It might be tough to maintain your all-white Nike Air Force 1s clean if you live in them. The secret to keeping your shoes clean is to keep a few essential shoe-cleaning tools on hand. Fortunately, several effective choices are commonplace.
It’s difficult to maintain your shoes fresh if you don’t clean them on a regular basis. You’ll want to wear your new sneakers outside right away, where they’ll gather up dirt, mud, scuffs, and stains.
We advocate thorough care and maintenance, including cleaning, to maintain top performance of your shoes throughout time. Place your shoes on a shoe tree or fill them with scrunched-up newspaper before you begin cleaning to help them keep their form. Then start working.
Steps To keep Air Force One or any Sneaker fresh and clean.
Bicarbonate of Soda and White Vinegar best For Air Force One
Home cures for persistent stains on leather shoes include bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. When it comes to Air Force 1, this combination works best as a spot cleanser.
Combine one tablespoon of bicarb, two teaspoons of white vinegar, and one cup of water to make a solution. Apply the blend to the shoe with a brush or a towel and delicately scratch away soil and garbage.
Another advantage of using bicarbonate of soda to clean air force one shoes is that it is a natural odour neutralizer, so it keeps your shoes smelling fresh and clean.
Toothpaste
If you don’t have bicarbonate of soda or vinegar on hand, white, non-gel toothpaste can used as a substitute. It removes dirt, stains, and scuff marks.
To begin, wipe your air force clean with a moist towel to eliminate any additional dirt or debris. Then, apply the toothpaste to any filthy places using a gentle brush or cloth. Gently scrape the toothpaste into the unclean places, then wipe the entire air force clean.
Micellar Water
While micellar water has intended for skin cleansing, it is also mild enough to use on leather shoes. Micellar water molecules work on dirt and grease, drawing them away from the surface and leaving your shoes clean and white.
Household Cleaning Rubber
If you often use your Air Force 1s, it’s a good idea to keep a cleaning rubber on hand for quick and easy cleaning. Simply soak it in water and use it to remove stains off the leather top and sole of your shoes.
Machine Wash
Step 1: Remove the laces.
Step 2: Put a shoe tree in each shoe. I would recommend plastic shoe trees for machine cleaning. Shoe trees keep your shoes from having deformed and crumpled when washing and drying.
Step 3: Place your shoes and laces in a wash bag. The washing bag will keep the air force one shoes from becoming tangled. It will also keep the laces from disappearing. If you think placing your shoelaces in the laundry bag is excessive, consider this: where have all the missing socks gone?
Step 4: Select a delicate cold-water wash cycle and add mild detergent. Put an old towel or two in the machine to keep the shoes from banged around.
Step 5: Remove the shoes from the washing machine as soon as they finished to avoid mould or odour.
Step 6: Leave the shoe trees in your shoes to keep them in shape as they dry. Place them in a light, airy location to dry. To dry your shoes, do not use a tumble dryer (though there are techniques to securely dry your shoes in the dryer), hairdryer, or heater. If you leave your shoes outside to dry, keep them away of direct sunshine. Make sure the environment may sufficiently aired if you leave them inside. Use a fan, not a heater fan, if there is no ventilation.
Machine Washing Tips For Air Force One:
Machine washing your shoes too frequently may cause the leather and cloth to wear out.
Before you wash and clean your air force ones, inspect the soles. If they appear to be slipping, do not use the machine.
You may wash many pairs of shoes at once. Place each pair of shoes in its own washing bag, complete with matching laces. Washing coloured shoes with white shoes is similar to washing clothes.
Hand Wash
Step 1: Remove the laces.
Step 2: Put a shoe tree in each shoe. Wood or plastic shoe trees can used for hand cleaning. Shoe trees keep your shoes in condition and provide something firm to press against when you clean.
Moreover, some argue that newspapers can use in place of a shoe tree. It’s not something I’d suggest. If the newspaper take wet (as it will), it becomes mushy and ineffective for keeping your shoe in shape. Not to mention the possibility of getting newspaper ink on your shoes! I’d recommend using your other hand before reaching for the newspaper. Simply tuck your hand inside your shoe and scrub against the brush or cloth.
Step 3: Fill a basin halfway with water. Mix with some sneaker cleaner to dilute. If you don’t have an air force one cleaner, try mild laundry detergent instead. I’d recommend one teaspoon of detergent for two cups of water, but since this isn’t a science experiment, a bit more or less won’t hurt.
Unless you wish to replace the soapy water after each shoe, I recommend washing the outsoles last because they are the dirtier component of the shoe.
Step 4: Scrub your shoes one little square at a time with a gentle brush dipped in a cleaning solution. A shoe brush, scrub brush, or an old toothbrush will suffice. You may clean the whole air force with this procedure, including the heel, tongue, and midsole. Scrub between the sole and the shoe using the brushes as well. You won’t have to dip your shoes into the detergent if you do it this way.
I would really advise avoiding soaking your shoes in detergent since they will become soaked and will take much longer to dry.
Step 5: If persistent markings do not come out with a soft brush, use a medium brush; nevertheless, we shall discuss stain removal more in Point 4.
