5 minutes
Don’t throw away stained sandals. Give the comfort of this shoe a new chance, erasing the dirt with simple washing tricks.
Cleaning the sandals is necessary so that they do not get damaged. also called flip flopsthey are comfortable and fresh, but their constant use tends to stain them, cause a bad smell and wear them out.
Going beyond aesthetics, poor hygiene, in addition to heat and humidity, could cause tinea pedis. The disease shows inflammation, purulent and ulcerative blisters, peeling and thickening of the sole of the foot, according to the magazine Offarm in a Article.
Ways to clean sandals
The manufacturing material of flip flops is key when cleaning. If you apply incorrect methods you worsen their condition.
Leather sandals
Due to their elegance, leather sandals are one of the most used. However, this leather gets dirty easily and, unlike other coverings, you cannot put it in the washing machine or rinse it with plenty of water.
- When it comes to leather discoloration, mix one part of water with another part of vinegar. Go directly to the point you want to clean and giving small touches, without soaking, apply the preparation.
- If the stain is mud or oil, the liquid bath soaps and the one that is dishwasher work perfect. Do not use bars, because their pH dries out the leather. Remove the substance with a slightly damp cloth.
- Large stains and scratches are fixed with leather conditioner, a common product for sale in shoe stores and supermarkets. Rub the shoe gently until foam is created. Then clean with a damp cloth.
- In the case of solids stuck to the leather, Remove residue with a moisturizer or special cleanser for these skins. Scrub with an old or soft-bristled toothbrush. Do it without leaving streaks.
- To eliminate odours, the remedy is baking soda. Store the flip flops overnight in a bag dusted with compost. Optimize results by adding a few drops of orange or lavender essential oil. Before wearing the shoe again, remove all dust. You can substitute baking soda for kitty litter and it works too.
- change the templates if you tried several tricks and none of them work. Depending on the severity of the dirt, another last is sometimes necessary to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and bad odour.
Plastic or cloth sandals
Cleaning fabric or plastic sandals is much simpler, because they are resistant to methods that leather does not tolerate.
- Take them to the washing machine. With a little detergent and the cold and fast cycle you remove dirt from the flip flops.
- Scrub with hot water. Use a sponge or toothbrush and dishwashing liquid, scrubbing vigorously until whiten.
- Water with a hose if it is plastic footwear. The pressurized jets loosen the dirt. To complete, rub with a brush or a towel moistened with soap.
- Soak in soapy water. Fill a bowl with preferably warm water and soak the flip flops for 2 hours. If the sandals are white, add a splash of chlorine or bleach.
How to wipe sweat and remove fingerprints from sandals?
Fingerprints from daily wear and excessive foot sweat tend to mark the soles. If your sandals are affected by excessive perspiration or time printed their footsteps on them, put the following guide into practice:
- Remove coarse debris: with a soft brush or damp cloth get rid of obvious dirt.
- Rub with liquid soap toilet or dishwasher until marks fade. In case of intense traces, appeal to the brush instead of a rag.
- Remember the power of baking soda if soap isn’t enough. Make a paste with the powder plus water and spread it on the stencil. Leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse and wait for it to dry.
- When the sandal is made of treated leather, you remove the sweat with a cotton ball dipped in vinegar. If it is not healed skin, bicarbonate works.
- In suede sandals, fingerprints and sweat are removed with a DIY sandpaper.
- For rubber or plastic flip flops, it is a good remedy to soak them with 2 tooth whitening tablets.
Other secrets to clean sandals
There are essential recommendations so that the cleaning of flip flops is not laborious and they look neat:
- Always use clean water.
- When you arrive from the beach, the mountains or a trip, wash your sandals immediately so that they do not accumulate bacteria or mold.
- Disinfect flip flops with natural sprays. One recipe is to combine tea tree oil, water, and vinegar.
- Take care of foot hygiene, since problems such as bad odor are caused by carelessness and sweating. Wash the extremities well and use talcum powder.
- Keep sandals dry. If they get wet in the rain, for example, dry them in the sun. When they are made of leather, the correct thing is to ventilate them without the sun’s rays hitting them directly.
- Waterproof with colorless shoe cream. This is a trick so that moisture does not harm leather shoes.
Try that the methods to sanitize the flip flops are not aggressive, so they last much longer. And enjoy your footwear!
You might be interested…