“How to clean white Huaraches?” That’s a question many proud wearers of these beautiful shoes ask from time to time. Such a stunning pair of shoes has to be crystal-clear all the time. But, how on earth to achieve it?
This is not a struggle only for Nike owners. Nope!
Let’s be real! All of us, at some point in our lives, fell in love with a pair of pearly white sneakers. We thought it would be a sweet love until we discovered how easily they get dirty. “Mamma mia! How to keep them white?!”
Maintaining the whiteness of your sneakers can be exceptionally tiresome since these bad boys have a hard time staying the same color they came in. However, nothing is lost as long as there is the Internet with all the tips and tricks you’re looking for.
And luckily for you, this special article lives in InternetVille and is here to save your day.
I’m bringing you 5 effective methods to learn how to clean white huaraches. Four out of five of the methods listed below require ingredients you probably already have in your home! The fifth one is just a fancy thing you can buy if you want to.
Without further ado, let’s jump into it!
The Nike Air Huaraches: Behind the design
“Have you hugged your foot today? “ What a memorable ad for a memorable sneaker design.
The Nike Air Huaraches debuted in 1991 and were designed by an expert hand and a genius mind Tinker Hatfield. The inspiration for this hug-like sensation came from one of Hatfield’s ski trips.
He mentioned that, at the time, he visioned how a slalom ski with a neoprene bootie would be a sick idea for a shoe design. After several initial sketches, he showed the shoe to one of his colleagues, Sandy Bodecker, who proclaimed these shoes as “shoes of gods.”
The First 5,000 pairs were sold to marathon runners who quickly fell in love with this beautiful design, unique fit, and out-of-this-world comfort. Later on, even basketball players and cross-training athletes hopped on the Huarache train.
These minimalistic yet creative shoes are remarkable because of their sock-like neoprene upper. Once worn, the shoes feel as though they hug your feet. That’s where their slogan comes from!
The Air Huaraches feature foam midsoles made of a lightweight pylon, providing the wearers with a pillow-like feeling. They have a hidden air unit in the back heel area, which adds a huge amount of bounce and makes a noticeable difference between the front and back of the shoe.
The rubber outsoles are exceptionally durable and create a very stable and heavy-duty base. The shoes perform well on any type of surface – whether it be the basketball court, running tracks, or gym – and the traction is high.
When it comes to the fit, these shoes run a bit smaller, and it’s suggested to go at least half a size up. But once the size is right, the shoes feel like extensions of the feet.
How to clean white Huaraches in 5 effective methods
Cleaning your white shoes can be a real chore! They get dirty really quickly, and sometimes it seems as though you have to clean them several times per day. In my humble opinion, even that isn’t enough.
Luckily for all of us white sneaker wearers, these kinds of shoes can be cleaned just as easily.
Before we begin with our 5 methods, it’s important to do some prep.
Prior to any deep cleaning, you’ll have to wipe any dirt and debris away. The methods you’re about to see require the sneakers to be washed in water or cleaned with a damp cloth.
If your Nike Huaraches have any dirt from when you were walking outside, when combined with water, it’ll only result in unwanted mud. Then you’ll have two things to clean – your sneakers and your bathroom!
Also, you should prepare by getting some useful supplies, like a soft bristle brush, gloves, a plastic bucket, and a damp cloth. These will make the cleaning much easier. Finally, remove the laces as you’ll clean those separately.
Without further ado, let’s see what are some DIY cleaning ideas that will make the Beauty out of your Nike Air Huaraches Beast!
Method 1: Bleach, baby!
Bleach is the most common whitening agent in many cleaning processes. It is crucial if you wish to know how to clean white Huaraches.
A quick disclaimer: Before using bleach, you’ll have to ensure several things. First, make sure you are wearing proper gloves and a mask. Bleach is a very harsh chemical, and it can cause some serious skin irritations.
Also, it is extremely corrosive and can react negatively with many things in your house. The deadliest combination is bleach and ammonia. Once combined, they create chlorine gas that can cause damage to your lungs and respiratory system.
It’s best to make sure the room where you’re going to use the bleach is well-ventilated and that there are no children or animals around.
So, back to the first cleaning method. In a large plastic bucket combine bleach and water in a 1:4 ratio – 1 tablespoon of bleach for every 4 cups of water. You should have enough water to soak your shoes.
When you have the right amount of bleach-water mix, submerge your Huaraches for 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t leave them in there for more than recommended. And make sure they are soaked upside down.
When the time is up, remove your shoes and let them air dry, preferably in the sun. And that’s all! Your old Nike Huaraches will be as good as new!
Method 2: Use laundry detergent
For this method, you’ll need your plastic bucked, laundry detergent, and a soft bristle brush.
Fill the large plastic bucket with enough warm water to soak up your sneakers. Add just enough detergent to make foam. You’ll know you’ve added enough when the water-laundry mixture starts resembling a bubble bath.
Put your Huaraches in the foamy water for a minute or two. Then start scrubbing them one at a time with a soft bristle brush. Apply more pressure on the areas that need it the most.
After a couple of minutes, let your sneakers dry outside, again, preferably in the sun.
And that’s another way how to clean white Huaraches!
Method 3: Baking soda and vinegar concoction
I don’t know about you, but when I hear baking soda and vinegar, I immediately think about high school chemistry experiments and all those volcanoes we had to make. This third method won’t result in any explosive volcanoes, but it’ll be fun and do its job, nevertheless.
