How to remove yellow stains from white Vans

Nothing beats rocking a clean pair of white Vans. But style comes with a price, and with Vans, it’s dealing with yellow stains. Fortunately, there are several methods to get rid of the yellow stains on your shoes, including using detergent and white vinegar, a baking soda paste, lemon juice, and even toothpaste.

Seeing your favorite white shoes turning yellow can be disheartening. So, to save you from worrying too much, try one of these processes for restoring your favorite shoes to their shiny white color and walk with confidence again.

Using detergent and white vinegar to diminish yellow stains

Unsightly yellow stains can ruin the classy look of white Vans. But you can easily bring back their stain-free condition using white vinegar and detergent. Combining the detergent and white vinegar’s powerful cleansing properties helps you deal with stubborn yellow stains with ease.

Here are the steps to remove yellow stain from your white Vans using detergent and vinegar.

1. First, remove the shoelaces from the shoes if there are any. Get a basin where your shoes can fit or use your clean sink and fill it up with 0.5 liters of lukewarm water.
2. Pour in 1 teaspoon of detergent and mix it well with the water. Soak the pair of shoes in the solution and let it sit there for a minute or two, giving the detergent enough time to penetrate through the stain.
3. Using an old toothbrush, scrub the yellow stain on the shoe vigorously. With constant scrubbing, you’ll see the yellow stain gradually begin to fade.
4. Do the same process for the other shoe in the pair, while leaving the first one in the solution. When the stain visibly lightens, set your washer to a warm, low-spinning cycle, and place your shoes inside.
5. Pour half a cup of white vinegar inside the washer’s wash compartment. Doing this helps remove the remaining stain residue and deodorizes your shoes while rinsing.
6. After the rinsing process, dry your shoes using your dryer at very low heat or dry them indoors with proper ventilation. Never dry your shoes outdoors since that can attract more dirt particles.

Creating a homemade cleaning paste for effective stain removal

You don’t need to go through the hassle of going to grocery stores just to find a cleaning paste for cleaning your white Vans. You can make your own cleaning paste using everyday products in your kitchen, like baking soda and vinegar.

With the help of this D.I.Y paste cleaner, you can now restore your shoes’ whiteness from its dull yellow stains like magic. Here’s what to do:

1. Create a paste by placing one tablespoon hot water, one tablespoon of liquid soap, and the same amount of baking soda and vinegar in a container. Stir it until you get the consistency of a paste.
2. Remove the shoelaces first to enable faster cleaning. Use an old brush, preferably a toothbrush to apply the paste on the shoes’ stained area.
3. Vigorously scrub the affected area until it lightens.
4. Once the stain is gone, wash your shoes with warm water to wash off the residue of the stain and paste from the shoes.
5. Let your shoes dry in a well-ventilated room.

Lemon can also remove stains from white Vans

You can use lemons to clean stains off your white Vans. This fruit isn’t only incredible for its many uses in the kitchen, but it also has good stain-removing powers. Its acidic property is what makes lemon effective on cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing any stain.

Get rid of yellow stains by following these easy steps.

1. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze it into a clean bowl. Grab a piece of clean, non-abrasive cloth and soak it in the lemon juice.
2. Using the cloth soaked in lemon juice, scrub the shoe’s stained area until it slightly lightens. Let the juice soak on the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the stain’s severity.
3. After the allotted time, rinse your shoes with clean water and wash it like you usually would using any soap or detergent. Rinse properly to remove lemon and soap residue.
4. Once the stain is no longer visible, dry your shoes with your dryer on minimum heat or leave them to dry in a well-ventilated room.

Common questions about yellow stains

Can toothpaste remove yellow stains from shoes?

Toothpaste can remove yellow stains off your white shoes, but it depends on the toothpaste you’re using. It’s best to use white, non-gel toothpaste since colored ones can leave more stains on your white Vans. Toothpaste lets you deal with yellow stains swiftly. You can rub the toothpaste on the stained area using an old toothbrush until the stain fades off, and you’re good to go.

Read here for more tips about how to remove yellow stains from shoes.

How can I prevent my shoes from getting yellow stains?

Keeping your white Vans looking clean and white seems impossible. But cleaning and being careful when you use the shoes can maintain their optimal condition. You can also keep your shoes from getting yellow stains by adding two tablespoons of borax each time you wash your white Vans.

The chemical component of borax converts some of the water molecules into hydrogen peroxide, which helps keep your shoes white and prevents yellow stains. You can find borax at your local hardware stores and in some large convenience stores.

Why do white shoes turn yellow?

White shoes are prone to chemical reactions under the sun. They easily turn yellow because of oxidation, especially after washing and prolonged exposure to air. Another main reason is that you didn’t clean or rinse the shoes properly.

Soap residue on your white shoes leads to a chemical reaction when exposed to the sun, and the passive ventilation attracts more dirt that eventually turns your shoes a dull yellow color. Dirt deposits and sweat are also major causes of yellow stains on white shoes.

Final thoughts

Taking care of your white Vans should be like taking care of your favorite white shirt. You should treat every stain as early as possible to avoid dealing with stubborn stains. But if your shoes somehow get stained, you can remove yellow stains from white Vans with any of the simple methods listed above.