Trainers

Dampen down your trainer (laces and inner soles removed) with warm water over the sink. Take a wet nail brush and dab it in washing machine powder or liquid. Gently scrub off the dirt everywhere. Get into all the nooks and crannies. Scrub up til foamy and then rinse off. No matter how wet they get they will dry eventually, gently; on a windowsill is best. Wash or replace laces. Finally, for all-white leathers take a corner of a damp sponge, dip it in brilliant white emulsion paint - yep your standard decorating stuff - and wipe over your entire shoe, pushing emulsion onto the joints and edges of leather. Dry in the sun. Warning: you will need to wear shades when first wearing again. Ask my teenage Nike Air Max wearing daughter. I am her hero. And by doing this I avoided a conversation about expensive replacement.