Method2Decorating Your Shoes with a Bleach Pen
1Take the laces out of your shoes to keep them from getting discolored. If they are dingy, you could use this time to throw them into the washing machine or clean them by hand. If your laces are really old and thin, it may be time to consider purchasing some new ones.Removing the laces will also give you more space to work and will let you see the entire canvas clearly.
2Place your shoes on a work surface covered in old newspapers. If you don’t have old newspapers, you could use magazines, old folders, or cardboard. Create a large enough workspace for your shoes, as well as for your materials.[8]Work in a well-lit room if you can.
3Practice drawing your design before using your bleach pen. If you are doing something more complex, like flowers, geometric shapes, or even animals, doing a few practice runs will help prevent you from making mistakes. Use a few sheets of paper to sketch out your design, and then lay the design over top of your Converse shoes to make sure it will fit in that space.[9]You could also use a pencil to lightly sketch a design directly onto your shoes so you have a pattern to follow.
- 4Use your bleach pen to create the design on your colored shoes. Test the bleach pen on a paper towel before you start to use it, and then squeeze it gently while you draw for the best results. Take your time and enjoy being creative![10]
Make sure to shake your bleach pen really well before using it!
Here are some fun design ideas for your Converse: polka dots, stripes, different sized triangles and geometric shapes, a checkerboard pattern, stars, hearts, and flowers.
- 5Re-bleach areas of your design that you want to stand out. If there are areas that are too light or that you want to be “brighter” than the rest, simply go over that area with the bleach pen again. Be careful to not squeeze the pen too hard and cause the bleach to bleed across the canvas, though.
You could make certain dots in your polka dot pattern larger for a fun variation. Or you could emphasize a big star amidst multiple smaller stars.
- 6Rinse your shoes in water and wash them with dish soap. Don’t worry about washing away the work you just did—the bleach has already done its job! But you do still need to take your shoes to a sink and scrub them with dish soap and water to get rid of any bleach remnants that could stain other fabrics.[11]
Because you aren’t working with stringent, undiluted bleach, you don’t need to worry about wearing plastic gloves while rinsing the shoes.
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