Iridescent Adolescent: DIY: Acid Wash Sneakers

Acid wash clothing are one of my favorite patterns because of the intricate yet random specks of different color you can get from one simple thing, bleach. Today, I did acid-wash-looking sneakers that I thought would be very fun to wear since I have a uniform at school.

What you will need:

Sneakers (Converse, Vans, Keds, or lookalikes are best)

Bleach

Water

Spray Bottle

Bucket

Dish washing gloves (or any that are waterproof)

Duct Tape

Newspaper (optional, but suggested if you are doing this outside so you don't contaminate plants and the surface you are working on)

Instructions:

1) First, start by taking pieces of duct tape and wrapping the rubber portions of the sneakers to prevent any contact with the bleach, which you will be applying later.

I decided to cover the backs, and eventually the "tongues" of the sneakers because I did not want to bleach those portions.

2) Then, remove the shoe laces. This step is important because the laces do not need to be bleached, and they will cause a different pattern on the sneaker because they are covering some cloth.

3) With the spray bottle, pour a small amount of water, maybe 1/5 of the amount of bleach you will put in just so the bleach is not as potent. Do not add too much otherwise the bleach will not work the best of its ability. After filling the water, add the bleach. Put the gloves on when doing this, because you do not want any direct contact with it.

4) Then, place the sneakers on newspaper or any surface as you wish, and start spraying! I suggest spraying far away and having it as a mist, so the original color of the sneaker will still show through. At first, the bleach will not look like it is doing its job, but spray SMALL amounts, it takes a couple of seconds to work. You can always add more, but you can't remove the bleach if you sprayed too much. Remember, keep the gloves on when the bleach is out and in use.

5) Take a large bucket filled with clean water, and dip the sneakers. This will remove most of the bleach that still remains on the sneaker.

6) Let the sneakers dry, or at least become damp.

7) After, take a hose, and on a surface that will not contaminate any plants or animals, like gravel or pavement, spray the sneakers with a hose again, and this will remove the access bleach that still remains on the sneaker even after putting it in the bucket. I removed the tape before hosing the sneaker down.

8) Fill the sneaker with paper, or more preferably newspaper (so there isn't any paper going to waste). This will speed up the process of drying. Let dry in the sun. I recommend if you want to wear the shoes the next day, blow dry them after they have been sitting outside for an hour or two.

Replace the newspaper after about an hour, because the first newspaper you applied will already be wet, therefore it will retain the moisture rather than getting it out of the shoe.