Restore your white shoes and laces to their original brilliance with this simple baking soda trick

White shoes complement any style. They can be paired with dresses, sweatpants, trousers, and jeans. It's safe to say that most of us own at least one pair of white shoes, with white laces being an integral part of them.

Regrettably, this color tends to get dirty quickly. Over time, dirt and dust can penetrate so deeply that your shoes and laces turn gray. Fortunately, there's a solution.

Simply using laundry detergent won't suffice. Dirt can seep so far into the material that it turns gray. To clean your laces, you need something more potent. Enter baking soda, a product with many uses. Known for its whitening and disinfecting properties, baking soda is readily available in grocery stores, usually costing less than a penny per package.

Looking to restore your laces to their original color? You only need soda, an old toothbrush, and a few drops of water. Mix water and soda in equal proportions to make a thick paste – say one tablespoon of water to one tablespoon of baking soda. Apply the paste to the laces, leave it for around 30 minutes, rinse them thoroughly, and allow them to dry completely. Post this treatment, your laces will look as good as new.

If you don't have baking soda but need to clean your laces, you can substitute it with citric acid. Mix equal quantities of water and citric acid to make a paste, spread it over the laces, leave for 30 minutes, rinse off, and leave the laces out to dry.

This paste also works well for whitening white shoes, provided they aren’t made of leather. Wondering how effective this cleaning method is? Try applying a small amount of baking soda using a soft cloth and rub your shoes with it. After letting it sit for a few minutes, wipe the shoes clean with a damp cloth.

Another benefit of baking soda is its ability to neutralize unpleasant odors. If your shoes exhibit an off-putting odor after a season's use, sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda inside and leave it overnight. Thoroughly shake it off the next day and voila, no more unpleasant smell.