Your Ultimate Guide To Cleaning White Leather Shoes

White sneakers are a fashion go-to regardless of one's style. After all, nothing is quite as chic as pairing a cute casual look with some white shoes, whether it's sneakers or heels. Despite the variations the white leather sneaker has gone through, it remains a key wardrobe essential across the board. You can dress them down like supermodel Gigi Hadid, who's regularly captured wearing the classic kicks. Or take a cue from Tracee Ellis Ross, who's been seen dressing them up for a chic but comfy night out (via Harper's Bazaar).

The problem is that, even though they're very cute, they're also very difficult to keep clean. Especially when it comes to leather, ensuring that your sneakers stay white, crisp, and clean can be challenging and taxing.

In fact, that might be the reason why you might be deterred from purchasing them. If you consider yourself someone prone to getting things dirty or you simply are looking for a way to extend the life of your favorite white leather shoes, there are some ways to clean them up and prevent them from even getting dirty in the first place. Thankfully, either way, the task isn't anything that will take more than a few minutes.

One of the best ways to avoid cleaning white leather shoes is actually by protecting your white leather shoes. According to Who What Wear, one of the most simple ways is using a waterproof spray that will help keep dirt from staying off of your shoes. You can simply spray the products all around the shoe prior to wearing, let them air out and dry, and you are all set to go. These sprays are a foolproof method as leather doesn't absorb water as much as other fabrics, meaning they won't get ruined by any of these sprays. In case it is too late to take this measure, don't fret, as cleaning them isn't as daunting as it seems.

According to Real Simple, all you need to do is grab a few materials, clean and let dry and you are set. Begin by wetting a paper towel, squeezing out any extra water, and swiping it over your shoe until the majority of the dirt is gone. This is simply to get any dirt that has yet to settle into the leather. If you have a stain or dirt that is more settled, gather a small towel and lather it up with a gentle soap and water. Really dig into the dirt, and then use the same rag get rid of any excess soap that may stay on your shoe.

Afterward, you just repeat the previous step or let them dry. With this in mind, your white shoes will stay white forever.

Although you can clean your shoes often or spray a protector spray on the outside, there is still the inside of the shoe that you need to take care of. Like the outside, the best way to keep your white leather shoes clean on the inside is to prevent a dirty mess from happening. Proper care of your shoes will help lengthen the time between washes, too.

In fact, stylist Elizabeth Cabral tells Reebok that one excellent action to take is having multiple white leather shoes in your closet to prevent you from constantly overusing one pair. "I think a roster of three white sneakers is a good start," Cabral explains. You also want to rotate out your shoes to prevent the inside from getting too moist, which can end up ruining the inside of the shoe with worn-out insoles and unwanted smells.

Dr. Scholl's recommends taking steps to make sure the inside is also taken care of to avoid it from getting stinky and dirty. If your insoles are easily removable and the brand of your shoes suggests it, you can simply throw your insoles into a mesh laundry bag and put them into the wash. Afterward, let them air dry but do not put them in the dryer. You can also handwash them with water and mild detergent and leave them to air dry in the sun.

When dealing with any type of leather product, you want to take extra steps in protecting the material because it's easy to get dirty. It's easy to mess up leather because it is a porous material that absorbs dirt and other factors quickly.

Leatherskill recommends always conditioning your leather shoes to act as a barrier between your shoe and dirt. A leather conditioner is a specific product that goes onto leather and fills in the porous material so that the dirt cannot become trapped inside the material and is easier to wipe off. These products also help add shine and help hydrate cracked leather.

According to HGTV, you want to start the process of conditioning leather after you've already cleaned them. Since it acts as a sealant, you'll want your shoes to be clean before you apply it. After cleaning them, you can apply the leather conditioner that you've purchased or make your own out of vinegar and linseed oil. Make sure to let the conditioner sit on the shoe for a few minutes to ensure that it absorbs into the material before cleaning it with a soft cloth. HGTV recommends letting the shoe air dry away from the sun or a heater to ensure the leather doesn't flake or crack.

Although cleaning white leather sneakers is straightforward, there are some things you want to avoid while cleaning your shoes. As simple as the process might seem, there are ways you can wind up hurting your sneakers.

Sneaker LAB's Johnny Fajardo tells Zappos that the first thing you want to avoid doing is simply throwing them into the corner of your closet. Fajardo mentions, "You may not notice it, but there's microscopic dust and dirt floating around everywhere, especially in enclosed spaces like closets." Because of all of the microbes that exist in enclosed spaces, they can end up getting ruined by just sitting in the corner of your closet.

Legion Footwear also states that you should avoid using any type of ammonia or bleach products on leather as they can strip the leather from the natural color in a way that can't be repaired. Furthermore, you want to avoid putting too much water onto leather as it can equally stain the leather.

While you are off cleaning your white leather shoes, you might want to take a look to see if any other shoes need a cleaning. For white canvas shoes, Rockin' Green suggests simply removing the laces from the shoes, throwing both the shoes and laces into a mesh laundry bag, and putting them into the wash. Keep the wash on cold and add in mild detergent with optional oxygen bleach for extra brightness. Then, simply air dry your canvas shoes; you never want to put them into the dryer.

When cleaning suede shoes, you will have to take extra manual steps to keep them clean. According to Nike, you want to avoid any contact between suede and water because the material can easily absorb water and cause stains. Instead, start by dry brushing your shoes with a rubber eraser. For any stains that are harder to get out, you can use a bit of rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, or a suede cleaning solution. Suede is much closer to leather than canvas, so handle them with care as you would your leather shoes.

Now, with these tips in mind, you can keep your white leather shoes clean and prevent them from becoming dirty in the future.