Keeping your shoes clean will make them look beautiful and will help them last longer. Shoe-cleaners that you buy at the store are great because they are convenient, but they can be pricey and harsh on your shoes.
But, what about DIY shoe cleaners? Well, if you can make your own shoe cleaning solution at home, why not? That’s easy, cheap, and you can make it to fit different shoe materials.
Why to Make Your Own Shoe Cleaner?
1. It saves money: The majority of homemade solutions tend to use items that we already have in our homes. So naturally it saves a ton of your money.
2. Go Green: By making a shoe cleaning solution with homemade ingredients, you aren’t soaking your shoes or the environment in harsh chemicals.
3. Tailored to Your Shoes: Homemade shoe cleaners lets you easily customize for the different care that different materials require.
4. Gentle Yet Effective: Cleaners which are homemade will gently clean your shoes without scratching or damaging them.
Basic Shoe Cleaning Solution Recipe
Here’s a simple recipe to get started:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon mild dish soap with no fragrance
- Optional: Lemon juice or a few drops of essential oil for a nice scent
Instructions:
1. Place the water and the vinegar into a bowl.
2. Add the baking soda and stir until it’s dissolved.
3. Add and mix the dish soap well.
4. To get a fresh smell, add lemon juice or essential oil.
5. You can pour the mixture in a spray bottle to use it easily.
Tailored Solutions for Different Shoe Materials:
Shoes made of different materials require different care. Here’s how to customize your shoe cleaning solution according to each one of them:
1. Leather Shoes
To keep leather’s texture and finish, it must be handled gently.
Solution: Use the basic recipe, but instead of the dish soap, mix a small amount of leather soap or saddle soap. For conditioning, add a teaspoon of olive oil.
How to Use:
To apply the solution, dampen a soft cloth with it and then wipe the shoes gently. Later, clean them with a dry clean towel. To give some extra shine, you can use a tiny bit of olive oil too.
2. Suede or Nubuck Shoes
Suede is delicate and doesn’t handle water well. So one needs to be careful while using cleaning solutions.
Solution: Add equal parts water and white vinegar. Additionally, skip the dish soap and oils.
How to Use:
Dab the solution onto the stains with a soft brush. Then slowly massage in circular movements. Once done, allow the shoes to air dry and then use a suede brush to restore its natural texture.
3. Canvas or Mesh Shoes
The good thing about these materials is that they are more capable of taking a deep clean.
Solution: To give a whitening effect, add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to the basic recipe.
How to Use:
Mixture is applied with a soft bristle toothbrush. Scrub gently in small circles, focusing more on stains. Finally, wipe the shoes with a damp cloth and allow them to air dry.
4. White Shoes
When compared to other types of shoes, removing dirt and stains from white shoes is often a frustrating task.
Solution: Mix 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide, a little water and make a paste.
How to Use:
Apply the paste on all the dirty areas using a brush. Leave it out in the sun for 4 hours or so. Later, the residue may be wiped off with a wet cloth.
5. Synthetic Shoes
In general, synthetic shoes are durable and are easy to clean.
Solution: Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap in 1 cup of warm water.
How to Use:
Dampen a cloth in the solution and wipe the shoes. Rinse them in a damp cloth and let them air dry.
Tips for using a homemade shoe cleaning solution:
1. Pre-Treat Stains: To clean tough stains, apply vinegar or rubbing alcohol before cleaning.
2. Use the Right Tools: Microfiber cloths, soft brushes, suede erasers are all great.
3. Test First: If you are spot testing your solution, always do it on a hidden part of the shoe.
4. Avoid Over-Soaking: Too much moisture can warp or weaken your shoes.
5. Dry Naturally: More than anything, don’t use heat sources to dry your shoes. Always simply air dry them and also avoid direct sunlight.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Bleach: It can completely ruin shoe materials.
Over-Scrubbing: If scrubbed too hard, fabric can become weakened and be left with permanent marks.
Skipping Regular Maintenance: Regularly clean your shoes to avoid any sort of deep-set stains and odors.
Final Thoughts:
It’s easy to make your own shoe cleaning solution and it’s a good way to save some money and keep your shoes looking their best. No matter what material you’re working with, whether it’s leather, suede, canvas or synthetic, these recipes and tips will all help you deal with stains, scuffs and odors.
These homemade solutions and a little care will keep your shoes looking great, lasting longer and smelling fresh every day. Happy cleaning!
