When you invest in a designer good, proper handling of the materials can be a major problem. If you don’t know how to treat the materials properly, you could end up making an expensive mistake.
Canvas is the type of fabric that can easily pick up dirt. Unfortunately, you can’t risk throwing your Gucci canvas shoes in the washing machine – The glue that is used to hold them together won’t hold up.
If you’re unable to seek a professional shoe restoration service, there are some quick and cheap ways for you to care for your canvas shoes at home.
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Protecting with spray
Gucci’s coveted monogram canvas is used in a majority of their shoe styles. From boots, sneakers and sandals – The canvas used is prone to getting dirty, very quickly. So, it’s advised to clean your Gucci shoes every two to three months.
It’s a good idea to protect your canvas shoes with a spray before you wear them out. This will help resist dirt, stains and water.
One of the leading brands in the market is Crep Protect. Available to buy on Amazon for $14.
A typical can will last around a year, and you only need to apply the spray every few months – so it’ll work well to apply after your cleaning routine.
How to clean your Gucci canvas shoes
What you’ll need:
Cleaning the Gucci canvas shoes is a pretty simple process, it’s to be noted that you shouldn’t use any harsh chemicals, such as cleaners that contain bleach, as this could change the appearance of the canvas or damage it; You should have everything you need right at home:
- Laundry detergent
- A bowl of warm water
- A bristle shoe brush
- Toothbrush
- A terry cloth
- Stain remover (one that does not have bleach in)
- Dishwasher soap
Step 1: Soak the laces
If your Gucci shoes are a style with laces, you don’t want to miss this step – it makes all the difference.
Like the shoes, the laces also collect dirt and need a thorough clean. The easiest way to clean the laces is to remove them from the shoe and soak them in a separate bowl of warm water and laundry detergent. Typically one cup of laundry to three cups of warm water is advised.
Let the laces sit in the bowl for around 15-20 minutes, and then gently scrub them with a toothbrush. Once you’ve removed the dirt, rinse the laces in cold water and set them aside to air dry.
Step 2: Wipe off any loose dirt
You don’t want to add water to any loose/dry dirt – This could lead to more hard work.
You can often get rid of dry dirt by tapping the shoe or simply wiping it away with kitchen paper.
Step 3: Scrubbing the canvas
Now it’s time for the most important part of the process – cleaning the canvas. Before you start cleaning the outer body, it’s important to keep in mind to not completely saturate the shoes for long periods of time (under 15 minutes is advised), as this could potentially weaken the fibres.
Dip your toothbrush or bristle brush into the mixture of water and laundry detergent and gently scrub in a circular motion. Try and scrub in the same direction throughout the process.
Rinse off the shoe, and continue this process until you find that most of the dirt has disappeared.
Spot cleaning stains
Even designer shoes are prone to staining, and they’re not that difficult to eliminate if you go through the process properly.
It’s vital that if you’re using a stain remover, to double-check that it doesn’t contain any bleach – we don’t want to discolour the canvas or affect the pattern in any way.
If you don’t have access to a stain remover, dishwashing liquid is a great DIY alternative, you can mix this with some warm water.
Grab your terry cloth and dampen it with your chosen remover liquid, and apply a small amount of pressure in a dabbing motion to the stain. Try and avoid dragging the cloth along the shoe, as it could result in making the stain spread – our aim is to transfer it to the terry cloth.
Drying your Gucci canvas shoes
Canvas is quite a dense fabric and considering you can’t wring out a pair of shoes, like you would a t-shirt, they will take some time to dry. Here are some ways you can dry out your canvas shoes:
- You can place the shoes in an area that gets plenty of fresh air, avoiding direct sunlight as this can alter the natural colouring of the shoe.
- To speed up the process you can use a hair-dryer for around 15 minutes, on the lowest heat setting, and not too close to the shoe. Set the shoes aside to air dry.
- You could also place your shoes in front of a fan to help air out the fabric.
Summary
The tricky part of cleaning canvas shoes is knowing the right process.
With this step-by-step process and tips to help protect your shoes, you should be able to extend their longevity considerably. After all, Gucci shoes aren’t the type you’d replace as soon as they pick up a bit of muck.