Cleaning white Allbird Tree runners

shiny

Hi all! Haven't posted in awhile but I have a Cleaning Conundrum, related to my white Allbird Tree Runners.

We just got back from three weeks in Australia (one week in Adelaide area and two weeks in Sydney) and my white tree runners got pretty sooty. I wasn't running around in the fires rescuing koalas, just walking around normally, but pretty sure this is sooty dirt.

As soon as possible upon returning, I popped them in the wash following the Allbirds recommendations, and it didn't make a dent. So I next sprayed them down with stain remover, and soaked in Oxyclean. That helped a bit, but there's still sooty stains ... specifically in the outline of my five toes!

I know you can't use bleach (will turn the shoes pink). Has anyone tried bluing agent? Or have any other suggestions (short of buying another $95 pair)?

4 years ago

General

8 replies

Latest reply was from April

Marmee

Veteran

The same thing happened to my white tree runners worn five days in NYC. I washed a couple of times, and now just wear with jeans doing errands.

4 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have tree runners (in a pale blue). They are still clean but disappointing to hear they don't wash brilliantly. The wool runners that we have wash well.

I guess I would try Sard (wondersoap), maybe magic eraser on those spots - failing all this I might dye them?

4 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Sal, I have three pairs of Allbirds as my fussy feet love them, two are wool runners (cream and grey) and one tree runner (optic white, or was!). I washed all three pairs this weekend.

It does seem that the wool runners washed better than the tree's. The grey look the best but maybe that's obvious as they are darker and a marled grey. The cream wool runners look cleaner but a little shaggy (they aren't quite dry yet so jury is out). I actually never liked the cream ones so much -- give me optic white or give me grey!

But I bought the cream before the tree runners came out. In the summer I want optic white sneakers that are cool and ventilated.

I've never heard of Sard! I do need to still use a magic eraser on the soles, as those didn't get clean at all. Not sure I can use magic eraser on the material, I fear it would be too harsh?

Dyeing-- that's what I'm thinking with a soak in bluing agent. When I first got the tree runners, they were a tad on the bluish- white side already. Just not sure if that'd remove the actual sooty stains where my five toes appear....

4 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I wonder if the Sard Wondersoap is an Australian/NZ thing..... here is a link

http://www.sardwonder.com.au/e.....ories.html

I hope you had a lovely holiday despite being in Australia at the time of the tragic bushfires. We got smokey haze here too and it is such a tragedy for that gorgeous country.

4 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Use Magic Eraser on that area? Oxiclean soak or paste on the stain overnight?

4 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

Ive washed my red wool Allbirds and they look like new. So sorry to hear of your woes! I’d reach out to Allbirds directly with your story/ query. I’d be surprised if you don't get good advice or a replacement pair. (Keep us updated!)

4 years ago

Anonymous

A big fan of Allbirds (also due to fussy feet). I got blue tree runners. No advice I can offer beyond what others suggest. I'll follow with interest.

4 years ago

April

Veteran

Shiny, as far as bluing goes, remember it only very mildly tints the fabric so that it reads more optically white than fabric that might be starting to yellow. It won't hide a stain unless the stain is palest blue. Does the soot residue look a little blu-ish?

As a lame last resort, I will offer that apparently sneakers that are not pristine are cooler at the moment. People are paying hundreds of dollars to Golden Goose for sneakers that come dyed to look already dirtied:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/g.....F%20silver

Amazing, right?

4 years ago

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