How can I clean my pointes?

[an onlooker]

Consider the dirt on pointe shoes as well earned beauty marks. I usually suggest that when someone gets new pointe shoes to wrap the yellow masking tape (used by painters) around the box. Masking tapes purpose is to "mask" the erroneous marks off the surface and then when you need to the tape comes off clean. I think now they are selling it in dance shops around the world. I think Bunheads has one out called "toe tape", but if you can find the exact same thing at a hardware/paint store it will probably be cheaper. Although, some places are making masking tape in the color of blue and so you might have to stick with the Bunheads' brand. But try not to clean the old ones. They might get ruined.

[Pas de Deux]

This reminds me of the dumbest thing I did. Okay...

Well, I use Grishkos', and they have a little sticker inside them. This sticker often gets messed up, and annoys me. So, one day I peeled it off. It left a little sticky clean spot. I got some water and applied it, thinking that it wouldn't matter, for it wasn't near the shank. Then, I realized it was in the middle of the shnak! I wiped off the water, but I'm still worried that's why my shoes feel so good.

[kaya]

Valeria wrote:

ummmm i noticed that marissa said to wipe them with calamine lotion. should i do the ribbons and the elastic too? and im not sure if i should use clear calimine??? mine is pink? is there a big difference?

use pink calamine, not clear. u dont needto clean the ribbons and elastic.

[kaya]

use pink calamine if ur pointes r more pinkish. u dont need to clean the elastics or ribbons

[kaya]

use pink calamine. if u get ur pointes dirty and are panicking, think that if u try to clean them they might get worse. it happened to me that once.

[Gina]

Okay Okay. We all got pointe shoes. And yes they do get dirty. And you need to clean them. ME TOO!!!!

Ive been hearing baking soda this and baking soda that. But does it really work? Yes it sure does! I tried it and it works. So i decided to help all my fellow DDN pointe people out and put together little step by step guide so you know exactly what to do.

Materials:
♥ water
♥ face towel
♥ baking soda
♥ newspaper
♥ toothbrush
♥ fan

1. Place pointe shoes on a hard surface. Make sure you have a towel or newspaper under it.

2. Get baking soda and a cup. Put a handful of the BS (baking soda) in the cup. Add water little by little. Until it makes a paste. Not too watery or too thick. If too watery it may ruin your shoes. So make sure its just right.

3.Get a old/unused toothbrush or your own finger may work too. Little by little place paste of BS onto finger or brush and place onto dirty spot of shoe. I would suggest you test a small spot on your shoe first before messing with the whole shoe.

4. After paste is placed on the spots of the shoe place shoes in front of a fan. Overnight for some or maybe even a couple of minutes depending on speed and power of fan (Also weather).

5. Once paste is dry on shoe it should appear chalky and white. Now get a cup of clean warm water and place on a clean white hand towel. Not toilet paper or paper towel. I recommend a body/face towel. And perferably white because if colored then the dye might get onto your shoe.

6. Wet tip of towel and scrub the dirty spot of shoe. Stain will not get fully out but it will get duller. Focus on one spot at a time. Once all the spots paste was on is gone place in front of fan again. Shoes will have a fishy stench but it wont last.

7.
Once shoes are dry they should be the pinkish color they were but not as shiny. IF they appear still chalky repeat step with warm water. Do not apply the same part of the towel on the whole shoe. Wet one tip then clean one poart. Then wet a diffrent part of the towel and use that. Repeat this for whole shoe. Its a must to not use the same part of the towel becasue if you use it then your just putting wet BS onto the shoe again which will make it chalky when dry.

8. Repeat until shoe doesnt appear chalky anymore.

9. Pointe shoe should look cleaner and not as dirty. It will be duller though. But hey shinyness of a pointe shoe must end at one point.

10. Make sure shoe is cpmpletely dry before being worn. Depending on how much water being used should determine how long it takes to dry. Thats why I say make sure you ring out the towel when wetting it. Dont put it on the shoe dripping wet. It should be damp, not dripping like I said.

[Test]

test

[Dianbee]

Samantha I hope you will see a physiotherapist or chiropractor about that jabbing pain in your ankles. It should be preventable - there are lots of exercises you can do to get strong, once the injury is healed. Go to http://www.theballetstore.com and get The Perfect Pointe Book - it will help you a lot.

[Sam]

You can use calomine loation, the same loation you use for bites on your skin just ask the chemist