GenZ Updates

By Nyandano Tshikororo

5 min Read

Here’s what you can do with Old Sneakers besides throwing them away:

If you can’t recycle your footwear through, look for local shoe banks or shoe recycle collection bins to make sure your old shoes are going to the right place for reuse, but the best way to clean old leather sneakers is with a soft, damp brush.

Use a soft bristled brush to remove any dust, dirt, mud, sand, or other debris from the shoes. Once the brush has been cleaned and dried, use a moisturizing horse soap to clean your leather shoes thoroughly.

Polish Leather Sneakers

Polishing dirty leather shoes can damage the outer layer of the leather, which is also known as the ‘finish’ on the shoes. If your sneakers aren’t cleaned properly before polishing, then it will become discoloured and the “finish” will peel away. And to keep your leather sneakers looking good, you should clean them before you apply the polish.

The best way to clean old leather sneakers is with a soft, damp brush. Use a soft bristled brush to remove any dust, dirt, mud, sand, or other debris from the shoes. Once the brush has been cleaned and dried, use a moisturizing horse soap to clean your leather shoes thoroughly. Stuff your leather sneakers in a cotton ball and let them dry.

Remove Stains Using Water-Baking Soda Mixture

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to remove stain from shoes is to use baking soda and water. It’s particularly useful when you have stained sneakers that haven’t been worn in a long time, or if you have stains on your shoes after wearing them for quite some time. You can use this method without worrying about spending too much on a stain removal product or resorting to dangerous chemicals.

The first thing to do to remove the stain off your shoes is to prepare a mixture of baking soda and water. The mixture should consist of about one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda, one tablespoon of water, and two cups of water. Before you use it on the stain in your sneakers, you need to make sure that the shoes are completely clean and dry. If you have any kind of contact with the liquid, you should wash your hands immediately to avoid causing any kind of infection on your skin. It’s advisable to start applying the mixture as soon as possible after you’ve washed your hands.

Use a Mixture of Water and Shampoo for Your Canvas Shoes

The ingredients of this cleaning solution are water mixed with equal parts of shampoo because it is the simplest form of cleaning solution as it’s very easy to make. If you have a pair of canvas sneakers that have some stains on them, use this cleaning solution to clean them right away.

It’s advisable to do this twice a day or as required so that the stain will be removed, and the dirt and grime from your shoes will be washed away.

You can use this cleaning solution with proper care and don’t spill it onto the skin to prevent any irritation. Also, if you want to clean your sneakers at home using a mixture of water and shampoo, make sure that the solution is in its proper container and it’s stored out of direct sunlight as this may cause damage to your shoes.

Sneaker Painting

Treat the sneakers as you would any other surface when it comes to the actual painting; you will want to apply several coats of the paint. Let the paint dry between coats, and then apply a top coat of clear acrylic sealer to keep the colour shiny and protected. Always start painting your sneakers from the bottom and work your way up to prevent any unwanted bleeding.

Painting your sneakers is a great way to customize them and make them look like nothing else out there. You can also modify your sneakers to fit your personality; for example, you can use a lot of vibrant colours or do something really artistic and unique.

Whatever your style is, there is a way that you can paint your sneakers to make them reflect that style.