How to keep your white flip flops...White

Anyone who's known me for more than a day will probably notice I have particular taste in footwear. That is, I particularly like Old Navy Flip Flops. And yes, I've tried other brands: for the price, comfort, and durability, Old Navy simply can't be beat. I had one pair of flip flops that lasted about 6 years before the toe separator gave up its hold on the sole. Love them. 

If you were to take a tour of my home, you'd notice them too: I can usually find a pair under my living room table,at each door, all over the bedroom floor, and at least one pair in whichever random spot I have kicked them off at. I've got 2 pairs of black (to be sure I can find at least one), a pair each of brown, grey, pink, red, blue, and purple, and 2 pairs of white. One pair was what adorned my feet at my wedding reception 3 years ago and is now a grungy off-white, and the other I just bought to match the brightness of my summer wardrobe. 

To keep the newest pair of flip flops at their whitest, I clean them on a regular basis. It's easier than you'd think! All you need is an old toothbrush (ah, my favorite multi-tasker), and Dove bar soap. 

Step 1: Lather Dove bar soap into stiff-bristled toothbrush 

I'm not sure why, but Dove is the best bar soap I've ever used in stain removal. By the way, it can also help pre-treat stains on clothing. It cleans nicely, and washes off without leaving any sort of film. In this picture, I'm using an old orthodontist tooth brush: the bristles are stiff, and the head is small. 

Step 2: Scrub, Rinse and Repeat 

Use circular motions to scrub 

 Don't forget to lift the straps and get the dirt trapped there!

Using circular motions, scrub the flip flop. Pay extra attention to where your feet touch the flip flop, and don't forget around the strap and the edges of the sole. You may have to scrub, rinse, and repeat, depending on how dirty your flip flops are. If you clean them consistently, they won't take much effort at all, and will take much longer to turn grungy off-white.

I don't scrub the bottom of the soles until they're white, but I do try to remove the top layer of grime, so I can get the best traction possible. 

When you're satisfied with the brightness of your flip flops, give them a thorough rinse (get those crevices!), and allow to air dry. I like to scrub my flip flops just before bed so I can let them air dry over night, and they're ready to go first thing in the morning.

And that's it! It's as simple as that: Old toothbrush; Dove bar soap; scrub, rinse, repeat; clean flip flops. :)