I have an old pair of Converse cloth high ankle runners. Cloth is pink & moderately dirty -- looks like these might fetch $50 or more on eBay, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on cleaning vintage cloth runners without just spreading or mushing the dirt around or taking any of the color out of the cloth?
posted on April 19, 2001 04:46:56 PM new
It might be best to sell those Chuck Taylor's
as is? But, if you must wash them, you might want to try soaking them in Zero, and then rinsing them by hand. The washing machine will make a mess of them.
posted on April 19, 2001 09:08:26 PM new
Never heard of Zero...must be a Canadian product, eh?
Upriver, if you're not Canadian or can't find Zero, my mom and I swear by Biz as a presoak. You could also investigate a spray-on rug cleaner maybe? I've never tried that, but I'd think it would work on shoes if it works on rugs!
posted on April 19, 2001 09:55:39 PM new
For at least 10 years now, I've thrown all my walking and running shoes, even the ones with combination fabric and a little leather, in the washing machine (not hot water, though) and washed them with my regular loads and regular washing detergent. Sometimes some dry bleach in the load, too. Never lost a shoe, and they come out clean as a whistle.
posted on April 20, 2001 09:15:04 AM new
Enjoyed that!
Thanks for the tip, but I think I will pass on the washing machine, kind of obvious it would destroy these ones!
I'll be trying a small area soak to see how it goes, thanks for the zero & biz tips. I think I'll try one side or heel part in a small bowl, a fairly unobtrusive area of the shoe -- if it works, then I'll move on to the other areas. They could be sold as is I suppose, but I think a general cleaning up will enhance their value in this case.
Their kind of neat & an unusual cloth colour, I don't really recall seeing a lot of pink runners around in the olden times!
