This Student’s Viral Shoe-Cleaning Hack Has Truly Miraculous Results

Turns out, this voodoo really does work— and not just on white kicks:

According to the Converse FAQ, using “a damp cloth [to] rub gently with lukewarm water and mild soap” is one way to clean your sneakers. Apparently one way to not to do it is to throw them in the washing machine, although if we’re being honest I’ve done that with just about all my canvas sneakers in life and they’ve turned out just fine.

Here is the company’s official opinion, via The Huffington Post: “We’re all for cleaning and taking care of favorite garments, but there’s something special about a pair of well-worn, well-loved, lived in Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. The iconic sneaker seems to get better the more worn it is: the more interesting it becomes, displaying a lifetime of memories and stories. …Some things just get cooler with age.”

True as that may be, sometimes even the coolest-looking kicks need a thorough cleaning. And for that, Sarah Tracey, we thank you.