Did you find it difficult to whiten your yellow soles on the shoes? Or maybe you are looking for a detailed guide to remove yellowing from the shoes.
Even if you take care of your shoes, their soles get dirty when you walk on the road and grass. Moreover, your gorgeous shoes can lose charm if you don’t wash them properly.
Luckily, some wonderful cleaning agents are effective in whitening shoe soles. My shoe soles also got dirty, and I used many methods to return them to their original color.
In this post, I will cover the most effective and safest methods to whiten yellow soles on shoes.
How to Whiten Yellow Soles on Shoes?
- Add two tablespoons of laundry detergent and one tablespoon of baking powder. Use a toothbrush to apply the mixture.
- Spread a little amount of the white toothpaste on the soles and scrub it with an old toothbrush.
- Use a professional shoe cleaner to remove the yellow marks from the shoes.
- Scrub the shoes with a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mixture and wash the paste with clean water.
- Rub the yellow soles of the shoes with a magic eraser.
- Apply the bleach to clean the white soles of the shoes and wash off the extra bleach.
Required Things
Gather the following items to perform the techniques:
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Laundry detergent
- Baking powder
- Old toothbrush
- White toothpaste
- Professional shoe cleaner
- Magic eraser
- Bleach
Methods to Whiten Yellow Soles on Shoes
Most people try their best to protect their shoes from getting stains. Soles turn yellow even if you wear them on dry, smooth pavements.
The main reason for yellow soles is when water comes in contact with them. Before starting any technique, clean your shoes with a dry cloth.
Here are some methods to whiten yellow soles on shoes.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
You can purchase hydrogen peroxide from any supermarket or a drug store. It is a non-chlorine bleach that is usually used to dye hair but is also suitable for cleaning.
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with baking soda is better for making an effective cleaner.
- First, I made a mixture by adding baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to the bowl.
- Then, I grabbed my shoes and started to scrub the most yellow part of the soles.
- To turn the shoes back to yellow, I placed them in a warm place to dry out.
- After a few minutes, I rinsed the shoes with plain water.
If your shoes are still not white, perform the whole process again. Keep repeating until you get the desired result.
2. Laundry Detergent and Baking Powder
Baking powder is famous for keeping shoes shiny and white. I used baking soda with laundry detergent to make a perfect mixture. Generally speaking, it is better to use white-colored laundry detergent.
Follow these given steps to clean the yellow shoe.
- In the beginning, I added double the amount of laundry detergent into one part of the baking powder. Measure the quantity with a tablespoon.
- Next, I poured some water into the powder to make a paste. Avoid adding extra water because it lowers the effects of the cleaning agent.
- Once I made the paste, I used an old toothbrush to make the yellow soles.
- To avoid oxidation, I placed my shoes in a sealed plastic bag.
- Then, I left my shoes in a well-ventilated place to dry and rinsed off the paste using warm water.
3. Toothpaste
It is a safe household cleaning agent to remove yellow stains from shoe soles.
- Firstly, I applied white-colored toothpaste to the brush and focused on the yellow-stained areas.
- Then, I put them in a warm place to set down the mixture.
- If the white shoes still appear yellow, then rinse the shoes with warm water.
4. Professional Shoe Cleaner
Multiple professional shoe cleaners effectively remove the yellow spots from the soles. Kiwi White Shoe Cleaner is a trusted name with a sponge built into it.
To get good results, follow the instructions given on the shoe cleaner. It is a perfect solution for quick cleaning.
5. Magic Eraser
People use a magic eraser to remove stains and labels from the products. But the plus point is that you can also use a magic eraser to remove yellow marks from the soles.
The fact that it cleans the shoes in less time makes them more valuable.
- I dipped the magic eraser in water but didn’t make it too wet.
- Next, I scrubbed the magic eraser in a circular motion
- When I realized that the foam had turned yellow, I rinsed under the water.
Remember: you may have to clean the shoes because the foam breaks into pieces. The interesting thing is that it comes at a cheaper price and can be used for many other purposes.
6. Bleach
You have to be careful while removing the stains with bleach. I recommend using it in a tiny amount.
- I added a small amount of bleach to the water.
- Afterward, I taped the shoe sides to prevent the bleach from contacting the shoe fabric.
- Next, I waited ten minutes to set down the bleach and rinsed it with water.
Repeat the procedure if it is needed.
What Not to Use to Clean Shoes with Yellow Soles?
Cleaning methods of shoe soles are quite easy. Here are the things that you should not use for cleaning yellow soles.
Cleaners to Avoid
Using a small amount of bleach is good, but a higher amount turns the shoes yellow. Precautions are necessary to avoid such damage. Some shoe materials need special cleaners. Some products damage suede and leather shoes.
Remember that too much cleaner is also not good for footwear material. It maximizes the chances of cracking.
The Dishwasher
Never place your shoes in the dishwasher for cleaning. The reason is that the washing cycle can damage the shoe material.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Shoe Soles Turn Yellow?
Shoe soles turn yellow when you put your shoes under the sun, use a harsh detergent, or don’t clean them properly.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Whiten Soles?
Apply the hydrogen peroxide on the shoes for a few minutes and then rinse with clean water. It will turn the yellow soles into white.
Can Baking Soda Whiten Shoe Soles?
Yes, baking soda works remarkably in whitening shoe soles. Combine it with hydrogen peroxide to get an excellent result.
How Long Do You Leave Baking Soda on White Shoes?
You should leave baking soda for 12 hours. Extra dirty shoes may need 24 hours to be cleaned.
Final Thoughts
The results depend on how often and long you clean the shoe soles. The best thing to do is to stay away from the water. Try to clean them immediately after noticing small yellow spots. It will protect you from further damage.
Stubborn stains are difficult to remove and need more effort to get rid of them. Hopefully, now you know all the suitable methods to clean yellow soles. Don’t miss any points to get desired results.
