How to Clean the Bottom Of Shoes to Return Them to the Store (5+ Effective Ways)

Are you afraid of staff returning shoes the main query is how to clean the bottom of shoes to return them?

How enthusiastic do you feel when you go to buy a perfect pair of shoes? Ironically, more than you it is the staff of the shop who is more excited for you to try on a pair and buy it immediately.

You get carried away when they trick you by telling you that every pair is the best fit and looks fantastic on your feet. Sometimes the influence of their smooth talk, you make up your mind to purchase the shoe recommended by them. Such an artist they are right?

No doubt! Anyone can fall prey to the exaggeration of the features of the shoe done by the customer service department.

And then you reach home and realize that shoes bought by you whether casual or running are not approved by your family! So disheartening right? Then you choose to return those shoes but how? You might be thinking about how to clean the bottom of shoes to return them.

Will that shop take the shoes back that you have recently bought and walked a little while trying them on? Well! If you apply some clever hacks, certainly they will!

Basically, if your shoes have any sign of cutting and rubbing they won’t qualify to be returned. But if it is only the sole of the shoes that needs some makeover, you are saved!

Now what you need to do

5 Effective Ways to Clean the Bottom of Shoes to Return Them

All you need is some home-based solutions to treat the bottom of the shoes so that the shopkeeper takes those shoes back without even noticing the treatment done on the shoes.

Now let me assist you to get out of this trouble on how to clean bottom of shoes to look new?

1. Nail Polish Remover to clean the dirt off your shoe sole

To make your shoes unblemished, the nail polish remover acts as a saviour. The solvent used in nail polish removers is called acetone, a colourless, flammable, and the simplest ketone that is the most effective way of removing the nail colour.

In its alternative uses, it can be used for stain removal, cleaning, and clearing away any stubborn substance from anything without leaving any evidence.

Before going further do you know the types of shoe soles available and used by us? If you don’t read here types of the sole.

How to use Nail polish Remover to clear away dirt

This acetone-based solution can be applied gently to the bottom of your shoes to wipe off the dirt or any mild stains. You can take any clean cloth or cotton, damp it in the tincture and apply it to the bottom. The best thing about this fluid is that it evaporates quickly and does not stick to the sole.

Trust me the shopkeeper won’t get a hint and will take the shoe back happily.

2. Toothpaste for spotless shoes

Toothpaste that contains hydrogen peroxide is not only good for making your teeth whiter but they are also best for cleaning many kinds of stuff including your shoes.

Method to use the toothpaste to clean the sole of your shoe to return it:-

To clean the shoes so that the shopkeeper takes them back, take a clean wet cloth or any old toothbrush. Then, take an ounce of the toothpaste and start massaging the dirt-stricken part.

Be cautious and do not overdo it as it can put a patch on your shoe and then the shopkeeper is less likely to take it back. Just rub this concoction for 2 minutes and then clean it with a separate clean cloth. And there you go. Your shoes look new.

3. Vinegar for stainless shoes

Vinegar contains acids that are helpful to dissolve any hard particle and make it easy for you to clean it. It works well to clean the sole of your shoe. 

First, start cleaning your shoes with a dry cloth or anything readily available material such as cotton and rag. By taking a large part of the dirt out of your shoe sole, the remaining particles can be taken care of by Vinegar.

What do you need to do to make the shoe flawless?

Douse the stain itself with a concoction of white distilled vinegar and a small quantity of iodized salt. You are required to clean the dirt with this solution in a smooth way with soft hands.

When the sole of the shoes gets wiped off completely, leave the shoes to get dry as the vinegar’s properties can keep them wet for a little longer period. 

After that, put the shoes back in the box and you are all set to return them. I can assure you that after applying this method, your problem of how to clean the bottom of your shoes to return them will be fixed in less time.

4. Make your shoes look new with Bleaching powder

The antioxidant feather of bleaching powder is the key to removing all dust and dirt from the shoes. Bleaching powder is a concoction of an adequate amount of calcium hypochlorite that is useful to wash away the residue of dirt on shoes.

How to use bleaching powder to scrub the dirt out of your shoes?

Make a mixture of water with bleaching powder and use it on the spots on your shoes.

Be careful while doing this as bleaching powder consists of corrosive properties that is a highly reactive substance. It can cause inflammation to the skin of your hand if the skin remains in touch with this substance for longer than required.

Also, use only a very small amount of it. You can also consider putting on gloves before using the bleaching powder solution while removing the dirt from your shoes.

5. Combine detergent with baking Soda

First of all, lose the bulky dirt from the shoe area by slapping the shoe. Then the remnants of the dirt can be scraped off from the shoe by applying this solution.

