I’m determined to keep my brand new Stan Smiths white, unlike my other 2 pairs of white trainers, which are now grey.
Reading up on this online I see that people are fanatical about keeping their trainers white. Like mental about it. You have to put in the effort, I realise – like being thin or being organised or having a clean car. It doesn’t just magically happen.
I have whittled down for you the 3-point plan for lazy girls on how to keep your white trainers white with the minimum effort.
1 Don’t buy trainers with laces. They are dirt magnets, the first thing to go grey. Get a pair with velcro straps instead.
2 Use this dirt repeller, Crep Protect, all over your shoes when you first get them. Formulated by some insane MC in East London who has 400 pairs of white trainers. What a douche!
Crep Protect, £10 from Amazon
3 Keep a pack of these Sneaky Wipes in your hallway and give your trainers a clean every now and again with them. They’re not just wet wipes, they have added stuff to help clean and also protect your shoes. The faster you get that splash of tea or streak of mud off, the easier it will be.
Sneaky Wipes, £5.99, Amazon
One last point: never clean your trainers with hot water as it will warp them.
This chap one of the fanatics you were perhaps referring to? http://www.mrporter.com/journal/the-tutorial/how-to-keep-your-sneakers-clean/418
no this guy is someone else. there must be more than one…
Do not, under any circumstances, own a dog – it will immediately stand lovingly on your new shiny trainers with large, wet, indelibly muddy paws. This will bear no relation to how dry the weather has been recently.
I don’t think Sneaky Wipes will save them.
I am very tempted to have a go with the CrepProtect and the Supergas I have been eyeing forlornly but resisting (see above) …
According to the Gods of Pinterest, nail varnish remover works a treat to get them back to eye-hurty levels of bright whiteness…I haven’t tried it though so can’t be sure!
no harm in trying though *trots off downstairs*
That’s actually really helpful. My trainers always look like crap, and I learned the hard way that washing machines aren’t the answer.
I tied my white Supergas (which had gone dun coloured) inside a pillow case and washed them on their own on a cold wash with a scoop of Vanish stain remover. They came up brilliant white. I was amazed! I think even the MC would have been impressed, although he probably wouldn’t have let them get so discoloured in the first place.
oh wow well done. I did mine in the washing machine but on a normal 40C wash and they just fell to bits and didn’t even come out that white 🙁
I feel totally conned by the whole white trainer thing. I bought a pair back in October as all the mags and blogs had them as the essential trend. I have had cold feet all winter and keeping the damn things clean has been a nightmare. They look manky most of the time. I am Not falling for this kind of trendiness again.
Oh dear. Yes it’s one of those things where mags/blogs are at odds with real life. You weren’t supposed to wear them all winter and be cold – you were supposed to crack them out this spring/summer and also, sorry, but keep them for best. really white white trainers are a bit like white jeans – a thing you protect like a newborn and get out every now and again to show that your life is so fucking sorted that you can keep your box fresh trainers box fresh. That’s the meaning of those white trainers – not for every day, basically. definitely not for winter. if that sounds insane, it probably is – a pathetic social indicator that is kind of disgusting really. you’re right to sidestep the whole issue – but I don’t want you to think that you were somehow getting it wrong.
Yeah you’re right. The problem is I have moved to a South London suburb. ( Kent really). There are no decent shops and the majority of people are quite ahem old or chavvy. There are no hipsters here. I used to work in a in Shoreditch – my colleagues were so stylish. I really miss it. I have totally lost my style compass and am probably now trying too hard to find it again !
It’s your duty to bring it …
Ok I’ll carry on trying. I’ll try not to let the white trainer thing get me down… but how can I have been so stupid? It’s so obvious to me now that they weren’t meant to be worn for every day. Will ask for Spike
advice in future.