Not all white shoes are created equal. The best shoe cleaning approach depends entirely on what your shoes are made of.

White Leather Shoes – Leather is quite durable but also very sensitive to water. Never submerge your leather shoes in water. To clean them, mix a solution of warm water and a few drops of mild liquid soap.

Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring it out so that it is damp. Gently rub the surface with circular motions. For tougher spots, you can use a leather cleaner or even a small amount of white toothpaste. Immediately dry them with a clean towel to remove water spots.

White Canvas Shoes – Canvas is a porous material, which means that it tends to trap dirt easily. To clean canvas shoes, you might need a little more. You can make a paste using baking soda and white vinegar. Using an old toothbrush, agitate the paste on the shoe.

The reaction between the two ingredients will help to remove the stains from the material. After you have scrubbed the entire shoe, allow the paste to stay on the shoe for about 20 minutes. Then, remove it using a damp cloth. This is the most popular trick for cleaning shoes.

White Mesh or Knit – Mesh shoes, as with most running shoes, are quite fragile. You have to be careful not to scrub them too much, as this will cause the mesh to snag. For this reason, you should use a very soft brush and a mild laundry detergent. Blotting the stains, rather than rubbing them, is usually the best way to preserve the shape of the knit.

Restoring the Shine to the Soles – The rubber midsoles are usually the first to go on a pair of shoes. Even if the rest of the shoe is clean, dirty soles will make the shoe look like it’s been around for ages.

To restore the shine to the soles, most shoe enthusiasts will tell you that you need a “magic eraser” or a melamine sponge. Dampen the sponge and rub it along the rubber edges. You’ll see that the scuffs come off instantly. This is a trick that’s been used by the best shoe cleaners in the business because it works instantly.