How To Get Yellow Stains Out Of White Shoes?

  • Riya Yadav
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How To Get Yellow Stains Out Of White Shoes?
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Why white shoes or sneakers turn yellow?

You must have thought about what causes yellow stains in white shoes. Here, we have mentioned some factors that will help you to better understand the cause so that you can try to remove it effectively.

Oxidation: Exposure to air and sunlight causes materials like rubber and certain fabrics to oxidize, leading to yellowing of shoes over time.

Improper Cleaning: Using harsh detergents or not rinsing cleaning agents thoroughly can leave behind residues that cause yellow stains, especially after drying.

Sweat and Dirt: Accumulated sweat, body oils, and dirt seep into the fabric and leave yellowish stains, particularly if not cleaned promptly.

Moisture Exposure: Storing shoes in damp areas or wearing them in humid conditions can lead to mildew and yellow discoloration.

Sunlight: Drying white shoes in direct sunlight can react with leftover soap or cleaning agents, causing them to turn yellow.

Harsh chemicals: White shoes usually get yellow stains if they’ve been exposed to harsh chemicals over a long period of time as these harsh chemicals weaken the fabric fibers, causing the fabric to yellow stains usually on white shoes. 

How To Fix Yellow Shoes Problem?

Yellow shoes can be a frustrating problem, but there are several ways to fix them. For leather shoes, try using a whitening cream or a mixture of baking soda and water to gently remove stains. For suede or nubuck shoes, use a suede brush to remove dirt and stains, and apply a suede protector to prevent further discoloration. Regular cleaning and maintenance can also help prevent yellowing.

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How to Get Yellow Stains Out of White Shoes?

Before you start cleaning your yellow stained white shoes, remove any shoelaces as it is best to wash the dirty shoe laces separately in the washing machine.

1. Use of Toothpaste in cleaning white shoes

Do you know? Yellow shoes can be treated well with toothpaste! Yes, you heard it right. A toothpaste can help in treating the tough stains on your shoes. Apply toothpaste to the stains and just scrub it with a toothbrush. After that, wipe down your shoes and let them dry. You will see that yellow stains have been removed. 

2. Use of Baking Soda and Vinegar to remove yellow stains

Baking soda and vinegar are two kitchen essentials that help us a lot in laundry and removing stains whether it is on cloth or shoes. For yellow stains on white shoes:

  • Make a paste by mixing distilled vinegar, baking soda and hot water in equal parts.
  • Apply that paste to the stains using a brush and let the paste sit on the stain up to 1 hour
  • Rinse your shoes with lukewarm water
  • Let them air dry 

3. Use Of Cream of Tartar in removing Yellow Stains from White Sneakers

If you want to remove stains from yellow shoes then you can also use cream of tartar. Take a bowl and fill its half with water and mix with 1 big tablespoon of cream of tartar and soak your shoes with the mixture for at least 1 hour and rinse shoes with cold water and leave them to air dry. 

4. Use of Salt and Hot Water in cleaning white sneakers

Salt does wonder sometimes in removing stains from your shoes. For yellow stains, mix 1 spoon of salt in a bowl of water (hot). Now, use a toothbrush and rub your shoes in the stained areas and continue the brushing until stains get disappear. 

5. Using Melamine Foam Eraser For Yellow Stains

Just scrub the wet melamine eraser in circular motions until the stain get disappear and let the shoes dry under shade. 

6. Using Dish Soap in removing stains from yellow shoes

Sometimes, when detergent doesn’t work then the dish soap comes into play. Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 1 cup of hot water. Now scrub your shoes with a toothbrush dipped in the solution until the stain disappears. Lastly, rinse the shoes and let it air dry. 

7. Use of Paper Towels in removing Yellow Stains On White Shoes

Rinse your shoes and then wrap them with the paper towel and leave it until the shoes get dry. Paper towel will absorb the water and the yellow stains as well, making your shoes shiny and bright. 

