Fashion hacks tried and tested: removing stains from white shoes
10.2.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
Is there an easy way to wipe discoloured white shoes clean? This magic sponge supposedly does the job.
I love white boots. Sadly, though, my dalliances with them tend to be more whirlwind romances than long-term relationships. As you can imagine, I get through a lot of them. The reason we always go our separate ways? Dark streaks that regular cleaning methods just can’t get shot of. Incidentally, it’s not because they’re flecks of dirt. They’re actually stubborn scuff marks, which can be caused, say, by friction from the sole of the other shoe. However, while I was surfing the web recently, I came across a tip on how to get the best of these aesthetic menaces.
What do you need?
The magic sponge, the stain eraser, the eraser sponge – the alleged solution bears a number of names. All of them refer to melamine resin cleaning sponges, which remove stains from a variety of surfaces without needing to use any cleaning products. You can get them in pretty much any supermarket.
Cleaning utensils
Quantity discount
CHF3.30 per piece for 4 units
Meister Proper Express Schmutzradierer
2 pcs.
How do you use it?
Simply wet the sponge and use it to scrub the affected areas clean. As you’re doing so, the melamine resin essentially acts as a very soft sheet of sandpaper. This means you should be careful; test it on a less visible spot first to see how the surface of the shoe reacts to the abrasive foam. The sponge could leave patent shoes in particular looking visibly worn.
Does it work?
I tested the magic sponge on smooth, faux leather shoes. Obviously, I wasn’t able to erase the discoloured spots as easily as pencil marks on paper. Nevertheless, I got rid of the most stubborn stains by giving them a good scrub. The affected areas may not be back to their original shiny white, but the residual stains are barely visible if you’re not looking too closely. By the way, the method is also supposed to be suitable for genuine leather. That being said, I’d recommend treating your shoes with a leather care product afterwards.
My verdict
I’m giving this hack 4.5 stars. It’s extremely helpful and uncomplicated, and I’m asking myself why I didn’t think of using it sooner. I’ve taken off half a point because the stubborn stains require a pretty intense scrubbing, putting the material at risk of slight damage. Still, I’d say roughened areas look better than dark marks. And besides, with the right care, worn-looking spots can be concealed.
Nifty trick or unnecessary nonsense? In the series «Testing Fashion Hacks», I regularly try out hacks from the world of fashion.
Header image: Viktoria Slowikowska via Pexels
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
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