How infuriating it is that we get ugly yellow-ish stains on our white shoes? The beauty of a white pair lies in its flawless and pristine appearance. But no matter how careful we are, all shoes, not just the white ones, are subjected to the elements, drink spills, road dirt, etc.
So, how to remove yellow stains from white shoes? We have to act fast before these stains set in and use the right cleaner. Read below for the best methods to solve this issue.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Baking soda
Using baking soda to remove stains has always been a go-to method for various kinds of footwear, shirts, gloves, and not just white shoes.
If you have canvas white shoes with yellow stains caused by spilled drinks, ice cream melt drops, mud, and more, baking soda is a life-saver.
Here’s what you need to prepare:
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide (if the stains are hard to remove)
- Warm water
- A soft brush (a toothbrush is okay)
- A sponge
Follow these steps to quickly get yellow stains out of white shoes:
- Step 1: Mix the cleaning solution by adding baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and warm water in a ratio of 2:1:1. If you do not have hydrogen peroxide, just mix baking soda and water with a 2:1 ratio.
- Step 2: Dip the brush into the cleaning paste and rub the stains clean in circular motions.
- Step 3: Leave the cleaner there to dry and work for 30-40 minutes.
- Step 4: Then, use a dampened sponge to remove all the dried paste. Then, rinse the shoes in water.
- Step 5: If necessary, you can apply the paste again, rinse the shoes, and dry them well.
Method 2: Bleach
Do we have to go as far as using bleach to get rid of yellow stains? Actually, bleach in a moderate amount is fine for use with synthetic shoe materials that often make sneakers. As long as you do not use it on leather fabrics, you are fine.
For an agent as strong as bleach, you can clean white shoes that turned yellow due to exposure to UV and built-up dirt.
What you need to prepare:
- Bleach
- A toothbrush
- Warm water
- A pair of gloves and a mask
Easy steps to follow:
- Step 1: Put on your mask and rubber gloves that can resist abrasive chemicals. Bring your shoes out in an open area to safely use bleach.
- Step 2: Now, mix your cleaning solution by adding bleach and water, preferably in a 1:5 ratio.
- Step 3: After mixing it well, you can use the brush to dip in the bleach and clean your yellow-stained sneakers.
- Step 4: Now, rinse the pair using warm water to remove all the bleach. Then, let the shoes dry naturally.
Method 3: Salt
We already know how to use bleach to remove yellowish marks from white sneakers, but how about pairs that are stained by bleach?
Actually, you can remove yellow bleach stains using salt and hot water. Here’re the necessary items for the task:
- A small bowl/cup
- Very hot water (not boiling)
- Salt
- A clean toothbrush
You can follow these steps to take yellow out of white shoes:
- Step 1: Boil your water, then leave it for several minutes to cool down. Then, pour around 200ml into your bowl.
- Step 2: Now, take one tablespoon of salt and mix it into the hot water and stir well.
- Step 3: Bring your shoes out and use the toothbrush to rub the cleaner onto the bleach stains.
- Step 4: Leave the white shoes to dry for around 15 minutes, then continue to dip the brush into the salt and hot water and scrub for several minutes.
- Step 5: As you see the bleach stains fading, rinse the pair with water and let it dry.
For bleach stains, some people also make a cream of tartar and hot water mixture and soak the whole pair in it for half an hour.
Method 4: Vinegar
You probably bring out white vinegar to remove dirt from your clothing or gloves, but are just not sure if it’s usable for white sneakers and boots.
In fact, using vinegar is also recommended to clean white shoes as it is safe and easy to apply.
- You can just mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1.
- Then, soak the shoes in the agent for 25-30 minutes.
- If the stains are not gone completely, use a soft brush to scrub the areas.
- Then, rinse the pair off and let them dry.
For super stubborn yellow marks, you can combine baking soda and vinegar to create a more potent cleaner.
Here’re the steps to follow:
- Step 1: Prepare some hot water, baking soda, white vinegar, and a toothbrush.
- Step 2: Now, mix the three ingredients together to make a paste for cleaning.
- Step 3: You can use the toothbrush to apply the paste all over the shoes and rub a bit more on the dirty parts.
- Step 4: Then, place the pair onto a clean and open platform for it to be exposed to the bright sun for 3 hours.
- Step 5: As of this moment, the dried paste already worked to whiten the shoes. Brush it all off with the toothbrush.
Method 5: Toothpaste
Toothpaste can work magic on our teeth and other white items we have. Using toothpaste, especially a white one, can effectively remove the yellowish marks on our white boots.
Here’re what we need to have at hand:
- A toothbrush
- A white toothpaste
- Water
- A clean cloth
The quick steps to follow include:
- Step 1: Wet your pair with water (let’s not do this to a leather pair).
- Step 2: Then, pour the toothpaste onto the brush and rub it on the yellow stains with enough pressure. You can do so in a circular motion to work the paste deeply into the fabric.
- Step 3: You can now leave the toothpaste there for at least 10 minutes, 5 minutes more if the stains are old.
- Step 4: Then, dampen the clean cloth and rub to remove the toothpaste.
- Step 5: You can repeat the steps if the stains are not completely removed. Make sure to wipe the shoes clean and let them dry afterward.
Other Methods to Remove Yellow Stains on White Shoes
- Dish soap – When you accidentally drop something on your white shoes, using tissue dipped in dish soap and water can quickly remove the stains.
Furthermore, you can use this cleaner to remove oils, greases, and other petrochemical stains on white shoes.
- Shampoo – It might not be the most powerful cleaner. But if you act quickly, you can brush the yellow stains off your white shoes by soaking them in shampoo and water.
- Rubbing alcohol – You can use a clean cloth or tissue to apply the alcohol and leave it to work through the yellow stains for several hours.
- Shoe cleaner – Professional cleaning solutions work, too, especially for leather and vinyl footwear in white.
Conclusion
As you are here to know how to remove yellow stains from white shoes, hopefully, you can use one or multiple methods mentioned above to succeed with the task.
Go easy with the bleach, as it can damage some fabrics. You can read the instructions attached to your footwear to be sure.
Other methods that include hot water or soaking your pairs also require caution. But vinegar, toothpaste, or baking soda are gentle cleaners, and you can safely try them first without issue.
This is Edward Manning, the editor in chief of Construction Informer. Quite a bit of my time is spent researching the market and interviewing experts in the field so that I can give you reliable information.