• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

How To Clean Stuff.net

  • Automotive
  • Fabrics
  • Floors
  • House
  • Kitchen & Bath
  • Misc
  • Outdoors
  • People & Pets
  • Stains
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
Home » Cleaning Guides » Clothing & Fabrics » Shoes, Accessories and Other Stuff » How to Clean White Canvas Vans

How to Clean White Canvas Vans

whitecanvasvans

Table of Contents:
  1. You Will Need
  2. Steps to Clean the Shoes
  3. Additional Tips and Advice

Alescia asked: How do I clean white, canvas vans? I got them a little dirty. I know putting them in the washer will turn them yellow. I need a guaranteed answer on how to make them all white again.

Cleaning white, canvas Vans or any other canvas shoes can be a real challenge. The yellowing that you describe in the washing machine can be caused from bleach being used or the glue that holds the base to the shoe, spreading onto the canvas. Follow these guidelines from the Vans website for proper care and cleaning.

You Will Need:

  • Woolite or mild detergent
  • Soft brush
  • Water
  • Towels
  • Sink or bucket

Steps to Clean the Shoes:

  1. Begin by filling the sink or bucket with warm water.
  2. Add a small amount of mild detergent (it’s important not to use harsh detergents) to the water and agitate until suds begin to form.
  3. Lay out a thick towel.
  4. Holding the shoe over the water (do not submerge it), dip the brush into the soapy water and scrub the surfaces of the shoe.
  5. Repeat until all of the dirt has been scrubbed away.
  6. Rinse with clean water.
  7. When the shoes are cleaned and rinsed, place them on top of the towel. Wrap the sides of the towel over the shoe and gently press out the excess water.
  8. Open the shoes up completely and allow them to air dry.
  9. Avoid wearing or storing the shoes while still wet or damp. This can lead to mold and mildew growth which is even more difficult to remove.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • Canvas shoes can usually be washed on the gentle cycle in the washing machine. However, if the shoes are made from synthetic materials, it is best to hand wash them.
  • There are special cleaning products available to clean suede Vans. These can be found at shoe stores or some drug stores.
  • For severely dirty shoes, it may be necessary to add a small amount of bleach to the water. Using a dye-free bleach will help to avoid the yellow stains that bleach can sometimes create.

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Shoes, Accessories and Other Stuff Tagged With: canvas, shoes

Was This Guide Helpful?

+32
-19
Rating: +13. From 51 votes.
Please wait...
  • If you would like a response from us, please leave your question in the comment area at the bottom of this page instead of here.

Reader Interactions

Related Posts

How to Remove Stains from Canvas Shoes
How to Clean Fleece Lined Non-Washable Slippers
How to Clean Crocs
How to Remove Tar/Asphalt from Shoes

Comments

  1. Chris says

    December 4, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    My white shoes have water stains; how can I get them off?

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      December 6, 2013 at 2:42 am

      The stains could be caused by the minerals in the water that you used. Try washing the shoes again, but this time use distilled water.

      Reply
  2. Angela says

    January 4, 2011 at 2:13 am

    I put my white canvas vans in the washer all the time when they’re dirty and they don’t turn yellow. I spray them with shout or Spray ‘n Wash and they come out looking brand new!

    Reply
  3. Juana says

    May 5, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    First, wash your Vans by washing machine, using a toothbrush, soaking, etc…

    The trick to keep your Vans white after washing: while still wet, use cornstarch. The cornstarch will stick to the shoe. Make sure to get every spot, and put them it the sun to dry. After the shoe is dry, scrape off dry cornstarch with a dry brush.

    Reply
  4. Faizan says

    May 22, 2015 at 12:34 am

    Hey, Please help me to removed the yellowish spot from white shoes after I washed them…what shall I do now?

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      May 25, 2015 at 2:26 am

      Faizan,
      This is the article that you need: How to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains from Shoes.

      Reply
  5. Shane says

    August 11, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    Scrub the base of the shoes with Cif cleaner and the rest with a clean wet sponge or brush, and put them in the washer and they will look brand new.

    Reply
  6. Nathalie says

    February 8, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    Does this work? I don’t want to risk it.

    Reply
  7. Sam says

    December 27, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    I stained my white Vans with mud and I tried to put them in the washer, but it left yellow stains. How do I get this out?

