Caring for your Veja sneakers
How do you clean your Veja sneakers? Sneakers get dirty quickly. But what is the best way to clean sneakers? The sneakers from Veja consist of different parts so they all need slightly different care. Below we give you some cleaning tips.
Why Veja sneakers deserve extra care
Veja is not just another sneaker brand - it is one of the most well-known sustainable shoe brands in the world. These French sneakers are handmade in Brazil from organic cotton, fair trade rubber from the Amazon and vegetable-tanned leather. More and more models are also completely vegan, made from innovative materials such as B-mesh (recycled plastic bottles). By choosing Veja sneakers, you choose fair working conditions, eco-friendly production and timeless design.
Because Veja uses such high-quality and natural materials - from organic cotton to wild rubber and real suede - it's important to take good care of your sneakers. Each material requires a different approach. With the right care, your Veja's will stay looking like new for years and you'll contribute to less waste. After all, the most durable pair of shoes is the pair you already have - which, with proper care, you can enjoy for years to come! Whether you wear the iconic V-10, the cool Venturi or the new Campo, below you'll find all the tips by material type.
Cleaning cotton/flannel sneakers
For Veja sneakers with a cotton/flannel outer layer (some Venturi models, SDU flannel), it is important not to put them in the washing machine despite being made of cotton. The heat can cause the rubber (or leather) parts to detach from the canvas fabric. You could put the laces in the washing machine if necessary. The rest of the sneakers should always be cleaned by hand. First, rub any coarse dirt off the shoe with a cloth. It is best to clean any stains that are still visible with cold water and Marseille soap. If necessary, use an old toothbrush to scrub away stubborn stains. Then pat the surface dry and let the sneakers air dry.
Tips for cleaning leather sneakers
Veja sneakers made of leather are generally easier to clean because stains do not soak into the material like cotton/flannel. Maintain the smooth leather of the shoes with a damp cloth and periodically with a specific product spray or cream. You may notice that your leather shoes are prone to streaks and scratches. One solution to this is a mixture of cold water and natural vinegar. Pour some water and the vinegar in equal parts into a container and rub the leather surface well with an old cloth. You will see that the stains and scratches will disappear like snow in the sun. Any scuffs in leather can be made beautiful again by using shoe polish. A nice sustainable tip for making this yourself is to wet an old cloth and dip it in a jar of baking soda. Rub this over the scuff and then dry with a clean cloth. Baking soda works for any color, so you never have to get separate shoe polish for each color of shoe again.
Cleaning suede sneakers
Suède is een mooie stof die je sneakers een luxe uitstraling geeft. De meeste Veja sneakers bevatten panelen die gemaakt zijn van suède, zowel vegan als dierlijk. Bij suede is het van belang dat het niet nat wordt. Bevat jouw sneaker dus veel suède? Doe ze dan niet aan op een regenachtige dag. Zitten er strepen of vlekken op het suède? Een tip is om deze te verwijderen met een gum. Wrijf rustig over de plek heen en gum de plek makkelijk weg. Een andere manier om van vlekken af te komen is door de schoenen te stomen. Doe hiervoor kokend water in een grote kom en houd de sneakers gedurende 1 á 2 minuten zo’n 10 cm boven de kom zodat de sneaker als het ware gestoomd wordt en het vuil los kan weken. Borstel daarna het vuil voorzichtig van de sneakers af. Onthoud hierbij dat je het beste dezelfde kant op kunt borstelen, in plaats van heen en weer. Pas bij suede op dat je liever geen gebruik maakt van zeep of azijn. Hiermee loop je namelijk het risico dat je schoenen verkleuren.
This is how to keep the insole of your sneakers clean
Do your insoles no longer smell fresh? They can be maintained by scrubbing them or putting them in the washing machine. A good tip for this is to use vinegar (yes you really need to have this wonder drug in your home). Take a wipe for each shoe and wet it with a mixture of vinegar and water (ratio 2 to 1). Squeeze the wipes so they are damp, but not too wet. Then place these wipes in your shoes and leave it overnight. The next day, take them out and let your shoes air for a while. After that, they will be completely fresh for use again.
Of course, prevention is always better than cure, so be careful with your sneakers and protect them even before you start wearing them. This can be done, for example, with a spray that protects against stains and rain. There are many sustainable/environmentally friendly sprays available nowadays. Choose a spray that is suitable for all the different materials in your Veja sneaker.