Video:How to Clean Canvas Shoes

SHARE ON                

Transcript:How to Clean Canvas Shoes

Hi! I'm Debbie Anderson for About.com. Canvas shoes are a great universal shoe choice when it comes to everyday footwear, however, they tend to get dirty and lose their shape over time. So today, I'm going to show you how to clean your canvas shoes without throwing them in the washer, where they can get ruined, so they continue looking great for many years to come.

Supplies Needed to Clean Canvas Shoes

For this task, you will need a toothbrush, laundry detergent, baking soda, a clean sponge, and roll of paper towels.

Remove Debris From the Canvas Shoes

First, pour a small amount of laundry detergent in the sink and fill the sink with approximately four inches of luke-warm water. Next, clap the soles of the canvas shoes together over a clean garbage can to loosen and remove any dirt or mud buildup on the edges and bottoms of the soles on each of the shoes.

Clean the Shoelaces

Next, remove the laces from each of the canvas shoes and use a clean damp sponge to wipe away any tough dirt marks around the edges and on the soles of the shoes.

Clean the Canvas Shoes

Gently place the shoes in the luke-warm water in the sink. Using your toothbrush, gently scrub the outside canvas surfaces of the shoes to remove any remaining dirt or stain buildup.

Next, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda inside the canvas shoes to help eliminate odors. Then, dip the shoe laces in the lukewarm water and thoroughly wash them by hand in the sudsy water until the laces are clean.

Next, rinse off the shoe laces under cold running tap water, wring out the excess water by hand, and then place the laces on a clean paper towel to air dry.

Rinse the Canvas Shoes

After draining the water from the sink, thoroughly rinse the canvas shoes under cold running tap water to remove any leftover soapy water that is still on the canvas shoes.

Dry the Canvas

Place the canvas shoes on a clean paper towel and allow them to air dry. Next, to help the shoes retain their form while drying, use your hands to crumple up two paper towels into two small wads. Then, place each of the crumpled up paper towel wads in the toe end of each of the canvas shoes. Allow the canvas shoes and shoe laces to thoroughly air dry.

Finally, once the shoes are dry, remove the wadded up paper towels from the toe end of the shoes and place the shoe laces back in each of the shoes.

With a few items from around the house and few easy steps you're sure to have great looking canvas shoes. Thank you for watching! To learn more, please visit us on the Web at About.com.