Step 6: After you’ve cleaned everything, absorb the soapy water with a moist microfiber cloth. Rinse the cloth frequently and wring away any extra water. Rep until your air force ones are clean, or proceed to Step 4 if they are stained.
Step 7: Place your shoes in a light, airy location to dry. While your shoes dry, you may leave the shoe trees in place. If you don’t have shoe trees, you might roll a tiny towel and place it inside the shoes to dry. If you hang your shoes to dry outside, be sure they are not in direct sunlight. However, Make sure the environment is sufficiently aired if you leave them inside. Use a fan, not a heater fan, if there is no ventilation. To dry your shoes, never use a tumble dryer, hairdryer, or heater.
Also Read:- How to Clean Crocs at Home
Spot Clean
Spot cleaning is the greatest method of cleaning since it prevents your entire shoe from being wet. If you spot clean after each use, the need for extensive cleaning will be reduced, extending the life of your shoes.
You do not need to remove the laces every time you spot clean; only when the laces themselves need to be cleaned. Please see our section on how to wash shoelaces for more information.
Step 1: Insert a shoe tree.
Step 2: Wipe away any visible dirt with a moist microfiber cloth, including the midsole. If a filthy mark persists, combine a little detergent with water and gently clean the afflicted area with a gentle brush dipped in the soapy mixture. Soak up the soapy solution with the microfiber cloth. Repeat until the surface is clean.
Step 3: Even after a spot clean, shoes should be allowed to dry completely. That is why it is advisable to clean your air force one shoes immediately after wearing them, rather than waiting until you need to wear them again.
Stain Removal
If you find a stubborn stain that won’t come out after following the standard washing recommendations in Points 1 and 2, you can attempt the stain removal methods listed below.
With the soapy solution, use a medium to stiff bristles brush.
If you have white Air Force 1s, instead of a brush, you might use a Magic Eraser.
Apply a tiny quantity of neat detergent straight to the spot using a cloth. Allow the detergent to soak for a few minutes to remove the stain.
A microfiber cloth may be used to remove scuff marks. Wrap the cloth over your index finger, dunk it in the cleaning solution, and massage the scuff marks away. You might need to push a bit harder and persevere.
Unfortunately, if it is a scratch rather than a scuff mark and an inside layer of leather is revealed, you will be unable to erase the mark, and excessive rubbing or washing may actually make it worse.
Scuff marks may be removed with a microfiber cloth. Wrap the cloth over your index finger, dip it in the cleaning solution, and rub the scuff marks away. You may need to work a little harder and endure. Unfortunately, if the mark is a scratch rather than a scuff and an interior layer of leather is exposed, you may be unable to erase it, and prolonged rubbing or washing may make it worse.
White non-gel toothpaste can be used to remove tough stains. Apply a tiny amount of toothpaste on the stain. With your finger, rub it into the cloth. Rub the stain with an old wet toothbrush to remove it. With a moist towel, remove the toothpaste.
If you have a very tenacious discoloration, use baking soda and white toothpaste.
To remove chewing gum or paint off the sole, use lighter fluid. When working with lighter fluid, I recommend that you use rubber gloves.
To begin, scrape off as much of the gum or paint as possible using a toothpick.
Scrub the residual gum or paint off the sole with a clean cloth dipped in lighter fluid. Once the gum or paint has been removed, rinse the sole with cold water and allow the shoes to dry.
On white shoes, only use lighter fluid.
Odor Removal
Practice good foot care to keep your Air Force 1s from stinking up in the first place. Wearing socks, especially if they hidden socks, will assist. When not in use, store your shoes in a ventilated area. Cedarwood tree shoes are an excellent shoe closet accent since they absorb excess moisture while also deodorising your shoes.
If your shoes begin to smell, place them in an airtight container with a dish of baking soda or clean cat litter for 24 hours. These two compounds absorb smells.
Fill the insides of your shoes with baking soda or clean cat litter if they are really stinky. After 24 hours, follow the instructions in Point 1 for machine washing.
The Best Way to Wash Shoelaces
If you don’t have a washing machine, you may soak your shoelaces in the same soapy water you use to wash and clean your air force one shoes. I wouldn’t do this if your shoes are filthy and your laces are white. While soaking in the murky water, they may become discoloured.
I take a spritz of liquid detergent and wash my laces the same way I wash my palms—rubbing my palms together with one lace in between. When they’re clean, I just rinse them with clean water and hang them to dry.
If your white laces are discoloured, soak them in bleach and detergent. If you don’t want to use bleach, make a solution of water and white vinegar.
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Conclusion
Although as time passes, well-worn Air Force 1s may develop yellow stains. These stains can be removed using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Have you ever wondered why baking soda and vinegar make such effective cleaning agents? When the two are combined, the acid degrades the soda, creating carbon dioxide gas that can aid in the removal of debris from the surface. This mixture is not only effective for deep cleaning but also for odor elimination. To make a paste, use one part baking soda, one part white vinegar, and one part water.
Apply the paste to your shoes in tiny circular motions with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the paste to settle on the shoes for five minutes. The paste may become flaky and dry, making it easier to remove with a brush or wipe.
Lemon juice works similarly to the baking soda and vinegar solution in that it removes stains and smells at the same time. After using this treatment to clean your air force one shoes, they should be bright white.
