cleaning rubber flip-flops

[Blackdog Lin]

I have a collection of "cute" fun colorful (and cheap) rubber flip-flops, which I live in in the summertime. But the colorful patterned tops (where my foot contacts) gets grimy and discolored from my feet. Lately I've been thinking "well, I need a new pair of red ones (or blue ones, or brown ones) as these just aren't suitable for going out in public anymore". Then it hit me, I don't necessarily need new ones, maybe I just need to find a way to de-grime the ones I have.

Has anyone any ideas, or had any success, in restoring grimy flip-flops? Thanks!

[Mrs-M]

How about trying a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?

[Rosemary]

scrub with a brush and baking soda?

[Mrs-M]

I was doing a little more thinking about this, and how some molded rubber has miniature checkered patterning in it, with the centres of the checkered patterning, depressed. Such patterned, molded rubber, would be very difficult to get clean (I would surmise).

I think Rosemary, is onto something Re: the scrub-brush suggestion.

[catherine]

I say just buy black and brown flip flops from now on! I just checked out mine--which I wear daily (Bass, brown)--and they don't look bad at all!

[lmerullo]

Dishwasher? Alone, preferably. :~)

[cdttmm]

Washing machine? That's how I wash mine. But mine are black so perhaps they are still grimy and I just can't tell... :|(

[chanterelle]

I scrub my Birks leather inner soles and other rubber soled sandals with a bristle nail brush and dilute shampoo. They all come quite clean.

[domestic goddess]

I've washed them in the past with a small scrub brush and soap. The trick is to not let them get too dirty between washings. As if we have nothing else to do but scrub flip flops!

[Blackdog Lin]

domestic goddess: I did LOL at your post: how do I find the middle-ground between Simple Living (saving money) and Simple Living (saving time)? I have better things to do with my time than trying to clean $3.00 flip-flops. But I really love my cute $3.00 flip-flops. All of them. (and I have a lot of them) :)

Thank y'all for all the ideas so far. What I'm gonna try this week: a sinkfull of (mixed to) triple-strength Oxy-clean, soaking for a full day, or as long as I can. Can't hurt, and might help.

I'll let you know.....

[Tussiemussies]

You might want to use the new Dawn dish detergent that is out -- it has oxiclean but also is formulated to get crus off dishes that would take overnight to soak in. If not I would add laundry detergent to your overnight mix to get some dirt releasing action! Hope they come out well since you love them so much!

[Mrs-M]

Love all the creative ideas to remedy! SLF, is THE best place in the world! If we SL folks can't come up with a solution or fix, then it cannot be fixed or solved... :)

[simplelife4me]

Agree with Rosemary.