Tips and tricks for washing vegan sneakers without damaging them.
A must-have fashion accessory and a sure bet in terms of comfort, your vegan sneakers accompany you throughout the day. Regular use requires care, and while some people like the worn-in sneaker look, most people prefer to keep their sneakers as new as the first day.
Can you machine wash your sneakers without damaging them? What is the best way to maintain the vegan faux leather of your vegan sneakers? How do I deodorize my insoles and wash my laces?
In this article, we share with you some maintenance tips to remove stubborn stains and extend the life of your COG sneakers .
Can you wash vegan leather sneakers in the washing machine without damaging them?
While machine washing is practical, quick, and allows you to easily revive the shine of white sneakers, as shoemakers concerned about the durability of your shoes, we do not recommend it without taking a few precautions.
Indeed, sneakers are usually made up of various parts glued together. Vegan glues, like other assembly products, can react badly if the shoes are washed at high temperatures, which can damage your sneakers.
Contact with the washing machine drum during rinsing can also damage the outer coating of your sneakers, and cause cracks to appear on the imitation vegetable or synthetic leather parts.
Finally, while the plant materials that make up our animal-free sneakers are high-quality, abrasion-resistant materials , the use of certain cleaning products can damage them.
Also, favor dry washing with a brush , or possibly hand washing in a basin.
However, if you prefer machine washing, try wrapping your shoes in old towels, use short cycles at low temperatures , with a degreasing solution such as natural soap with a neutral pH .
Please note: Running shoes like our Raven , whose sole is glued to the upper without stitching, are less suitable for machine washing than our Winton , Wallace , orTopsy models, which have a stitched sole.
What type of detergent is best for washing vegan sneakers?
The simpler, the better! To wash your sneakers in the washing machine, we recommend using a natural and organic washing powder, effective at low temperatures, in order to maintain youreco-friendly sneakers while protecting the planet.
For regular maintenance, as for your vegan ankle boots , to wash your vegan sneakers by hand, use a damp cloth, a used soft toothbrush, and a natural cleaning product such as neutral pH soap such as Marseille soap.
At what temperature should you wash your sports shoes?
Hot water can damage the outer coating of your canvas sneakers and your synthetic leather sneakers. Conversely, cold water is not the best solution for removing stubborn stains.
A little warm water and a bit of elbow grease, and your eco-friendly sneakers will be as good as new.
Tips and tricks for removing stubborn stains from white sneakers.
1/ White gum:
Who would have thought that one day we would take our erasers out of our pencil cases to remove marks on our sneakers? However, the white eraser works wonders to get rid of superficial marks and scratches on imitation leather or fabric sneakers. Make sure the eraser is clean and white, and rub gently.
2/ Toothpaste:
The perfect partner for a soft toothbrush to revive the shine of vegan materials, toothpaste is a great whitening agent for the upper of your faux leather sneakers , but also for your light-colored canvas sneakers. Use a white toothpaste to prevent a colored product from staining your sneakers.
Apply a small amount of toothpaste and rub dirty areas into a lather before rinsing with warm water.
3/ Baking soda:
The king of cleaning products, baking soda (or sodium) is a natural deodorizer , and a versatile cleaning agent , which happens to be perfect for sneakers.
Mix it with warm water, then rub the surface of your sneakers until the stains disappear before rinsing with clean water.
4/ Hydrogen peroxide:
Alone or with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide is ideal for removing stubborn stains from your white sneakers. Particularly effective with white canvas sneakers, apply hydrogen peroxide with a little water directly to the stains. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Be careful, only use this solution with light-colored sneakers, because the hydrogen peroxide will whiten the material .
5/ White vinegar:
A perfect natural product to remove stains and odors from your sneakers, white vinegar is ideal for a complete cleaning of your eco-friendly sneakers . Mix a quarter of white vinegar with three quarters of lukewarm water, then let your sneakers soak for about fifteen minutes before scrubbing your sneakers in their entirety. Finally, rinse with clean water.
6/ Nail polish remover and acetone:
As a last resort, use sparingly because of their corrosive power , nail polish remover or acetone can help you remove permanent stains. Use a small, damp cloth or cotton swab, then gently dab the stained area.
To avoid any surprises, we recommend testing this solution on an old pair of sneakers, or on a hidden area of your sneakers before treating a larger area.
How to care for faux nubuck sneakers and wash vegan suede sneakers.
For your nubuck sneakers, choose a crepe brush , which is designed to gently clean materials more delicate than imitation leather.
Wash the insoles of your sneakers.
Also called insoles, the insoles of your COG sneakers are removable , so you can not only adjust them, but also clean them and remove traces of sweat or moisture.
In the hot season, we sweat more, even more so when we are barefoot or wearing small socks in our canvas sneakers. It is therefore important to clean your soles regularly to avoid unpleasant odors caused by bacteria.
Thanks to their absorbent power , baking soda and talc work miracles and freshen up the inside of your sneakers.
Remove your insoles, then place them in an airtight bag, and sprinkle a small amount of powdered cleaner of your choice, then leave it to act for a few hours.
Take the soles out of the bag, then shake them to remove any traces of powder.
It's done!
How to wash your sneaker laces?
Pollution, dirt, a good cleaning of the laces is sometimes necessary to give a new lease of life to our fabric sneakers. The fact that our laces are made from recycled plastic bottles is no problem. To wash them effectively, you can put them in the washing machine or clean them by hand by soaking them in lukewarm water with a little soap.
What is the best way to dry your vegan leather sneakers?
Thanks to the tips seen above, your white sneakers are now almost like new.
Let them air dry to prevent them from deforming under the effect of artificial heat. Then store them away from the sun in a clean, dry place to prevent their colors from fading.
When you take off your vegan leather sneakers, to preserve their shape and fight against humidity, we recommend that you stuff them with balls of inkless paper , or a cedar wood shoe tree , in order to absorb traces of humidity.
How to extend the lifespan of vegan sneakers?
Final tip to increase the durability of your sports shoes and avoid the proliferation of bacteria, it is recommended to alternate between different pairs from one day to the next, to allow time for moisture due to perspiration to evaporate.
You can also find some other tips and details about COG and our vegan leather sneaker models on our FAQ page.