To make this effective cleaning concoction, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water and a few drops of vinegar. Stir these three ingredients until you get a gooey paste.
Once all is ready, coat your sneakers evenly with the paste. You can also use a soft bristle brush or cloth to scrub your Huaraches in order to coat them even more evenly.
After some hefty scrubbing action, leave your Huaraches for several hours, preferably overnight, so the paste can completely harden.
Once hardened, remove the paste by hitting the shoes against any hard surface or against one another. And then, remove what’s left with a damp cloth.
And voila! Your Nike Huaraches will be as white as snow!
Method 4: Use toothpaste for bright white … Huaraches
I guess you never expected the answer to your question, “How to clean white Huaraches?” would be, “With toothpaste, of course!”
But yes, it’s true! For this method, make sure the toothpaste you’re going to use is non-gel and all-white toothpaste. We want no colorful swirls when we squeeze the toothpaste, okay?
Squeeze the white toothpaste on an old toothbrush or our trusty soft bristle brush and gently brush in a circular motion over the filthy spots of your sneaker. Just like you would brush your teeth!
When you’re done with brushing, leave the toothpaste on your Huaraches for a couple of minutes and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Make sure there’s no toothpaste residue, though.
Bear in mind that you might have to repeat this process, depending on how dirty your Huaraches are. You’ll probably have to clean them two or three times more if they are too filthy.
But, the effort won’t be in vain! Soon, your Huaraches will be as bright as the brightest smile!
Method 5: Use an actual sneaker cleaner
One of the ways to clean your white Huaraches is to use a professional sneaker cleaner. You can find them in any of your local footwear stores, and they are also available online.
Unlike those home ingredients we’ve mentioned above, professional sneaker cleaners are purposely designed for – well, cleaning sneakers. These formulas are extremely easy to use since they usually come in spray bottles.
To clean white Huaraches, you simply have to spray your shoes several times and gently brush them with either a soft bristle brush or an old toothbrush.
After you’re done with brushing, remove the cleaning solution with a damp cloth. You can even consider using a microfiber towel if you want to be extra fancy.
And there you go! Your white Huaraches will be clean in a matter of seconds!
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions!
Taking care of your shoes can be a very tedious and time-consuming job. But in my opinion, it’s highly admirable! Only recently, I’ve started to look after my footwear and when I look at my old high school pictures, I can say I’m pretty embarrassed by the condition my shoes were in.
But, it’s never too late to learn and work on yourself and the betterment of every segment of your life. Whether it be reading more, learning to cook, or starting to take care of your shoes – the effort is what counts!
When you pay attention to how your footwear looks, the rest of your outfit gets elevated. It’s true! Especially when it comes to white sneakers. Many people love those since they are highly versatile and can be combined with everything, from joggers to cool shirt dresses.
And Nike Air Huaraches are one of those cool pairs of shoes that can go with everything!
Apart from wondering how to clean white Huaraches, many sneaker aficionados tend to have other sneaker-related concerns. Myself included.
Thankfully, some of those questions are answered below. Make sure you take a look and let me know if I forgot to address any of the common Huaraches concerns.
Why did my white Nike Air Huaraches turn yellow?
It’s quite common for your Nike Air Huaraches to turn yellow. And any other white shoe, for that matter.
The yellowing is closely related to the effects of oxidation, which refers to excessive air exposure. Additionally, the discoloration can occur due to frequent wearing.
The more you wear your Nike Huaraches, the more they’ll come in contact with dust, dirt, mud, sweat, and others. If you frequently fake tan, be sure that the insides of your white Huaraches will suffer the consequences.
This is completely normal because you have to wear the shoes you buy. It’s not like you’re going to buy them, so they could rest in your closet. Just make sure you clean them often. And you’ll be good to go.
How can I stop my Nike Air Huaraches from creasing?
Like most other shoes, Nike Huaraches are prone to creasing. This significantly affects their appearance and, more importantly, causes them to become less comfortable over time.
To prevent creasing from happening, you can consider using foam crease protectors, which will mold themselves to your shoes. If you care about their appearance and maintenance of their comfort (which I’m sure you do), you can consider getting these crease protectors.
They are usually inexpensive, so it’ll be a small investment to make.
Can I wash my Nike Air Huaraches in the washing machine?
Right off the bat, the answer is, “No!”
I strongly advise against washing your Huaraches, or any type of sneakers really, in the washing machine since it can cause some serious damage to your shoes. Washing in the washing machine can only speed up the wear and tear process and make your sneakers look old and over-worn.
However, you can wash your shoelaces in the washing machine without a single worry. I usually put mine in the pockets of my jeans or in those small mesh laundry bags. It saves me so much time and, honestly, cleans the laces better than I ever would by hand.
Is it possible to remove odor from my Nike Air Huaraches?
No matter how breathable your shoes are, they will develop an odor over time. How lovely! But it can be easily removed, or at least put under control.
One of the best ways to fight the nasty odor is to let your Huaraches airdry. You’ll achieve the best results if you let it out in the sun.
Another thing you can do is to use our good old baking soda. Just put some baking soda inside of your shoes, let it “marinate” for a few hours, and then remove it.
Some people also suggest using tea bags. Weird, I know! Tea bags are said to be highly absorbent and when left inside the shoe they attract moisture out of the shoe fabric. The bacteria are drawn to the moisture, and that causes the bad smell to glue itself to the tea bag.
Just take a tea bag or two and leave it in your shoes for 24 hours. And you’ll get rid of the stinky odor just like that!
