Cleaning my sneakers: Adidas Superstars

I must confess, I hate cleaning; I hate yard work, I hate washing my car and I hate house hold duties.  Naturally this vexation for cleaning stuff transfers over to the stuff that I wear.  That’s why I usually like to wear stuff like jeans, t-shirts, hats and hoodies because you don’t need to struggle to keep them clean.  The exception to this rule is my sneakers; I like them to look as clean as possible.  This becomes even more difficult when you like to wear white sneakers such as Adidas Superstars, Nike Air Force 1’s, and Converse All Stars.  For some unexplained reason white sneakers just look good with anything you wear, so I can’t give them up.

However wearing a pair that is yellow, beat up, and dirty all over can ruin any outfit you wear, so that’s why it’s important to keep them clean.  This is where I compromise my hatred of cleaning and put some effort into cleaning my shoes so they always look new.  Besides the appearance, having them look good can save you money because you don’t need to keep buying the same shoe over and over again.  The basic first rule of keeping your sneakers clean is to make sure you take care of them by not walking in the rain or in the mud, and if you do get them wet make sure to dry them off before you store them away.

As for storing my shoes I like to keep them in a place that is always cool and dry, such as the basement.  Any place that fluctuates in temperatures or that is hot will turn your shoes yellow and can lead to cracking of the midsole.  The second rule of keeping your sneakers clean is to wash them every so often when they get dirty.  To wash my sneakers I like to use household cleaning products that I have around the house.  I usually like to use Vim or Comet with a little bleach (though using too much bleach can actually stain your sneakers yellow), and then add some water and use a tooth brush to scrub away the dirt.

Once the dirt is gone, pass a wet paper towel on the areas that you scrubbed to wipe away the excess bleach.  Then let them air dry in a place where the sun doesn’t hit them directly.  You can also clean your sneakers by putting them in the washing machine, but I avoid this because they can become warped.  I do however like to put the laces in the washing machine because it doesn’t affect them.  Once my sneakers are dry I like to use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe any stains that are left (wet Q-tips can also be used).  Once you’re done, you’re ready to hit the pavement again and show off your sneakers with pride.

YouTube:

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