Here’s a quick and easy tip:
Have sneakers that are comfortable and fit, but don’t look so hot anymore? I’m a big proponent of “use what you have”-so don’t throw those sneakers out and buy a new pair. Instead clean them up quickly and easily using a “Magic Eraser” style sponge.
Here is a before picture of Buddy’s sneakers. Isn’t it amazing how grubby kids stuff gets?
My apologies for the picture quality! Even with the blurriness, you can clearly see the line of demarcation where I stopped cleaning. What a difference!
Ahhh, isn’t that better? Now the eraser will only clean the leather (or pleather) portions, so any piping or the cloth might still look faded or grimy-in the case of Buddies sneakers the piping looks gray. But all in all, wouldn’t you say it’s a great improvement?
Do you have any great tips for how to make your sneakers last longer?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great idea! I toss my sneakers into the wash with a load of towels. It keeps them from banging around in the washer, and it scrubs them clean.
i never would have thought to use the magic eraser – great tip!
Oh good. I thought maybe I was the only person who even cares about what our shoes look like; a quick observation at school or the grocery store leads me to believe most people don’t.
I’ve used the magic eraser, but I’ve found it doesn’t work every time, though. When it doesn’t, I try a product called Greased Lightening. It will clean just about anything!
Another tip I found out the hard way. It’s ok to put Crocs (or the imitations) in the washing machine, but don’t accidentally dry them. They WILL shrink. LOL!
Great tip! I am trying this today!
I actually washed two pair of sneakers in the washer with bath towels this weekend and hung them on the line to dry. I put the shoelaces in a garment bag so they would wash also, and opening up the sneakers decreases the drying time. They came out looking a week old but I bought them months ago.
Cleaning sneakers is so easy job, I just put them in the washing machine with the rest of the whites. When they’re done I set them out in the sun to dry. They come out like new, hard stains? Spray em with pre-wash like any thing else
Many folks have leather on their sneakers-which might not react well to being thrown in the washer. . . personally I’d rather be careful and use the Magic Eraser. However if you know for certain that your entire shoe is made of canvas or washable materials it could be worth a shot.