When you get your first pair of sneakers, or you are just adding to your collection. It is good to know of various ways to take care of them so that they last long. As much as a pair of box-fresh sneakers please you when you buy them. You should maintain their look with various ways of caring for them. Do not let them stay in the box or wear them less due to the fear that you cannot care for them well. However, whether you are hiking or treading the streets with your sneakers, remember that sneakers are prone to discoloration, scuffing, among other things. Below are ways to take care of your sneakers and make them last longer.
-
Do a deep clean
At times your favorite SB dunks may have an unfortunate encounter with a muddy puddle or something similar. In such a case, it will be time to do a deep clean. Sometimes, due to the visible mess, you may feel that the washing machine will clean the best. However, putting your sneakers in your washing machine will damage the fibers due to the spinning motion, and as a result, it will shorten the life span of your sneakers. Thus, depending on the type of sneaker you are washing, there is a way to do the deep clean.
As an example, canvas or leather sneakers, a cleaning product, and a new toothbrush will help do the trick. The brush will help to remove the dirt and help the powder to form into a light foam. After, rinse with warm water, and allow your sneakers to air dry. If it is suede sneakers, it is best when you leave that to the experts where possible as they are trickier to deep clean compared to other types of sneakers.
- Treat the sneakers
Not everyone takes time to treat their sneakers. Although it is an act of will power to treat your sneakers before wearing them. You must commit to preventing any stains that your sneakers may get from the very start. Eventually, it will be well worth it. For instance, use a protectant spray for suede or leather sneakers, treat canvas pairs with a scotch guard spray to help repel stains and water. Importantly, after you use the spray before you take your sneakers out on the streets, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. If you care for your sneakers in this manner, you will maintain them in the new condition longer. It is a secret that many do not know, and it is an important step in caring for your sneakers.
-
Practice spot cleaning
Many people hang or store their sneakers after they have worn them. Yet, it only takes a minute or two to spot clean stains and dirt off your sneakers when you get home. This care practice for your sneakers is important to help prolong the life of your favorite sneaker pair. It is simple. All you need is to use warm water on a microfiber cloth, and with this, you can remove dirt and stains with ease. Alternatively, you can use baby wipes, but they are better when you are cleaning up anything tough.
-
Replace the laces
Don’t forget the laces as part of your care routine for your sneakers. The best way to handle the laces is to replace them to give your sneakers a new look. So, you can buy a new pair, or just clean any existing laces that you have. To do this, soak them in hot water with a washing powder you prefer. After they are dry and clean, before you replace them on the shoes, try ironing them to give them that extra polished look.
-
Wear socks
Although many of stylist’s advice that you should style your sneakers with no socks for most looks. Not wearing socks will cause your sneakers to have an odor. When you wear socks as a way to care for your sneakers, it will ensure that your sneakers are smelling fresh all the time. If you do not feel comfortable with ordinary plain socks. Opt for socks that make a style statement like bold patterned socks. Alternatively, you can choose to wear no show socks when you want to flash your ankles. There are many ways to go around this, and you can go for this option to ensure that your shoes stay smelling fresh.
-
Use bleach or not
To bleach or not to bleach? Many people are not sure which one is best when it comes to their white sneakers. Due to this divided reason, using bleach should be a personal decision, and you can use it at your own risk. However, if you have white sneakers that you need to give them a white shine. You can try to bleach with a diluted solution so that the bleaching chemical is not as harsh on the fabric and ends up making the shoe a worse for wear shoe. So make a solution of one-part bleach to five parts water and rinse with lukewarm water. If you still feel bleach is too harsh. Using baking soda with water is a solution that can work as effectively.
-
Storage
How do you store your sneakers? This is one way that no one should assume as part of taking care of their sneakers. How you store your sneakers is important to ensure that they stay in good condition. Hence, is you store them while they are dirty, wet, or piling on one another. All these, among other wrong ways to store them, is poor maintenance of your sneaker shoe. So, ensure that your sneakers are away from sunlight when you are not using them to prevent any discoloration. Also, store them in the original boxes to help them stay off dust and maintain their good condition. Plus, while the shoes are in storage, add dryer sheets in them to keep them smelling fresh and to help absorb moisture.
