Brighten white trainers and 'rid stains' with free natural method – no scrubbing

By Zahna Eklund, Social News Reporter

You can restore white shoes with just one natural item (stock photo) (Image: Getty)

Revitalise your white trainers with this easy and free cleaning hack.

If you own a pair of white trainers or shoes, you'll know how difficult they can be to keep clean. They might look stylish, but they seem to be a magnet for stains - especially when you accidentally drop food on them.

While all shoes can get dirty from regular wear and tear outside, white shoes suffer from problems other colours don't face. We all know that tomato sauces and some juice drinks can stain clothes easily, and the same goes for dropping these things on your bright white trainers.

But if your white shoes are looking a little worse for wear, then worry not - as there's actually a very simple hack you can try out that should remove stains from your shoes in no time.

What's more, the trick won't cost you a single penny, and it's completely natural, too.

The cleaning trick was shared on Reddit after one user said they had accidentally dropped some butter chicken on their white shoes, and the turmeric from the dish had left some yellow staining on the rubber soles.

They said: "Help! I stained my shoe with butter chicken. I've tried everything. Bleach with baking soda seemed to help a little. Does anyone know what else I could use?"

Commenters were quick to offer various tips to help the poor poster. One of the most common suggestions was actually just to leave the shoes outside in direct sunlight - as the sun will naturally bleach the stains away. Not only is this completely free to do, but it also means no scrubbing or hard work has to go into removing the stains.

One person said: "The wicker in the background suggests you live somewhere sunny. Leave the shoes in the sunshine, and the sun will bleach the stain away."

Another added: "The stain is from turmeric, a tasty spice that is also an effective yellow dye. The only way to remove it is to bleach it, either chemically with oxygen or chlorine bleach or with UV, meaning sunlight. Tumeric is not lightfast, so a few hours of bright sun should remove most of it. A UV lamp could work, too."

Other commenters recommended cheap cleaning hacks such as using oil to draw out the stain. They explained that because the sauce was oil-based, water-based products and hacks wouldn't be as effective in removing the stain.

How to clean white shoes

1. Baking soda and white vinegar method: This method works best on canvas and fabric shoes. Start by mixing baking soda and vinegar together into a paste. Use a toothbrush or soft cloth to apply the paste to the stains and scrub it gentle in circular motions. Leave it to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with a damp cloth and leaving to air dry.
2. Toothpaste method: You can also use a non-gel white toothpaste to remove stains. Similarly to the baking soda method, apply the toothpaste to the stains and scrub with a toothbrush before rinsing with a damp cloth.
3. Magic Eraser: You can purchase a Magic Eraser to scrub off stains or scuff marks. This is particularly effective on tough stains and rubber soles, but should be avoided on delicate materials like fabric or leather.