How to Clean Leather Tennis Shoes

One easy and inexpensive way to improving your wardrobe is to keep your clothing and shoes looking new. Quick n Brite is the best product on the market to remove clothing stains, but did you know it is even better to clean leather tennis shoes? Quick n Brite is all natural, with no harmful chemicals or fumes making it safe for your kids to help clean their shoes too! As a child I played soccer, basketball and baseball and friends always thought I got new shoes and cleats every year, our trick was to just use Quick n Brite to keep them looking that way. Now as an adult, my running shoes and gardening shoes often need a good cleaning. Whether your shoes are big or small, sports shoes or every day wearers, Quick n Brite is your answer. 

If you are going to do a deep cleaning of your leather tennis shoes, first thing you want to do is take out your shoe laces and put them in a cup of the Quick n Brite Heavy Solution (1TB Quick n Brite to 1 cup HOT Water) and let them soak for a minimum of 15 minutes. This step is especially important if you have white shoe laces, cleaning those first can make a huge difference!

Then, use a damp terry cloth towel and wipe off the majority of the dirt and build-up on your shoes. Next, using a damp sponge apply Quick n Brite paste full strength to your shoes and work the cleaner around in a short, circular motion.* (As with all cleaners, it is recommended to test a small area for colorfast and follow manufacturers specifications, and do not use Quick n Brite on raw leather or suede.)* Then using a dry terry cloth towel simply wipe your shoes dry. Quick n Brite will not dry out or crack your leather tennis shoes.

If you have opted to soak your shoe laces, after 15 minutes remove them from the cleaner and rinse with warm water, then lay flat to dry. 

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Quick n Brite Liquid Verse Paste Cleaner

People often ask us "what is the difference between the liquid and the paste Quick n Brite, and which is better?" So I thought I would write a post explaining the basics and the benefits of both. First off, all Quick n Brite products have the same base formula (which is explained in our Quick n Brite ingredients post.) Quick n Brite can be used to clean anything water can touch and the formula is non-toxic and biodegradable. All our products also come with a 100% lifetime guarantee, and have since 1952 when we began manufacturing.

Quick n Brite Paste: "The Tough Stuff"

• Quick n Brite paste is the original formula and has been manufactured by our family since 1952. 
• Quick n Brite paste is the strongest formula we offer and is best on tough to clean areas, like hard water spots, pet stains, red wine spills, leather tennis shoes etc. 
• The best "bang for your buck." Quick n Brite paste will last you forever (literally, and figuratively). The formula does not expire and most of our customers have been using the product for over 15 years, only reordering once every couple years! It is a great money saver, one cleaner replaces ALL your household products saving hundreds of dollars. 
• The one downside of the Quick n Brite paste: it is not ultra-convenient to dilute at home:
• The paste can be diluted to make a light or heavy solution cleaner (for stainless steel, wood, spot remover etc.) However, to do so you must melt your desired amount of Quick n Brite in the microwave, then dilute it with water. This step is not very convenient for an on-the-go Mom or professional cleaner, that is why we developed the Quick n Brite Liquid (See Below).
• Most popular uses: Set-In Carpet and Clothing Stains, Hard Water Spots on showers, tubs and windows, Fireplace brick, glass and stone. 

Quick n Brite Paste Special: Buy 2- 80 oz paste, get 2- 12 oz paste and 2- sponges for FREE!  A 25% Savings

Quick n Brite Liquid: "Quick and Easy"

• Easy and convenient to dilute, simply pour your desired amount of Quick n Brite liquid into a spray bottle of water and you are ready to clean! For effortless diluting try our Super Shot with an easy measuring bottle.
• Quick n Brite Liquid and Super Shot are the same formula, our 64 oz Liquid Refill is meant to refill the Super Shot twice. 
• Liquid can also be used full strength for stubborn areas, but is not as powerful as the paste.
• Best Seller for: Carpet Shampoo Machines. You can't beat the Quick n Brite liquid for convenience and price when it comes to shampooing your carpets at home. Quick n Brite saves you hundreds of dollars as opposed to hiring a professional cleaner. You can also use the liquid to replace defoamer, high traffic cleaner, pet odor remover and all the "specialty" carpet shampooing products sold in stores to clean your carpets at home. $2.00 worth of Quick n Brite will clean over 400 square feet of carpet! (See our Cleaning Tips here)
• Most customers go through the liquid faster. Like the paste it will not go bad, however, people generally use it faster. 
• Most popular uses: Carpet Shampoo Machine, Stain fighting booster (add 1 TB of Quick n Brite to a load of laundry), window cleaner (1 tsp. to a quart of water costs about 5 cents)

Quick n Brite Liquid Special: Buy 2-64 oz Liquids, get a FREE 12 oz paste and 18" Sponge

The bottom line: 

Many of our customers have both the liquid and the paste as they both carry unique benefits the other one doesn't have. However, if you have to choose one product to summarize if you are looking to save the most money and do not mind the extra steps to mix the solution, the Quick n Brite paste is probably your best option (or have a specific area in mind you want to clean that is a tough job.) If you want a product that works fantastic and still saves you money, but do not want to hassle with the melting process to dilute the cleaner, the Quick n Brite Liquid is my recommendation (or if you want to shampoo your carpets.)

Our Most Popular Kit: When you purchase the Quick n Brite Liquid and Paste together, we give you FREE mixing bottles and a sponge, a $7.95 value plus, you save $5.00 on shipping. 

If you have any additional questions, you can always feel free to call our offices at 425-778-8285 or visit our website at www.quicknbrite.com. 