How to remove yellow stains from white shoes with detergent?

To remove yellow stains from white shoes using detergent, follow these steps:

Materials Required: 

  • Mild liquid detergent
  • Warm water
  • Soft brush (old toothbrush works well)
  • Clean cloth or sponge
  • Baking soda and white vinegar (optional for tough stains)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Remove Laces & Insoles

Take out the laces and insoles so you can clean every part of the shoe effectively.

Mix Cleaning Solution

Combine a small amount of liquid detergent with warm water in a bowl (about 1 teaspoon of detergent per 1 cup of water).

Scrub the Stains

Dip the toothbrush into the solution and gently scrub the yellow-stained areas in a circular motion. Avoid soaking the shoes.

Wipe with Clean Cloth

Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to wipe away soap and loosened dirt.

Rinse Lightly

Lightly rinse the stained areas with clean water (don’t soak), then blot with a dry towel.

Dry Properly

Let the shoes air dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, as sun exposure can cause more yellowing.

For Tough Yellow Stains:

If you have tough yellow stains on your white shoes then you can try this solution:

Make a paste of:

  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon detergent

Apply the paste to yellow spots, let it sit for 30 minutes, scrub gently, and rinse off.

How to clean yellow shoes soles?

When it comes to whiten your shoe soles, there are different ways to get it done like with toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar, etc. Let’s discuss a few of them to clean shoe insoles.

How to clean yellow soles with bleach?

  • To clean the yellow soles with bleach, you just need to mix bleach with 2-3 tablespoons of water.
  • Dip an old toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush into the solution.
  • Use the brush to scrub the sole of your shoe, focusing on the yellowed areas.
  • Rinse the sole thoroughly with running water to remove the solution and any loosened dirt.
  • If yellow marks remain, repeat steps 1-4 until the sole is white again.

How to clean yellow soles with toothpaste?

  • Using an old toothbrush, rub toothpaste over the yellowed areas of your shoe sole.
  • Add a sprinkle of water to the toothpaste.
  • Rub the sole again with the toothbrush to work the toothpaste into the material.
  • Using a clean, damp cloth, thoroughly clean the entire sole to remove the toothpaste and any loosened dirt.
  • If yellow marks remain, repeat the above steps until the sole is white again.

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Tips To keep your shoes white

  • To keep your white shoes white, clean your shoes often. Also, if you don’t want that dust to accumulate on your shoes, try to make a habit of wiping down your shoes after every use. 
  • Invest in a shoe protector spray which acts as a barrier between your shoes and dirt. 
  • Try to dry your shoes indoors as sometimes sun-drying your shoes causes yellowing, especially shoes which are made up of Polyurethane (PU) or white or light-colored rubber (sunlight can cause oxidation, resulting in yellowing or discoloration.)
  • Keep shoes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent yellowing.
  • Avoid using harsh chemicals on shoes which can damage fabric and cause discoloration. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, removing yellow stains from white shoes requires the right techniques and a bit of patience. Simple household ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, toothpaste, or hydrogen peroxide can effectively lift stains and restore your shoes’ original brightness. Always test a small area first and avoid harsh scrubbing to prevent damage. Regular cleaning and proper drying, preferably away from direct sunlight can help prevent yellowing in the future. With consistent care and the right approach, your white shoes can stay fresh, clean, and stain-free, extending their lifespan and keeping your style sharp.

FAQs: How to get yellow stains out of white shoes?

In this blog, we have mentioned above many different ways to get yellow stains off from shoes, especially white shoes. 

Yes, toothpaste can clean yellow shoes, you can scrub your shoes with a toothbrush dipped in toothpaste paste. 

Yes, you can remove stains from your shoes. Make a paste by mixing distilled vinegar, baking soda and hot water in equal parts. Apply that paste to the stains using a brush and let the paste sit on the stain up to 1 hour. Rinse your shoes with lukewarm water.



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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not necessarily purport to reflect the values or views of Tumbledry.

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