clean afterward.
7. Alcohol
You can use alcohol to remove yellow stains from white shoes. It is quite effective in removing stains. It is also one of the most common chemical ingredients used in house cleaning products.
Simply dab a small amount of alcohol on the stain and let it dry naturally in an open area overnight. After that, use a toothbrush or sponge with water and rub thoroughly on the stain, then do the same for all other stains on the shoe.
Pat your shoes dry with a clean towel and allow the sneakers to air-dry for an hour. Do not use heat or direct sunlight while drying, as this will fade the color of your sneakers over time.
Make sure to wear protective gear like gloves when working with this product
8. Lemon water
Lemon water is a great cleaning agent and works to remove yellow stains from shoes. The citric acid in the water dissolves the yellow stains from the shoes.
To do so, take two or three lemons, cut them in halves, and squeeze some of the juice into your shoes.
Leave the shoes on for 15 minutes. Afterward, if your shoes are still stained, rinse them with water and rub them with a cloth.
9. Castile liquid soap
You can use Castile liquid soap to remove yellow stains from your shoes!
Castile soap is an all-natural soap made with organic plant oils. It is a gentle, non-detergent soap that you can use for many household cleaning jobs.
To do this, follow these instructions!
1) Get a sponge and a bucket or bowl
2) Fill the bucket or bowl with cold water and add about two cups of Castile liquid soap (Dr. Bronner’s is recommended)
3) Soak your shoes in the water for about fifteen minutes; this will loosen some of the stains
4) Remove the shoes from the water and scrub them clean with an old toothbrush or similar brush; this will help remove any remaining stains
10. Shoe cleaner
Shoe cleaner is the best solution for yellow stains on shoes. I
t contains an innovative technology that cleans these yellow stains.
It doesn’t contain any chemicals that will damage the color of your shoes; instead, it will keep your white color last longer.
Shoe cleaners come in two kinds; the spray-on ones and the foam ones. Both tend to deliver comparable results and remove yellow stains from footwear easily and quickly.
As with any previous cleaning product, always read the instructions on how to use it. You can buy shoe cleaner from any store that sells shoes.
How to keep your white shoe white
1. Avoid drying your shoes in the sun
Sunlight can damage and discolor your white shoes!
If you want to keep your white shoes white, avoid exposing the shoe to the sun over an extended period of time. The sunlight can react with the shoes and eventually it’ll make it turn yellow after a while.
Allow your white shoes to air dry in the shade after washing them. Drying your shoes in the sun will ruin their color.
2. Routinely polish your shoes with a neutral color polish
The easiest way to prevent this is to use a neutral color shoe polish once a week. This will keep your laces and the rest of the shoe the same color so your shoes will always look clean.
3. Immediately clean your shoes if they are stained or dirty
This is very important. If you do not clean your shoes right away, they will turn yellow and will also get a yellow stain. So, for this reason, you should clean your shoes right away if they’ve been stained or dirty.
Conclusion
Before I end this article, allow me to state that I love shoes! White shoes are my weakness.
I just love shoes that much that I had to write an article on how to remove yellow stains from shoes:
- Toothpaste
- Dish soap
- Shampoo
- Bleach
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Alcohol
- Lemon water
- Castile liquid soap
- Shoe cleaner
In case you are used to cleaning, you can read my how to remove yellow stains from white shirt and how to clean deodorant stains
