I saved my scruffy trainers thanks to a 17p trick – now they're so pristine, people refuse to believe it's the same pair

The Sun

19-06-2025

ALTHOUGH white trainers are a wardrobe staple, we all know they're impossible to keep pristine - especially in the unpredictable British weather.
But before you donate the scruffy old pair, see if it's possible to bring them back to life with this wallet-friendly 17p hack.
The affordable cleaning trick was shared on Facebook by Siti Halisa whose old trainers looked so good following the hack that people refused to believe it's the same pair.
According to Siti, one of the 537k members of the popular Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips page, there's a special product that banishes all the stubborn stains with no faff.
Siti told fellow cleaning fans she had heard about the product online and was so amazed by the results, she decided to share them too.
Uploading snaps of the old Nike trainers before and after the hack, Siti wrote: ''Revived my white trainers from the tip on this group!
''Soaked in napisan for 30 mins and washed in the washing machine on 30 quick wash and left in the sun to dry.''
Available in Tesco for £4.50, the product claims to kill ''99.9% bacteria in your laundry'', as well as remove stains when the washing machine is set at 30C.
The box contains 800g of product that's enough for around 26 washes - which works out to be just 17p per single use.
For heavy stains, double the dose - and while the hack will be more expensive, it'll still be cheaper than forking out for new trainers.
To achieve the best results, simply add two tablespoons of Napisan into five litres of water.
Soak your clothes - or scruffy footwear - for two hours and then rinse.
Savvy woman shares how she creates more drying space inside with £2.99 Home Bargains buy & it even works outside too
According to the description online, Napisan can be used in children's items, such as bibs, shirts, nappies, soft toys, as well as family laundry, including sheets, handkerchiefs, towels, pyjamas, sports clothes and underwear.
The brand strongly advises not use Napisan on silks, woolen or non-colourfast items.
The jaw-dropping difference between the two photos has clearly left many open-mouthed - as the post has racked up more than 130 likes and over a dozen of comments.
Laundry tips
Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips.
How often should you be remaking your bed?
When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better.
Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets!
You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty.
Using an effective detergent like smol's will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle - that's better for the planet and your energy bills!
What temperature do smol recommend then?
For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties.
What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent?
Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively.
Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process.
One woman said: ''Love this thank you, will be purchasing napisan today to try myself.''
Another, meanwhile, wasn't too convinced, writing: ''They are not the same trainers all the creases in the front wouldn't disappear.''
A third chimed in: ''Well done. I'm always scared to put any Nike air trainers with an air bubble in the washing machine even on a low temp and spin.''
''They look brilliant,'' someone else penned.
After being met with some scepticism, Siti hit back at those who refused to believed, writing: ''.''