Running shoes, also known as sneakers, have been around since the 20th century and till date remain in the sports and fashion industry. The white soled sneakers are amongst the most trendy. The whiter they are the better they look, without forgetting the comfort they provide to your feet. However, one main disadvantage is that the white snickers get dirty really quick and it can be challenging to take care of them.
So, how are you going to get your running shoes in tip-top condition? It would be great if had a one-size-fits-all answer here answer, but neither are all shoe materials the same nor their manufacturers. Nike, Reebok, Asics among others all have their manufacturing techniques and the fabrics vary.
Here are a few quick and easy cleaning tips on how you can bring your shoes back to looking as good as new.
5 Tips for taking care of sneakers
1. Use laundry detergent
Start by making a solution of equal parts of laundry detergent and baking soda. Mix them well, then use a microfiber towel to apply the solution to the dirty areas. You can use a toothbrush to insist on difficult areas. Then use a soft sponge to rub and wipe off the dirt. Follow by rubbing all over your shoes with a wet microfiber towel and finally pat dry the shoes.
2. Magic eraser (white sponge)
If for any reason you can’t get yourself any of the elements mentioned above, you can still achieve a convenient clean simply with magic eraser which is sold almost everywhere. You just need to wet the sponge with some water and you are ready to clean off all the spots on your shoes.
3. Clean your laces
Nice shoes also mean clean laces! Just remove them off, dip in a bowl filled with your detergent solution. If you don’t have detergent, never mind, get hold of any shampoo or liquid soap. Wash, rinse and allow to dry.
4. Getting rid of that bad odor!
4.1 Cleaning the innersoles
Clean shoes also mean odorless shoes! If the innersoles have become smelly, take them off and wash them in the detergent solution. Leave to dry then fill in your shoes again. However, it is not possible to remove the insoles for some shoes because their innersoles are glued onto the midsoles. How to tackle this one? Use a wet microfiber towel dampened in the detergent solution. Then, use a dry microfiber towel to wipe dry the interior of the shoes. Allow them to dry in a cool and shadowy place. If you can still smell any odor, don’t worry, there are two more tricks!
4.2 Baking soda
Put some baking soda in your shoes and allow it to stay overnight. By the following day, the odor will have vanished. Additionally, if you want your shoes to smell fresher, add some talc powder. This can be any talc, from your baby powder to your face talc. Finally, if you can’t grab any of these, go to your local supermarket and buy any Shoe Deodorizer and Disinfectant. This product contains active ingredients like chlorophyll, formalin, and benzalkonium chloride. And these will instantly kill bacteria-causing odor in your shoes.
5. Things to avoid!
5.1 Washing machine
Do not put your shoes in the washing machine unless the label says you can do so. And, check properly – even if the label says water-resistant shoes because here water resistant means the shoes being water-repellent in rainy conditions when you would be doing your training. In a washing machine, it would be another situation where the shoes would be submerged in a deeper level of water, undergoing washes, rinses, spins and dry action.
The glue in the midsoles will get affected and may detach from the uppersoles.
5.2 Do not dry in the sun
Do not dry your shoes in the heavy sun. The hot sun rays will affect the glue of the midsoles. The fabric may even change color and become dull.
5.3 Do not hold them in an upward position
Do not hold the shoes in an upward position when drying them. The weight of water at the top and the bottom will not be the same. Hence, your shoes may get bent marks or here again, the glue can detach. They should be kept flat on the floor in a cool place. Allow them to dry for as long as it takes.
Thanks for reading, and do not hesitate to jot down your comments. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and it will help you keep your shoes in perfect conditions. Feel free to add some more tips in the comments section below.
Do let me know if you would like me to cover some other topics that might be of interest to you.