If you ever wondered how yellowing white clothes happen, well this is the explanation. When there is anything that resembles rain in your life, your white shoes will get yellowed very quickly! As a basic rule of thumb, if it gets wet on board (or anywhere else), then white shoes will turn yellow pretty fast. You see, when the water evaporates from the shoe, it leaves behind an organic residue called waxy amine or SNA which forms what we call “yellow stains”. The process by which this happens is fairly simple. When moisture gets close to the surface of the material (like inside your shoe), it bonds with hold-in natural compounds known as waxy amines to form hydroxyl groups and produce gummy yellow stains. This process can be accelerated by humidity as well as heat so make sure you have a dry climate when choosing indoor footwear!
How To Remove Yellow Stains From White Shoes?
1. Rubbing alcohol
The first solution to remove yellow stains from white shoes is rubbing alcohol. It works because it breaks down the organic compounds that make up the yellowing. The problem with this method is that rubbing alcohol can leave a residue behind on the fabric which can be very difficult to remove. It also doesn’t work on all fabrics, so you may want to test it out first before using it on your favorite pair of shoes!
2. Toothpaste
The second solution for removing yellow stains from white shoes is toothpaste. This works because toothpaste has an abrasive agent known as hydrated silica which breaks down organic compounds and removes the yellowing effect. However, this method is not good for all fabrics and will leave a residue behind which you should clean off immediately!
3. Baking soda & hydrogen peroxide
The third solution for removing yellow stains from white shoes is baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (or bleach). This works because baking soda has an alkaline effect which breaks down organic compounds and removes the yellowing effect of waxy amines by neutralizing them. Hydrogen peroxide (or bleach) does this by oxidizing or changing the structure of organic compounds, including waxy amines, making them less sticky for further cleaning with soap and water!
4. Vinegar
The fourth solution for removing yellow stains from white shoes is vinegar. This works because vinegar has a mild acid effect which breaks down organic compounds and removes the yellowing effect by neutralizing them. However, you should be very careful with this method as it may stain your clothing and fabric materials if not used properly.
5. Soap and water
The fifth solution for removing yellow stains from white shoes is soap and water (or dishwashing detergent). This works because soap has an alkaline effect which breaks down organic compounds and removes the yellowing effect of waxy amines by neutralizing them. Soap also acts as a detergent that helps to clean the stains off of shoe uppers by breaking down the organic compounds that make up the yellowing effect. By using soap, you can clean your shoes without any risk of staining fabrics or other materials!
What Can Cause Yellowing White Shoes?
Worn-out white shoes
If your shoes are showing signs of wear and tear, there is a possibility that they may be affected by yellowing. Shoes that are worn out and damaged will not look as good as new ones and will take longer to get rid of yellowing.
Food or drink stains on white shoes
Food or drink stains can leave a residue behind on the fabric which can be very difficult to remove. It also doesn’t work on all fabrics, so you may want to test it out first before using it on your favorite pair of shoes!
Yellowing from heat
If you have exposed your leather shoe uppers too much to direct sunlight, the yellowing effect may have been caused by this overexposure to the sun’s rays! This happens because direct sunlight causes a reaction in leather which changes its color into a darker shade of brown or black (called ‘bloom’). This can make your white shoes look older than they really are, making them more susceptible to yellowing! A quick way to fix this is by applying shoe polish over the shoe uppers which will protect them from direct sunlight!
Wetness inside the shoe
If you experience wetness inside your white shoes due to sweat or moisture from rain, this could lead to stains on the fabric surface and cause yellowing effects. Because wetness is highly acidic in nature, it could also lead to discoloration on the fabric surface.
Oil stains on white shoes
Oil stains are also a common problem that can lead to yellowing effects and discoloration on the upper surface of your shoes. The most common cause of oil stains is from using a lotion or cream which contains oil or grease in it. If you notice these on your white shoes, you may want to try rubbing them off with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel before you apply a shoe polish to the shoe uppers!
Worn-out fabric
If your white shoes do have stains on their upper surface because they have been damaged by water or sweat, then this will lead to yellowing effects in the fabric as well as discoloration. To remove the yellowing effect and restore the appearance of your shoe uppers, try removing these stains with soap and water before applying shoe polish!
The Simple Way To Remove Yellow Stains From Shoes
1. Baking soda
Baking soda is known to be a natural cleaner that can help you get rid of stubborn yellow stains on white shoes. It also contains a baking powder which acts as a scrubbing agent which helps to remove stains from surfaces. Baking soda is safe to use on leather, cloth, vinyl, and even plastic! You can mix a small amount with water and apply it using a sponge or cloth to remove stains from your white shoes!
2. Lemon juice
Lemon juice can also be used to remove yellow stains from white shoes. It is a natural bleaching agent that will work by breaking down the organic compounds that cause yellowing effects and removing them from your shoe uppers! You can mix one part lemon juice with four parts water and apply it using a damp cloth in order to remove any yellowing effects! This is another great cleaner for removing stains from clothes and other fabric surfaces!
3. White vinegar
White vinegar can also be used to remove stubborn yellow stains on white shoes. It does so by breaking down the organic compounds that cause yellowing effects and removing them from your shoe uppers! You can mix one part of white vinegar with four parts of water, apply it using a damp cloth, and remove any yellowing effects from your shoe uppers! This is another great cleaner for removing stains from clothes and other fabric surfaces!
4. Try using a white polishing cloth
You can also use a white polishing cloth to clean your white shoes. This will help you remove stains from the upper surface of your shoes by removing any yellowing effects! You can use this for cleaning other fabric surfaces as well, such as blouses or other clothes!
5. Clean with dry paper towels or tissues
You can also clean your white shoes with dry paper towels or tissues. This will help you remove stubborn stains and make your shoe uppers look clean and new again!
6. Use bleach
You can use bleach to remove yellow stains from the fabric surface of your shoes! It is a great cleaner that is safe to use on all types of fabric including clothes, blankets, and tablecloths! You can mix one part bleach with four parts water, apply it using a damp cloth, and wipe off any yellowing effects from the fabric surface of your shoes!
7. Use ammonia
Ammonia is another great cleaner that you can use to remove yellow stains from the fabric surface of your shoes! It is a natural bleaching agent that will work by breaking down the organic compounds that cause yellowing effects and removing them from your shoe uppers! You can mix one-part ammonia with four parts water, apply it using a damp cloth, and wipe off any yellowing effects from the fabric surface of your shoes!
Use baking soda
Baking soda is also another great cleaner that you can use to remove yellow stains from the fabric surface of your shoes! It is a natural bleaching agent that will work by breaking down the organic compounds that cause yellowing effects and removing them from your shoe uppers! You can mix one part baking soda with four parts water, apply it using a damp cloth, and wipe off any yellowing effects from the fabric surface of your shoes!
Conclusion
One of the most common causes of yellowing shoes is water-based stains. The water in rain and dew droplets combines with certain natural compounds in the shoe to form a water-repelling gel which causes the white of the shoe to become greasy and darken. If you own white shoes and would like to prevent them from turning yellow, then make sure you keep them clean and remove all traces of water from the shoes. In addition, you can also try to avoid wearing them in humid conditions as the water-repellent compounds in the shoes will begin to break down and produce a yellowing agent once more moisture meets the air. We hope this guide helped with fixing yellowing white shoes! If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to Contact Us. Good luck!
