HOW TO CLEAN A CLASSIC LEATHER
Sneaker style has officially become more than a trend and declared itself a way of life. White sneakers, especially, paired with almost any look have become an integral piece in day-to-day styling.
“As a busy stylist, nothing can replace the freedom that comfortable shoes provides,” says renowned freelance stylist and fashion editor, Elizabeth Cabral. “A super white pair of kicks freshens up virtually any look,” she says.
While footwear can make or break an outfit, clean white kicks can be a status symbol all their own and they require upkeep.
Cabral suggests having multiple pairs of white sneakers as back ups to make sure you achieve a put-together look.
“I think a roster of three white sneakers is a good start,” she says.
So if you’re heading to the store right now to purchase a fresh new pair or you’re standing in your closet taking stock, keep in mind the responsibility that comes with owning white sneakers. It’s all in the details.
“If your clothes and shoes look well taken care of, that conveys a message that you’ve got your s**t together, and that you pay attention to detail,” she says.
One of the most crucial details when it comes to fresh white sneakers is keeping them clean.
Gone are the days where showing up to a bar in your old track sneakers is socially or fashionably acceptable. There is more effort required.
So luckily, after days of trial and error, we have finally concocted the perfect formula to get your Classic Leathers looking brand new.
Using household items, you’ll be able to get your Classics pearly white in under 30 minutes in 4 easy steps!
1. Mix It Up
In a medium sized bowl, add the following ingredients and stir:
One cup of water, 5 tablespoons baking soda, 1-2 tablespoons dish soap, and 1-2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide. You can add more or less of each ingredient depending on how dirty your shoes are!
2. Perfectly Polished
Grab your toothbrush (preferably not one you’ll need to reuse, gross), dip it in the mixture, and begin to scrub the shoe. You can skip cleaning the laces for now, we’ll get to that in step 4! Once you feel as though you’ve thoroughly cleaned the shoe, wipe it down with a damp paper towel.
3. Dirt Be Gone
This next step is one of our favorites. You’ll be amazed as the dirt disappears! Moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover and begin to clean the midsole of the shoe. Continue this step until you’ve achieved your desired level of cleanliness!
Insider tip: If you’re wearing nail polish it will probably come off during this step. So either use a glove, or avoid getting a manicure beforehand doing this!
4. Optional Magic
Use a disposable razor to gently remove the piling from the inside of the shoe. Finally, toss those laces in your next load of laundry so they’re as clean as your Classics!
Now lace those kicks up and get going!
Tweet @ReebokClassics to show us how this method worked on your sneakers!
STYLE / MARCH 2021
TREE FERRAN, GLOBAL NEWSROOM