As spring looks set to make a welcome early appearance, cracking out a pair of new white sneakers will give any wardrobe that’s looking a bit winter-drab, a fresh hit of light summery goodness.
But here’s the thing, if you want to stay fashionable, white sneakers have to be, well, white – and by white, we mean pure white.
While these kicks might look kind of like an everyday shoe – they’re not – they’re actually a fashion shoe, so don’t think a spot of gardening or a beach visit won’t ruin them. Speaking from first-hand experience, both will and have done – RIP favourite limited edition Converse low-tops, you are sorely missed.
If you want to put your best white-sneakered foot forward this spring, check-out our tips for keeping your sneaks in dazzling condition.
Leather v canvas
While it sounds so obvious, regular cleaning is the key to making sure your sneakers stay looking great. That said, leather is easier to clean than canvas, and stays looking good longer.
First things first…
Before that first wear, we have one recommendation: take your new shoes to a shoe care professional to have them clear coated – think of this step as a kind of advance precautionary measure. Clear-coating works by repelling liquid, protecting against scuff marks and maintaining colour and breathability of the fabric.
If you happen to carry baby wipes (go on, admit you do), they’ll come in handy for removing any small marks after the protectant has been applied.
Bust out that scrubbing brush
Rubber-soled sneakers can stand up to a bit of scrubbing with a general all-purpose cleaner. The trick here is to make sure the spray stays away from the rest of your shoes or you could risk some unsightly staining.
And here’s the awful truth:
The washing machine will wreck your kicks, only use it to wash laces. Helder Borges of Superga Australia recommends using hot, salty water with a shoe or nail brush for canvas shoes.
“Whatever you can find, you just need something with coarse bristles. Don’t use detergent to wash your canvas shoes as this leaves sud marks and can turn the rubber sole yellow,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