What's in my Quick n Brite? Quick n Brite Ingredients

In 2009, Seattle Times writer Erik Lacitis wrote a piece on Quick n Brite salespeople and the trade of being a "pitch man." (You can see the article here). In his article he called on professor Jeff Harwell, of the University of Oklahoma's School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and an expert on cleaning formulations, to dissect the list of ingredients on our Quick 'n Brite container and explain what they actually do. Mr. Harwell did a fantastic job of thoroughly explaining the ingredients in terms everyone can understand! Harwell says, "It's a good formulation, a state of the art formulation," and states the ingredients have been around for a long time. Quick n Brite is non-toxic, biodegradable and contains no know carcinogens or harmful chemicals. Here is Mr. Harwell's explanation:

Biodegradable nonionic nonyl-phenoxy-polyethoxy-ethanol: "Common chemical called surfactant. Used in everything from toothpaste to dish-washing liquid. This particular surfactant has been around for 50 years and is generally considered to be both harmless and biodegradable. There has been some controversy in Europe about some of its biodegradation by-products having estrogen-mimicking properties, but research has not generally borne out those concerns. Surfactants help the cleaning solution wet oily surfaces, reduce the amount of force that you have to apply to detach the dirt from the surface being cleaned, and help keep the dirt suspended until it can be rinsed away. Surfactants are the main active ingredient in most cleaners, whether you're talking about laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, and hand soap."

Sodium EDTA: "We call this a sequestering agent. It is a water-soluble salt that makes hard water act like soft water by complexing with the water hardness ions. It's kind of like having a built-in water softener in the product. Very safe material that is found in products like cosmetics and soft drinks and is used in foods as a preservative. This makes the surfactants work better."

Sodium tripolyphosphate: "Same function as the sodium EDTA, but having both is generally synergistic. Again a very safe compound used with products like seafood to prevent them from drying during storage and shipping. But again, the main purpose is to make the surfactants work better."

Water: "No comment necessary, I assume."

Pure natural coconut oil surfactant: "Probably a surfactant like sodium lauryl sulfate, which is made from coconut alcohol. Very common in toothpaste, laxatives, pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics, hand and body soaps, etc. This is one of the oldest surfactants known and is accepted as generally safe. Many studies of the toxicity have shown no ill effects. This type of surfactant is also a salt and is classified as an anionic surfactant. The first surfactant listed, the nonionic nonyl-phenoxy-polyethoxy-ethanol, is classified as a nonionic surfactant. We generally find that mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants, such as you have here, give better cleaning results. They also allow the same cleaning system to work in over a wider range of cleaning temperatures, from cold water to hot water."

Natural kelp alginate: "A natural biopolymer that is used just as a thickener. If you've ever had a milkshake from a fast-food restaurant you've probably had some of this. It also helps keep small particles from being redeposited on a surface. It would be classified as an anti-redeposition agent. Bottom line is that it keeps the surface from becoming recontaminated from the wash solution!"

Dye: "Primarily just for aesthetic purposes, but actually helpful in giving you visual clues about how much dilution has occurred and whether there is any of the cleaning compound left on a surface after rinsing. Provides a good visual clue for when you're done rinsing."

We love being able to offer a cleaning product to families that we know is safe and works well. Quick n Brite has been family owned and operated since 1952 with the same non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients. Quick n Brite has also been backed with a 100% money back guarantee for over 60 years! 

How to Clean a Retainer | Cleaning Tips to Prevent Bad Breath

Yes, you read that right, you can use Quick n Brite to clean your retainer! The formula is non-toxic and safe, and does a great job of removing tea and coffee stains or white deposits from retainers.

 Retainers are a word that instantly makes teens cringe and parents check their pocket books. However, for many people braces are a necessity and wearing a retainer afterwards is just a way of life. Retainers take on a lot of accidental abuse; everyone has fished at least one retainer out of the garbage can, and in worst case scenarios, even out of the toilet. If your retainer finds itself in a germy situation, disinfecting and cleaning your retainer is a must to keep a healthy, happy mouth. Your retainer should also be thoroughly cleaned weekly to prevent bad breath, gum disease and other negative side effects.

Regular Maintenance 

Your retainer can be cleaned with a soft bristled toothbrush and toothpaste and should ideally be cleaned every time you brush your teeth. Just put a dab of toothpaste on your retainer and use your toothbrush to scrub the retainer, then rinse with warm water. 

Deep Cleaning & Disinfecting

Even with regular maintenance your retainer is constantly exposed to food particles, germs in your saliva and other airborne particulates that enter your mouth. Overtime, many retainers are stained from coffee, or get white deposits that are hard to get off. To prevent these things from building up and staining it is a good idea to deep clean your retainer when you start to notice even a build-up or "bad" taste. It is never a good idea to boil your retainer in water, although that will kill bacteria, it can also melt the plastic and cause your retainer to fit incorrectly. It is also not a good idea to soak your retainer in mouthwash, as the alcohol in mouthwashes can cause the retainer to crack or break, the same goes for using denture cleaner on a retainer, it is much too harsh for the brittle plastic. Instead, use Quick n Brite to deep clean your retainer, the formula is non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals, yet will remove tea and coffee stains and other build-up from your retainers without having to worry about harming them or ingesting chemicals.

Start by mixing 1 teaspoon of Quick n Brite liquid to 1 cup of hot water. Let the retainer soak in the solution for 15 minutes, then use a toothbrush to quickly scrub the retainer. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and your retainer will be clean and rid of germs. This quick step can help prolong the life of your retainer and prevent any germ build-up which can cause illnesses.