Granted that sneakers get dirty and worn out due to their rough use, especially in the monsoons, but that doesn't mean you get rid of them. If your sneakers get dirty, you can always clean them up. And if you have no idea how to, here's what you can do to keep them looking all new and fresh:

* Wash your sneakers on a regular basis to keep them looking clean.
* Use a toothbrush and some soap water to scrub the shoes and remove the accumulated grime.
* Alternatively, you can put them into the washing machine and wash them with cold water. Hot water can make them shrink.
* Make sure you check the label on your sneakers before you decide to put them in the washing machine. Some companies are very specific about only hand washing your shoes.
* Sneakers take very long to dry. Most sneakers require at least one full day of sunlight to dry out completely. If in urgent need, you can use a blow dryer to dry off excess moisture from your shoes.
* If your sneakers stink, add a bit of baking soda to them and let them sit overnight. When you wake up, the smell will be gone! Or you can simply spray your shoes with some perfume to get rid of any traces of odour left.
* Once in a while, keep your sneakers out in the open so that some air circulates through them. In addition, sprinkle a little talcum powder in your shoes to keep odour away. 
* When cleaning coloured canvas sneakers, be sure to use a non-bleaching soap, and do a small spot test with your cleaning mixture to be sure it doesn't fade or leach out colour !

Keeping them clean

White sneakers: To keep white sneakers white, mix equal parts of liquid dish soap and a powdered laundry soap to make a thick paste. Rub it into the canvas using a toothbrush and apply a thick layer. Leave the shoes in the sun for a day. Let them dry. Then wash them in lukewarm water and air dry them

Leather sneakers: The best way to clean your leather sneakers is to use a non alkaline leather cleaner, which is easily available at general stores and shoe shops. Make sure you remove the laces while cleaning your leather sneakers

Suede sneakers: Always use a suede cleaning brush to brush out dirt from suede sneakers. Clean them only when they're dry. And brush them in the same direction. Secondly, suede is not meant to be worn in the monsoons. But you can always use a paper towel to soak up water on your suede if you accidentally spill some

vipasha.pillai@mid-day.com