I don’t know about you, but for almost every white piece of clothing I think about buying, I first have to ask myself how fast it gets dirty and whether it’s easy to maintain or not. If you’re anything like me, then it’s completely natural you have a similar question in mind. “Do white Crocs get dirty over time?”
Even though you probably already know the painful truth, you’re still searching for the last glimmer of hope that will assure you white Crocs don’t in fact get dirty that easily, and they stay pearly white no matter the dirt they encounter.
This fantasy world definitely sounds tempting, but unfortunately, it remains unreal.
So, how can you keep them clean? Let’s find out!
Do white Crocs get dirty?
As you might have already guessed, the answer is – yes! White Crocs do get dirty. And they are quite prone to so.
Depending on how often you wear them, how long you have them, and how good (or bad) you take care of them, your favorite pair of white Crocs are destined to get dirty.
White footwear is like a magnet for dirt and stains. No matter how small the dirty spot is, it’s ten times more visible on a white pair of shoes. Something that’s basically invisible on colored pair of Crocs, is probably an eye-catcher on a white pair.
If you make sure to wipe down your white Crocs any time you notice there’s some dirt or stains on them, then they’ll stay cleaner for longer.
However, white Crocs are not only susceptible to stains. These Crocs are also famous for changing their color, a.k.a. turning yellow over time. Why does that happen?
Well, if you wear them all day every day, your white Crocs can get that yellowish color from over-wearing. Even if you clean them regularly, the detergents you use can cause their color to change and turn yellow.
Also, the color of your white Crocs can oxidize under constant and frequent exposure to ever-changing air quality. Or it can change due to excessive sun exposure.
Therefore, in order to keep your Crocs crisp white, you need to not only clean them regularly but also watch how you generally take care of them and store them.
How to clean white Crocs? 5 methods explained
Now that we have all the basics covered, let’s move on to the 5 effective methods of cleaning white Crocs.
The majority of these necessary items you already have at home. Even if you don’t, they are pretty easy to come by. This means your white Crocs are only one grocery shop trip away from returning to their original impeccable color!
All of these methods are in fact manual washing. We don’t recommend washing your Crocs in the washing machine as the heat can damage the material and overly stretch or warp your Crocs. You can, at your own risk, wash them on a delicate cycle and using cold water. Just don’t dry them in the dryer.
Some people wonder if they can wash their Crocs in the dishwasher, but that’s again something we also don’t recommend. Use the dishwasher for its original purpose, and wash your Crocs manually. It’s not that tedious, trust me.
Method 1: The good old soap and water mixture
The first method in this article is something that most Crocs wearers would opt for, anyway. It’s also the method recommended by the Crocs brand itself.
Prepare a tub, a bucket, or a large bowl and fill it with lukewarm water. To that, add a few drops of any soap you want/have. It can be dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, liquid hand soap, or shampoo. Anything that you already have will work just fine.
Stir until everything is well combined, that is until you get a soapy mixture. Then, submerge your Crocs for a couple of minutes, after which you’ll start to gently scrub away the dirt.
You can use any brush you like – an old toothbrush, a soft bristle brush, or a shoe brush. If your white Crocs are not overly dirty, and they don’t need to be deep cleaned, a sponge or a cloth will do the job as well.
Pay close attention to the inner and outer soles of your Crocs, since that’s where the dirt usually builds up the most.
If there are any exceptionally stubborn stains, you can add a few drops of the soap you’ve been using directly to the stain, and again scrub gently to get rid of it.
Once you’re satisfied with the results, rinse your Crocs with cold water and leave them in a well-ventilated place to air dry.
Method 2: Use trusty baking soda
If you want to jazz up this abovementioned method, all you have to do is introduce some baking soda to the mixture.
After you soak your white Crocs in a soap and water mixture and scrub away all the dirt, you can sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on a clean damp cloth and scrub your shoes until they appear whiter.
Once you’re satisfied with how clean and white your Crocs are, rinse them with cold water and leave them to air dry.
Baking soda is great not only for whitening your Crocs and other white shoes but also for odor absorption. Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to sprinkle some baking soda and get rid of that nasty sweaty smell.
Method 3: Spice things up with baking soda and white vinegar
I think that everyone and their mother knows what a dynamic duo baking soda and white vinegar are. These two combined make such a powerful paste that is able to scrub away all your past mistakes, let alone make your white Crocs clean again.
To make this paste, combine two parts water with one part baking soda and one part vinegar. When everything is well stirred, use a clean cloth or sponge and apply the paste on both insides and outsides of your Crocs.
Make sure to wear protective gloves during this time, as this paste can be very irritating to your skin.
Gently scrub your Crocs for a couple of minutes, and use a smaller brush (like a pipe cleaner) to reach those small holes and other crevices. Once you’re done with scrubbing, leave the paste to dry for around 10 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse everything with cold water.
All that’s left to do now is to leave your Crocs to air dry after which they’ll be ready to be worn to town!
Method 4: What about bleach?
Sometimes, unfortunately, cleaning your Crocs with soap and water or baking soda and vinegar simply isn’t enough to bring back their original sparkling white color. So, what’s the thing we know for sure will whiten everything instantly? Well, bleach of course!
Here’s what you’ll have to do. Fill your bucket with clear lukewarm water and add around 2 to 3 drops of bleach. Stir everything well and submerge your white Crocs, weighing them down with something, so they don’t float.
Make sure the object you’re using to weigh your Crocs down isn’t too heavy, so it doesn’t overly squish your Crocs. You can use a plate or any type of dish for this.
Let your Crocs soak in this mixture for approximately 2 to 3 hours, which is enough time for bleach to do its job and lift off any stains and get rid of discoloration.
After that, examine your Crocs and determine whether any part needs to be additionally scrubbed. And once you’re satisfied with everything, rinse your Crocs with cold water, making sure you remove all bleach residue, and leave them to (you’ve guessed it) air dry.
Note: if you opt for this method, make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area, so you don’t ingest the smell of bleach which can be very harmful to your health.
Method 5: The Magic Eraser will also do the trick
If you know what a Magic Eraser is, then you’re surely familiar with the power this sponge holds. It is made out of melamine foam and requires only some water to be activated. Kind of like our favorite childhood mermaids from the show “H20: Just Add Water.”
So, if you decide to clean your white Crocs with The Magic Eraser, all you’ll have to do is soak it in some water and scrub all the stains away. Later, as you all know by now, just rinse your Crocs in cold water and let them dry. And that’s it!
How to clean white Crocs with fur lining?
If you happen to have white Crocs with fur lining, and you’re afraid that they’ll be harder to clean – fear not! Their fur lining is removable, which means that cleaning these bad boys is easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Once the fur lining is removed, you’ll probably be tempted to put it in the washing machine and be done with it. We strongly recommend you don’t do that, as the heat can stretch the lining, as well.
Instead, clean it by hand. And here’s how:
- soak it in warm soapy water for a couple of minutes, and scrub away any stains
- if the lining has an unpleasant smell, you can first soak it in a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and water
- you can use bleach if there are any stubborn stains or discolorations
- once you’re done – don’t forget to rinse it with cold water and leave it to air dry
- once the fur is dry, you can fluff it up with an old comb or brush to make it look brand new.
If you just want to refresh your fur lining without deep cleaning it, all you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda inside your Crocs, leave it overnight, and vacuum or shake off the baking soda residue in the morning. And you’re done!
