How To Clean Running Shoes

Running in clean shoes is not only good for your appearance, but it also keeps your pricey sneakers in good shape. Unfortunately, you can only keep your running shoes clean for so long. They will always get dirty as long as you are running regularly in them. To maintain their cleanliness and looks, you need to clean them regularly. However, how you clean your shoes is the most crucial thing.

The material and the manufacturer’s recommended washing method are two main factors that determine how you clean your running shoes. Other factors include how dirty the shoes are and the type of dirt on them. Here’s a helpful guide on how to wash your running shoes.

How To Wash Running Shoes

There are three main methods you can use for cleaning your running shoes. They include rubbing off dirt using a soft brush, using a washing machine, and handwashing. Machine washing and handwashing are the most used cleaning methods. Of the two, hand washing is the most widely used though it takes longer than a washer. The biggest advantage of handwashing has over the machine is that you can get the dirt off running shoes carefully. You can focus on a stain and remove it manually for thorough cleaning of the shoes.  Hand-washed sneakers last longer than their counterparts.

How To Hand Wash Running Shoes

1. Get everything needed for washing the shoes ready. You need mild detergent, a soft scrub brush or toothbrush, a sponge, a bucket of warm water, and paper towels.

2. Remove your shoe insoles and laces and fill the bucket with soap and water. Add a small amount of mild detergent or clothe-safe soap into the water.

3. Using a dry paper towel to clean off any clinging debris, mud, or dirt before wetting the running shoes.

4. Start cleaning the bottom of the shoes using the scrub brush dipped in the warm soapy water. This should get rid of mud and tough dirt on the outsole. You can also use a toothbrush dipped in warm water. Rinse with a wet sponge.

5. Wash the upper part of the shoes. The fabric used for constructing the running shoes matters the most when cleaning the upper. For most runner shoes, canvas, nubuck, suede, leather, and mesh are the most widely used materials. Rub the upper gently with a soapy sponge or towel and rinse. Do not submerge in water as this might damage your shoes.  For the suede, nubuck, and leather, use the recommended products to prevent discolouration.

6. Wash the insoles and laces with soap and water. Do not soak insoles in water as this would damage their shape and form. Scrub gently with a toothbrush and clean off the dirt using a wet sponge. For the shoelaces, wash them using soap and scrub brush under running water.

7. With all the parts of the running shoes cleaned, it’s time to dry them. Stuff with a dry paper towel or with newspaper and air dry them. The paper towel absorbs moisture and maintains the shape of the shoe. Do not dry your shoes in direct sunlight.

8. Before you wear your dry running shoes, you can use baking soda to absorb any remaining moisture and odours. Just sprinkle it inside. If it’s a bit tight, you can use a blow dryer to expand it. This step is optional.

How To Machine Wash Running Shoes

If you don’t have time to handwash your dirty running shoes, you can use the washing machine. The right way of machine washing is pretty simple and straightforward, just like doing typical laundry.

Instructions:

1. Clap the soles together to get rid of mud and dirt. Use a toothbrush or soft brush to remove debris and other large particles on the shoe before wetting.

2. Add washing detergent. Use soap that’s not harsh for the running sneakers to avoid discolouration. Go for the special mild washing detergents recommended for running sneakers.

3. Remove the laces and insoles and put them inside a washing bag and throw them in the washer. If you don’t have these bags, you can use pillowcases to prevent entanglement.

4. Put the shoes in the wash bags or pillowcases and put them in the washing machine. Add towels to the machine to balance the load. Towels prevent your shoes from slamming against each other, which can cause damages. Two to four towels will be enough.

5. Set the temperature to around 30 degrees but this varies with fabric used. You also need to set a cold delicate washing cycle. Too high temperatures may damage the glue joining shoe parts. The cold delicate cycle is equivalent to handwashing hence safe for sneakers. The washing time should be anywhere between 30 and 40 minutes.

6. Remove the shoes from the washing machine and allow them to air dry. Don’t put your running shoes in a dryer as the heat may damage the glue or warp them.

7. You can sprinkle at 3 tablespoons of baking soda in each shoe before air-drying to keep them deodorised and fresh.

Now that you know the right way how to clean runners, your shoes will always be well-maintained and last a long time before wearing out! Don’t forget to check out our post on how to lace running shoes if you need help re-lacing your shoes after a wash.