Think of how many miles of golden beach, grassy knoll or tarmac path you’ve walked in your flip flops. It’s because they are so affordable, versatile and comfortable that you go so far in them. They’ve done you proud, but now it’s time to repay the favour. Whether they are foam, canvas or leather, here are a few tips to make your trusted shoes look like new.
1. Baby wipes, the king of cleaning products
Flip flops made from EVA foam or rubber are best cleaned with baby wipes. This genius product is also ideal for Crocs flip flops, which are made from a foam resin called Croslite.
2. Mix it up
We’ve found nothing beats good old baby wipes, but if you don’t have any to hand, try baking soda and water or lemon juice.
3. Pearly white
Another option is to use some elbow grease – wet an old toothbrush, rub it on a bar of soap and scrub like crazy.
4. Treat canvas shoes like your sofa
For canvas straps and canvas-topped flip flops, use an upholstery cleaner and a damp cloth. But take care of the crown jewels – flip flops with a decorative, jeweled effect should be washed by hand.
5. Brushed leather
If you don’t like that well-used look, clean leather sandals with a soft brush and warm water before applying a leather cleaning product. Use water sparingly and pat dry.
6. Stuck like glue
For stuck-on nasties, like chewing gum, the best solution is to freeze it off. First, hold an ice cube against it. If this quick freeze doesn’t allow you to wipe it off, then it’s time to get serious: put your flip flops in a plastic bag and in the freezer for a few hours. That should do the trick.
7. Take them for a spin
Drop your EVA flops in the washing machine or dishwasher, but use a cool wash for added protection.
8. Soak it up
Leave your foam flip-flops in a bucket full of warm water mixed with washing up liquid or washing powder. When the dirt starts to turn the water brown, scrub them with a hard brush, old toothbrush, or scouring pad, and rinse in cold water.
9. A time to dry
When drying any flip flops, turn them upside down and leave out of the direct sunlight. This will avoid any water getting trapped inside the sole, which could leave you making that annoying squelching sound.
10. Getting up steam
If you have something as grand as a steam cleaner, this works really well. Rub the brush attachment on a bar of soap and watch the dirt slide off as you steam away. You could also try a pressure washer, although you may want to secure your flip flops so they don’t take off.