    Reply
    • Melanie says

      January 5, 2015 at 9:22 am

      Sam,
      The stain removal method depends on the cause of the stain. Two of the most common causes of yellow stains on washed Vans are that either the shoes were washed with bleach (which has a yellow dye in it) or that the glue in the shoes seeped out from along the seams and left stains. Try to determine the cause, then treat the stains accordingly.
      If you think the stains are from bleach, use this article: How to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains from Shoes.
      If you think the stains are from the glue, try the method in this article: How to Clean Yellowing From Fabric Shoes.

      Reply
  8. Julie says

    May 21, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    I put my shoes in the washer and for some reason, instead of getting all the way clean, they have lines in the dent of grey, and nothing gets it out. Should I bleach it?? Should I corn starch it?? Should I baking soda it?? Should I buy new shoes?? lol

    Reply
  9. Adrian says

    June 27, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    How do you take off stains?

    Check it out! We’ve answered your question! Yay!

    Reply
  10. Kelly says

    March 7, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    I got Clorox bleach on my shoes and they turned yellow! What do I do?

    Reply
  11. VK says

    January 20, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    Use detergent with water to clean the shoe, then take some dish soap with warm water and clean the soles.
    It works great -I just did it myself.

    Reply
  12. S says

    December 9, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    So, I washed them and now the front dips into the sole. What do I do?

    Reply
  13. Efrain says

    August 8, 2012 at 1:19 am

    Do the steps above actually work? I don’t want to take a risk that fails. Any more suggestions that work perfectly?

    Reply
  14. Priscilla says

    May 6, 2012 at 12:39 am

    Well I just finished cleaning my shoes with dish soap and water. I microwaved the water for one minute, then I put the soap in. There will be some water stains, but they’ll go away when the shoes are dry. Never put your shoes in the sun to dry; I can not stress that enough!

    Reply
  15. Katie says

    February 25, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    So if I spray them with Shout spray and put them in the washer, they will not turn yellow, right?

    Reply
  16. Kris says

    August 13, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    I clean my Vans in the washer now and I use Arm & Hammer soap. I used to brush it with warm water and soap before, but the sole turned yellow. When I started washing it in the washer, the yellow part went away. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Taylor says

    January 11, 2010 at 12:48 am

    I just bought white Vans and unsurprisingly, they got dirty the next day. I bought cleaner for them at the Vans store. I used the cleaner as it instructed and as it was drying, a yellow ring formed around where I sprayed the product. It didn’t even take out the stain. I then took a clean wash cloth and put a little water on it and scrubbed on the yellow parts and the stain. The next morning, I looked at them and the yellow was gone and the stain was barely visible. They aren’t as white as before, but they are pretty close.

    Reply
  18. Francisco says

    September 23, 2009 at 12:04 am

    Do not put ’em into the washing machine; they will turn yellow!!!!

    Reply
  19. Lexi says

    June 8, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    I did everything as said and my Vans turned yellow. DO NOT DO THIS!

    Reply
  20. Zaris says

    September 14, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Can I put stain remover on my Vans?

    Reply
  21. Tommy says

    July 15, 2012 at 2:10 am

    So what is the easiest way to clean my shoes? Just wash them in the washer and then let them dry?

    Reply
  22. Pauly D. says

    January 4, 2011 at 5:31 pm

    Get a bucket and fill it with 25% Clorox and 75% water.

    Dip the shoes in the bucket and scrub really well. Leave them in there overnight. Take them out the next morning and leave them in the sun all day the next day.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Featured Guides

Fresh Strawberries

How to Wash Strawberries

How to Properly Clean and Protect Hands from Coronavirus

How to Clean Hair and Dust from a Bathroom Floor

How to Clean Your Toothbrush

Related Posts

How to Remove Stains from Canvas Shoes
How to Clean Fleece Lined Non-Washable Slippers
How to Clean Crocs
How to Remove Tar/Asphalt from Shoes

Footer

Cleaning Index

  • Cleaning Blog
  • Automotive
  • Clothing & Fabrics
  • Floor & Carpet
  • House
  • Kitchen & Bath
  • Outdoors
  • People & Pets
  • Things You Own

Site Search

About Us

  • About Us
  • Guest Post Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map

© Copyright 2022 HowToCleanStuff.net · All Rights Reserved ·