Keep Your White Sneakers White: Places To Clean Them

by Alexandra Mansilla

Keep Your White Sneakers White: Places To Clean Them In Dubai

19 Jul 2024

So, you buy white sneakers, wear them, and then the inevitable happens: they turn gray. Personally, I keep wearing mine until they are so grey that it is almost indecent to be seen in them. Then comes the question: how do you clean them? Can you do it at home, or is it better to take them to a professional sneaker cleaning service? Actually, both options work.

Some Personal Life Hacks

You can clean your sneakers at home, too. Here are some tips from our team members.

Alexandra Mansilia, Senior Editor: “Once, I saw a TikTok hack about cleaning sneakers with a toothbrush and toothpaste. It seemed logical, so I tried it on my white sneakers — and it worked great. They did smell a bit like toothpaste, but it was no big deal.”

Polina Kutukova, SMM Editor: "Feel free to laugh, but I clean my sneakers at home with Johnson & Johnson baby wipes. Yep, the ones for babies — they work amazingly well. It’s not the fastest method, but it’s super effective, and honestly, it’s like a meditative ritual for me."

Photo: Patrick Hodskins

Sneaker Cleaning Services

Let's be honest, sometimes it is just easier to let the pros handle it and get the job done right. You can take your sneakers to specialised cleaning services. Which ones? Our creative editor, Sophie She, has tested out a bunch and finally landed on the best ones. Here are her top recommendations.

Sophie She: "So, Sneakers.me is fantastic for any kind of sneaker care. They are located in the Amongst Few cafe with a lovely view. If you have something easy to clean, they can do it right away while you enjoy a coffee. Alternatively, they pack your sneakers with great care and return them within a fortnight, which is also super great. They did an amazing job with my Alohas and Adidas Gazelle shoes. It’s a UK brand also represented in Dubai, so there’s a global name behind the store.

Shoe Doctor DXB is also excellent. They handle premium brands and complex cleaning tasks. While Sneakers.me excels with sneakers, Shoe Doctor DXB is great with all types of shoes. They offer a wide range of services.

Whites are well-known and accessible, with many locations. You can trust them with something easy — they’ll make your shoes clean, even if they can’t completely remove a stain."

Photo: Grailify

Simple Ways To Clean White Sneakers At Home

Washing Machine

Probably the easiest and most obvious method is to throw your white sneakers in the washing machine. But here’s the catch: washing them at temperatures above 30°C can ruin your cherished sneakers—they might shrink, deform, or come unglued. So, if you go this route, be mindful of the temperature.

Stain Remover

Another straightforward solution: mix it with a bit of water, clean the sneakers with a sponge, and rinse. For better results, you can leave the sneakers in the solution for a couple of hours.

Lemon Juice

Surprise — lemon juice is a natural bleach. Mix a couple of tablespoons with an equal amount of warm water to create a solution that can scrub the dirt off your white sneakers.

Baking Soda

Mix baking soda (3–4 tbsp) with hydrogen peroxide (2 tbsp) and warm water (2 tbsp). Take a brush, rub this mixture into the surface of the sneakers, and let it sit until the shoes dry. Then, knock the sneakers together to remove any remaining solution. This method is fantastic for the white sneakers and really works.

by Alexandra Mansilla