I’m a cleaning genius – my easy toothbrush trick will make your filthy white sneakers look new again for summer

As summer approaches, many of us will be wearing our trusty white sneakers.

High-top converse, Nike Air Force 1s, and New Balance 480s are popular choices… but there’s a problem.

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It doesn’t take much for white sneakers to look dirty.

And while it may be tempting to buy a new pair, there’s actually a little-known cleaning trick that will make your trusty white sneakers look like new.

Gemma Taylor took to Facebook group Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips looking for advice on saving her stained Converse trainers.

And it turns out that all you need is a toothbrush and some Persil Ultimate Touch of Comfort Bio laundry detergent

You can buy a bottle of 46 washes for just £7 at Asda.

“I ended up rubbing some Persil Ultimate into the stains with a toothbrush, repeated this again and placed it in the sun,” wrote Gemma.

The result was white sneakers that looked new.

HOW IT WORKS?

The laundry detergent is designed to remove even the heaviest stains, thanks to the enzymes present in the gel.

Common enzymes in detergents include proteases, which break down proteins, lipases, which break down fats, and amylases, which break down starches.

Together, they help remove protein stains like sweat and blood, grease stains like oils, and carbohydrate stains like food.

When you apply detergent to your sneakers, the gel penetrates the fabric to reach stains and marks.

It breaks down dirt into smaller droplets that are easier for water to remove.

What’s more, laundry detergents contain chemicals that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, making fabrics appear whiter and brighter.

HOW TO DO THIS?

To start, remove the laces and insoles from your sneakers and wash them separately in warm, soapy water.

Then add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water and mix until foam forms.

Dip a clean toothbrush into the soapy water and gently scrub the surface of the sneakers, focusing on dirty or stained areas.

Mrs. Hinch’s cleaning fans recommend doing this in a circular motion.

Top Tips for Cleaning White Sneakers

• A small amount of baking soda mixed with laundry detergent can help brighten your sneakers.
• If your sneakers have stubborn stains or are particularly dirty, you may need to repeat the cleaning process.
• To maintain their shape while drying, stuff the sneakers with newspaper or kitchen paper.

For tougher stains, you can apply a small amount of dish soap directly to your toothbrush and scrub the area.

Pay special attention to seams, crevices and the sole of your sneakers where dirt accumulates.

For the inside of the sneakers, you can use the detergent solution on a cloth or sponge to clean them.

Dampen a clean cloth with water and wipe the shoes to remove any soap residue, then dry them with kitchen paper.

Once done, Mrs. Hinch’s cleaning fans recommend leaving your white sneakers in the sun to dry completely.