5 Ways | How to Get Yellow Stains Out of White Shoes?

If the stain is stubborn, use detergent or baking soda with vinegar. Softer and recent stains tend to get away by the use of lemon or as simple as salt with water. People use tartar solutions too to get back the shine. We will be showing you five ways to remove stains from your white shoes here.

How to Get Yellow Stains Out of White Shoes?

You don’t wanna throw away a good pair of white shoes just because they turned yellow. White shoes are the most stylish and versatile shoes you can ever have. It goes with any type of outfit. But you must agree that it’s very annoying when the shoes get a yellow stain.

White shoes are vulnerable to stains. Stains on the shoes are very prominent and are hard to remove. But it’s not impossible to remove them. 

You can follow these methods to remove stains with minimal effort. Now you will not have to keep your shoes away in a corner anymore. You can keep rocking them for a long time!

Using Salt and Water

Ingredients You Will Need

•  One cup of hot water
• One tablespoon of salt
• A heat-safe bowl
• Old toothbrush

The Steps You Should Follow

1. Fill the bowl with one cup of hot water. The water should be hot, not boiling. 
2. Pour one tablespoon of salt into the water. Stir the salt and water with a toothbrush until the salt is dissolved properly.
3. Once again dip the toothbrush into the saltwater solution and make sure it’s fully saturated. Now use the bristles to scrub the solution on the yellow stain on your shoe in a circular motion. You will have to scrub for several minutes for the stain to fade. 

To apply more salt solution to the mark and re-saturate the bristles, you can re-dip the toothbrush into solution every minute.

4. When the stain has started to fade a bit put the shoes on the towel until they are dry. Dip the toothbrush again to scrub the stain vigorously for several more minutes.
5.  Keep scrubbing until the stain doesn’t get any lighter. Let the shoes dry. You might not completely remove the stain with this process, but it will fade enough for you to wear it. 

You can watch this helpful video

Using Vinegar and Detergent

Things You Will Need

• A clean deep sink
• Laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Old toothbrush
• Washing machine

Steps You Need to Follow

1. First, you have to remove the shoelaces. You have to wash them separately. 
2. Make sure that your sink is clean. Fill three-fourth of the sink with lukewarm water.
3. Pour half tablespoon of detergent into the lukewarm water. Stir it until it’s well-mixed. 
4. Put the shoes in the sink and wait until it soaks. Now, submerge a toothbrush into the mixture so that the bristles are wet. Using the toothbrush, scrub the stains for a few minutes until the stain starts to fade. While you are working on one shoe, let the other shoes soak the solution.
5. When the yellow stains begin to fade, remove the shoes from the solution and put them in a washing machine. You don’t have to rinse out the detergent. Set the machine on a low agitation cycle, warm water, and turn it on. Now, wait for the machine to fill up few sections.
6. Now that the washing machine is filled with water, pour half a cup of white vinegar in it. White vinegar breaks down the stain even more making your shoes brighter and whiter.
7.  After the wash cycle is completed, take the shoes out of the machine. Put the shoes on a drying rack or towel to air dry. 

Using Lemon and Water

Ingredients You Will Need

• Half a lemon
• Water 
• Bowl
• Piece of cloth or sponge

Steps to Follow

1. Pour some lemon juice and little water into the bowl. Mix them well.
2. Dip a sponge or a piece of cloth in the solution. 
3. Now scrub the yellow stain with the cloth or sponge.
4. Once the stain is gone, clean the shoe with water to get rid of the lemon juice left on the shoe.

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

Things You Will Need:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Hot water
• Toothbrush

Steps are Given Below:

1. Pour one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and one tablespoon of hot water into a bowl. These ingredients will make a paste.
2. Apply the paste to the shoe using a toothbrush. Scrub it properly. 
3. Leave the paste on the shoes for 3-4 hours under the sun. 
4. Wait for 30 minutes for the paste to work its magic. Then you can rinse it with water.

Using a Cream of Tartar Solution

Things You Will Need:

• A large bowl or bucket
• Hot water
• Cream of tartar
• A dry towel

Steps You Need to Follow

1. Select a bowl that is large enough to hold both your shoes and hot water. Pour hot water into the bowl.
2. Mix half a cup of cream of tartar with the water. 
3. Completely submerge your shoes into the mixture. Let them soak. You have to check after 30 minutes if they are clean. If the shoes are not clean yet, put them in the mix for another 30 minutes. 

If it is a recent stain or relatively light, then the mark will fade fast. However, if the stain is for a longer period or is darker, you will have to soak it for up to an hour or more.

4. Once the stain is removed or faded, remove your shoes from the solution. Rinse the shoes with water to remove the remaining solution. You must rinse the cream of tartar solution as it is acid and it can be harsh on shoe materials.
5. Put the shoes on a dry towel and let them dry. 

FAQ

Q: Why Do My White Shoes Turn Yellow Even After Washing?

Ans: White shoes turn yellow for many reasons. If you keep it for a longer time in the air after washing, it will oxidize and turn yellow. Due to dirt or sweat stains, it turns yellow. Another reason is some amount of detergent remains on the shoes that create a chemical reaction under the sun and your shoes turn yellow.

Q: Can I Whiten My Shoes Using Toothpaste?

Ans: A good way to bring the original white color of the shoe is by using whitening toothpaste. Rub the stained area with toothpaste using an old toothbrush. Leave the paste for 15 minutes. Remove the paste with a sponge or damp cloth and you will get amazing results. Remember to clean the dirt on the border of soles.

Q. Is it possible to remove grass stains completely from white shoes?

Ans: Yes, it is not a big deal.

Conclusion

Getting rid of stubborn yellow stains on your white shoes is not that hard. With basic ingredients and some patience, you can successfully remove the unwanted stains on your favorite shoe. Some of the techniques mentioned above can be more effective than others. Make sure to try out all the methods and you will have a sparkling pair of white shoes!