Often it so happens that a certain pair of shoes do attract our attention while scrolling the internet or that the shoe we are longing to buy for a long time isn’t available in our nearby market place!
The end result of both the above-mentioned situations is that we end up buying those eye-catching pair of shoes online and that’s where the problem begins…
The problem of the shoes not offering you the perfect fit because you had mistaken in choosing the right shape or the right size for your feet!
Now…
The two options that would remain with you are: to return them or to wear them with difficulty!
If you are the smarter one, obviously you would go with the first option and that is to return the shoes.
But the problem with it is, you have already worn it quite a few numbers of times in the trial of measuring its fittings and with it you have made the bottom of the soles of the shoes dirty or have brushed off the smooth fine bottom layer!
If that is the case with you, I assure you have landed to the right place as this article will take a tour of all the possible ways to clean the bottom of the shoes to return them!
One of the most effective ways to clean the bottom of the shoes to return them is to clean them with dish soap and water and them after drying them, you apply a shoe polish to return the shine to the soles!
10 Ways to clean the bottom of shoes to return them
1. Use dish soap to clean the bottom of the shoes
Steps to follow:
1.) Make a mixture of dish soap and water in a bowl
2.) Take a soft bristled toothbrush and dip it in the mixture
3.) Using the toothbrush apply the soap-water solution to the bottom of the soles
4.) Rub in small circular motions and do not forget to reach the grooves and ridges of the soles
5.) Take a lint free cloth dipped in water to remove the soap-water solution from the shoe outsoles
6.) Dry them under the fan completely
2. Use detergent to clean the bottom of the shoes
Steps to follow:
The steps for this are exactly the same as that with dish-soap, just instead of toothbrush you can also use towel or lint free cloth for the rubbing of the outsoles.
3. Use vinegar to clean the bottom of the shoes
Because of its acidic nature, vinegar acts as a great cleanser for leather and rubber outsoles and is also available in every kitchen!
Steps to follow:
1.) First of all, remove all the loose dirt from the shoes as well the bottom of the outsoles with the help of a horsehair brush or a soft bristled toothbrush
2.) Now, take a lint free cloth and pour a few drops of vinegar on it
3.) Rub off the dirt from the outsoles using the lint free cloth dipped in vinegar in gentle motions
4.) Now, use a clean lint free cloth to remove the excess vinegar and let the bottom of the shoes dry off completely
4. Use bleaching powder to clean the bottom of the shoes
The main cleansing agent in bleaching powder is the calcium hypochlorite that helps to remove dirt, grime and stains from any surface.
Steps to follow:
1.) You know what you need to do at first; yes, dust off loose dirt from the bottom of the outsoles
2.) Then take a bowl and prepare a mixture of bleaching powder and water with the help of a toothbrush. Do not forget to wear gloves before doing this because bleaching powder is very reactive in nature and can burn your skin.
3.) Apply the mixture with the help of the toothbrush on the bottom of the outsoles and leave for 10 minutes
4.) Now take Luke warm water in a bowl and clean the bleaching powder mixture from the outsoles with the help of the toothbrush or a lint free cloth
5.) Let the shoes dry thoroughly
5. Use toothpaste to clean the bottom of the shoes
Toothpaste not only cleans germs and dirt from the teeth, but also removes stains. It acts similarly on leather and rubber surfaces.
Steps to follow:
1.) Clean loose dirt from the outsoles using a horsehair brush
2.) Dip the toothbrush in water and apply the toothpaste on the outsoles using the wet toothbrush bristles
3.) Let the toothpaste sit in the dirt for 10 minutes
4.) Take a bowl of clean water and remove the toothpaste from the outsoles by rubbing off the paste using the toothbrush
5.) Take a clean towel and wipe off any remaining paste from the outsoles
6.) Let the shoes dry completely
See also: Does Toothpaste Work for Leather Boots Scuff?
6. Use baking soda to clean the bottom of the shoes
Baking soda is also acidic in nature which helps great in cleaning stains or spots from surfaces.
Steps to follow:
1.) After removing the loose dirt from the bottom of the shoes, apply baking soda and water mixture to the outsoles using a toothbrush
2.) Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes and then rub it off using Luke warm water and the toothbrush
3.) Use a clean wet cloth to remove any remaining mixture stains from the outsoles
4.) Dry the shoes under the fan
7. Use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of the shoes
Leather cleaner is an artificial cleaning agent that works great in cleaning any part of the shoes and are readily available in amazon.com.
Steps to follow:
1.) Rub off loose dirt from the outsoles using a horsehair brush
2.) Take a clean lint free cloth and pour the leather cleaner on it
3.) Rub off stains and dirt from the outsoles using the lint free cloth dipped in leather cleaner
4.) Your shoes are ready to dazzle again
8. Use lime and salt mixture to clean the bottom of the shoes
Lime and salt work great as a natural cleansing agent and also very effective in removing stains from products.
1.) Take a bowl and prepare a mixture of lime and salt in it
2.) Remove loose dirt from the shoes as well as the outsoles
3.) Take an oil brush and apply the lime and salt mixture on the dirt and grim of the outsole
4.) Use a clean lint free cloth dipped in water to remove the mixture from the bottom of the soles
5.) Dry the shoes under the fan
9. Use lint free cloth and leather/rubber polish to clean the bottom of the shoes
Polish helps to bring back the faded color of the outsole as well as return the shine that is usually there in new shoes.
Steps to follow:
1.) Using a toothbrush shake of the loose dirt from the outsoles.
2.) Take a wet lint free cloth to rub off settled dirt from the outsoles,
3.) Apply the polish using the polish brush and scuff gently.
4.) The soles will be lustrous and shiny, just like they were in their brand-new state.
10. Use vegetable oil to clean the bottom of the shoes
If you have walked miles in those new shoes, you must have probably made the bottom of the outsoles rough and dull.
Using vegetable oil that is readily available in the kitchen is a great way to return the smoothness as well as the shine of the outsole.
Steps to follow:
1.) After removing the loose dirt with the horsehair brush its time to clean the dirt using a wet cloth.
2.) Next, take a lint free cloth to apply the vegetable oil on the outsole in gentle circular motions.
3.) Let the oil soke inside the outsole for a few minutes.
4.) Take a clean lint free cloth to remove excess oil from the outsole.
See also: Can You Use Vegetable Oil on Leather Boots?
Reasons for cleaning the bottom of shoes before returning them
Here are a few important reasons to clean the bottom of the shoes before you think of returning them:
1.) Some companies and shops have a mandatory return policy in which they mention that while returning the shoes should be exactly in the same brand-new condition without any trace of using them.
2.) You yourself would feel shy in returning shoes in used condition.
3.) If you have worn the shoes for some days, it is obvious that they have accumulated dirt and stains at the bottom.
4.) Even if the shoes don’t look dirty it might so happen that some sand particles might have got in the outsoles while you were walking on the road and cleaning the bottom will ensure that no such traces of dirt are left behind while you have packed them for returning.
5.) Cleaning the bottom of the shoes will ensure that they get back their brand-new shiny look.
What if we don’t clean the bottom of shoes before returning them?
If you do not clean the bottom of the shoes before returning them, you might undergo the following consequences:
→ The shop or the company might deny accepting the shoes in used condition
→ The bottom of the shoes might have gathered dirt and stains without you noticing them
→ Even if the shop accepts the shoes which are filled with dirt, they might deliver the same shoe in the same condition to another customer which would be a disappointment for them too
And it’s a wrap!
That’s all for today’s post. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I promise to be back soon with more exciting tips and tricks on work wears!
Till then, take care and have a great day ahead!
