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Home / Cleaning Guides / Clothing & Fabrics / Shoes, Accessories and Other Stuff / How to Remove Yellowing from Clear “Icy” Sneaker Soles

How to Remove Yellowing from Clear “Icy” Sneaker Soles

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

Daniel asked: How can I prevent or clean clear, rubber sneaker soles on my shoes? The clear rubber soles are turning yellow.

Because the yellowing is part of a natural oxidation process that results from exposure to air, you can’t totally prevent it from happening. To make matters worse, once clear shoe soles yellow, making them look good again is a precise process with plenty of room for error. If you’re willing to give it a shot, here’s what you need to do. (If you’d rather just slow down the yellowing process, skip down to additional tips and advice for a sure-fire way to keep them looking good for longer.)

You Will Need:

  • Sea Glow Cleanser and Conditioner
  • Water
  • Paper towels
  • Water
  • 3M or similar scrubbing pad

Steps to Remove the Yellowing:

  1. Use a paper towel to apply Sea Glow to the areas to be treated. Do NOT allow Sea Glow to come in contact with glued seams. It will dissolve the glue and cause the soles to fall apart. Also, avoid getting glue on any shiny plastic or leather parts of the shoe. If any of the Sea Glow contacts an unwanted area, immediately wipe it away with a damp paper towel.
  2. Once you’ve applied the Sea Glow, use the scrubbing pad to work it into the sole. This will allow the product to reach inside of the soles to remove more of the yellowing.
  3. Reapply the Sea Glow after the scrubbing. The same warnings apply about getting it on other areas of the shoes. Work carefully. The second application helps to take care of the oxidation you brought to the surface.
  4. Let the shoes sit in bright sunlight with the soles exposed. The light allows a deeper penetration of the Sea Glow so it can combat the yellowing. Allow at least an hour in the sun.
  5. Remove the Sea Glow by wiping with a wet paper towel. Dry with a dry paper towel.
  6. If any Sea Glow remains, reactivate it with more from the bottle and immediately wipe clean with a wet paper towel, followed with a dry one.
  7. Consider sealing the soles to slow down the yellowing process. See below for a simple, effective method.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • Seal your soles to protect against further yellowing by coating them with clear nail polish. Repeat as it wears off.
  • To preserve the condition of your shoes, avoid walking through grass, dirt, rock, water, or snow.    Water is particularly damaging and should be avoided completely.
  • Some have found sealing the shoes in an air tight bag when not being worn helps to slow down the oxidation process. This has not been proven, but is an easy precaution to take. Be sure to allow time for shoes to dry out after wearing or mold and mildew in the inserts may become an issue.

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About the Author

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Susan

I'm a stay-at-home mom who used to run a small housecleaning business. These days I consider myself more or a mad cleaning-scientist. I do most of the testing for our articles - as well as helping Mark & Melanie write them.

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Comments

  1. D'Andre says

    June 1, 2012 at 11:55 am

    How do I make Penny 1’s cranberries icy again without sea glow?

    Reply
  2. Luke says

    November 1, 2012 at 2:43 pm

    Where would you find Sea Glow? If you don’t have Sea Glow, is there another way to clean it?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoMelanie says

      February 2, 2013 at 5:07 pm

      I have not yet found Sea Glow in a store, so I would recommend ordering it online.

      For an alternative, try making your own cleaner out of a 1/2-cup hydrogen peroxide, heaping tablespoon of cornstarch and 1.5-tablespoons OxiClean. Mix the ingredients into a nearly pudding-like consistency, apply the paste to the yellowed areas of the shoe and allow the paste to dry in the sun or under a UV light. Repeat the process with a fresh batch of cleaner until the shoes are fully cleaned.

      Source: YouTube, SneakerRevival

      Reply
  3. John says

    September 2, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    If water damages it, what should I clean it with after wearing?

    Reply
  4. Deon says

    October 23, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    How do I get my pine green foamposites icy without Sea Glow or is that the best solution?

    Reply
  5. Davion says

    January 22, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    How can I get my Reverse Concord 11’s icy sole back blue?

    Reply
  6. Abel says

    March 20, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    Where can I get Sea Glow in stores?

    Reply
  7. Chase says

    November 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Does a UVB light work?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoMelanie says

      November 16, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      Chase,
      Yes, a UV light should work just fine. However, you may need to leave the shoes under the lamp for longer than you would leave them in the sunlight to get the same results.
      Source: Restore My Sneakers – SeaGlow
      Source: Restore My Sneakers – Indoor Sauce Techniques for Air Jordan 11

      Reply
  8. Will says

    June 22, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    Can you clean soles that were yellow to begin with?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoMelanie says

      June 22, 2016 at 11:58 pm

      Will,
      This will only work on icy soles. If you mean that the soles are supposed to be clear/icy, but they’ve been yellow since you got them or for a long time, then yes, this could work. If you mean that the soles are yellow soles as in dyed yellow rubber, then no, this won’t make them clear/icy.

      Reply

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