Protect your best pair: Busting white sneaker cleaning myths

February 2020: Who doesn’t love a pristine pair of white sneakers? Just think of the sheen look of those new Stan Smiths, or the way the light reflects on a pair of Air Force 1s as they lay in the box.

Chances are, you’ve had every friend tell you their home remedy to keep your sneakers looking that sparkling white for their whole life. You may even be one of the 1200 South Africans who turned to Google for answers over the last year. If you were one of those people, you would have seen over 470 million results. And most of them would have given you the wrong advice.

Sneaker LAB is the scientific authority on cleaning, caring and protecting sneakers and can help you bust those myths on how you can protect your investment.

Myth #1: Dishwashing liquid

You’ve probably been told more than once to use with dishwashing liquid to clean your sneakers. This advice gets a hard no from Sneaker LAB shoe care expert Cody Felix. Dishwashing liquid is highly likely to turn those gloriously white shoes into a dull yellow.

Myth #2: Bleach-based cleaner

It’s also a nix on the bleach, peroxide or any other chemical you might be considering. These chemicals will damage the fabric of your shoes. Instead, turn to Sneaker LAB’s range of products, which are safe for use on all fabrics and work at a microscopic level to clean, care for and protect your sneakers.

Myth #3: The washing machine

Running a close second to bleach on the list of “The worst things you can do to a sneaker” is putting them in the washing machine. Washing machines and tumble dryers are a no-no for sneaker cleaning, as the water and heat can warp your shoes or destroy the adhesive used on them.

Myth #4: Prevention is better than cure

Your mom was right about this one. After admiring those Air Force 1s in the box, take them out and spray on a protector product to prevent them from getting stained. This will save you a lot of tears when have to walk through dust and dirt, as your sneakers will be protected from stains from Day 1.

Myth #5: Leather doesn’t need specific cleaning products

Leather needs nourishment and protection to maintain its quality. Once you’ve cleaned your Stan Smiths, nourish and protect them with a Leather Care product. This will keep your leather sneakers looking newer for longer.


Established in 2012, Sneaker LAB created an environmentally friendly biotech driven premium shoe care brand and is the scientific authority on cleaning, caring and protecting sneakers. Sneaker LAB is the only sneaker care product range in the world to be Green TAG certified.

The premium shoe care products make use of environmentally friendly biotechnology, function on a molecular level, and continue to work long after application. The products are water-based, readily biodegradable, and the packaging is suitable for recycling.

Sneaker LAB products are available in over 60 countries across all major regions of the globe including Africa, USA, Europe and Asia. Visit sneakerlab.com for more information.

Share Button

About southcapenet

Adding value to my domain hosting and online advertising services.
View all posts by southcapenet →