What should be done to make the shoe look impeccable?

To clean the shoe, take one tablespoon of detergent and baking soda in the same amount. After that, water should be added drop by drop to make a thick paste.

You can use a rag to apply this paste to the shoe sole. Start scrubbing the sole with the brush.

Do not be so harsh in the process otherwise, you can damage the outer layer of the shoe. Soon, the dirt will come off from the bottom of the shoe. Clean the sole properly with a dry and clean cloth. Finally, dry the shoe off and it is ready to be taken back by the shopkeeper. So these were the 5 effective methods on how to clean the bottom of shoes to look new.

And yes guys putting your shoes in the washing machine not only breaks your shoe but also removes the bond with the sole plate. This will increase your expenses on bond Adhesive.

How to Clean Rubber on Shoes?

Is your shoe sole made up of rubber? No Worry! Cleaning rubber-made soles is not as difficult as it looks. Now let’s do some simple steps to clean rubber on shoes.

You just need to take an old toothbrush and clean all the bulky loose dirt from the outer portion of the soles. Now take a tub or a bouquet and fill that with lukewarm water (don’t fill above the shoe sole).

Add some detergent and baking soda to the water. Dip the rubber sole into that mixed water of detergent and baking soda and wait for 10 to 15 minutes. Now it’s time to use the brush, rub the rubber sole with the brush until all the stains have vanished.

Take a dry clean cloth and wipe off all the water from the shoe sole. What to do now? dry your shoes naturally. Don’t put in the direct heat of the sun.

Note: If your shoes are in contact with tar then these are the ways to remove tar.

How to Get Grass Stains Off the Bottom of Shoes?

You buy new shoes and think you are safe. So let me tell you, you are thinking wrong. Grass stains, mud stains and other kinds of dirt won’t leave your shoes. Then what do you do now? Let’s do some simple and effective ways on to clean the bottom of shoes to get a brand-new and shiny look.

There are two methods to clean the bottom of shoes to get brand new again:-

1). Cleaning stains with Vinegar

You should perform this method using the sink as it will save you precious time. Take some lukewarm water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and mix them with any old toothbrush.

Now use a toothbrush as a scrubber to clean grass stains from the shoes. Wipe off all the vinegar from the scrubbed area from the shoe sole and keep them in the house to dry (don’t put your kicks in the direct heat of the sun).

2). Alcohol Rubbing Pad

Most shoe lovers love this method as this is a very simple and effective method to remove grass stains from shoes. Bring an alcohol rubbing pad from the market and rub that pad on the stained areas of the shoe sole. You will find your shoes looking new and shiny again.

If you find any problem in cleaning grass stains from the bottom of the shoes, please refer to the given video on how to remove grass stains from shoes.

How to Clean White Rubber Shoe Soles?

Being a shoe lover I know how difficult it is to keep white shoes cleaned all the time but somehow stains and dirt are there. Not a problem! In this guide, you will get to know how to clean the white bottom of shoes.

We can say white shoes can’t live without stains and dirt. But don’t worry this is not a new problem with the shoe just follow the given steps to get your kicks looking brand new again.

Take a small cup of bleaching powder 2 tablespoons of detergent and ½ cup of lukewarm water. Mix them in a small tub.

Next, use that mixer as a scrubber with the help of an old toothbrush. Do this for five to ten minutes and wipe off with a clean white cloth.

Repeat the process until you get the best results.

Why You Should Never Wear Your Shoes Inside?

Taking your shoes inside the home might be riskier for your health. So I won’t suggest you to take shoes at home. Why it is not safe?

The risk of entering bacterial and viral particles is higher in the house. And the risk of getting sick is more when you have little kids in the house. Kids spend a lot of time on the floor so it’s important to keep the house clean. We can say shoes are a breeding ground for bacteria.

Apart from this, walking barefoot in the house has lots of health benefits. Improves blood circulation and calms you down.

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Conclusion: How to clean the bottom of shoes to return them

Don’t worry if sometimes you do not pick the right shoes for some or other reason. If you abide by the shoe-returning policy, the shopkeepers are less likely to have any issues in accepting the shoes back.

Also, before buying shoes for yourself, checking whether the shop has any strict return policies would be wise. For example, some shopkeepers ask you to keep the tags intact and not tear the cover of the shoe if in case you need to return them.

I hope this article on how to clean the bottom of shoes to return them helps. Do comment in the comment section about your experience of returning your shoes.

Related Posts:-

• Shoe Size Chart for Men, Women and Kids
• America to India Shoe Size Conversion Chart

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