It is very normal for running shoes to get dirty while running but if you keep your sports shoes dirty and careless, then they will soon look old and dull.
Do you know? Most of us still have no idea that “how to clean dirty running shoes?” as a result, they wash their shoes in wrong ways and their shoes soon start to damage.
Well, in the beginning, I was not able to wash my sports shoes properly.
But now, while washing shoes I apply 7 very simple steps that you can also use to clean your favourite running shoes like me. Today we’re going to talk about the 7 steps in this article.
Believe me, after reading this article, you’ll be able to clean athletic shoes in just 5 minutes.
So let’s get started,
The Process Of Cleaning Dirty Sports Shoes.
First of all, you will need the following items to keep your sports shoes clean,
- 2 Bowls/Mugs
- Hot water
- 1.5 teaspoons Detergent
- 1 Toothbrush
- 2 or 3 dry clean clothes/rags
The Steps To Clean Dirty Running Shoes.
Do this before you start.
First you fill two bowls or mugs with hot water then pour the surf in one of them and mix well with the water so that the foam comes out.
Now separate the shoe soles and laces from the shoes and put them in a certain place, don’t wash them together because if you try to wash them together, the chances of the laces being cleaned properly are very low.
After that wipe the shoes with a dry rag/cloth before washing to remove excess dirt from them.
Step 1: Clean the shoe outsole with a brush:
Now it’s the time to start washing our shoes. First you soak the brush well in surf water and start rubbing on the shoe sole with it.
The sole of a shoe is the only place that starts to get dirty first, and if the sole of the shoe is white, the dirt on the sole can be clearly seen from a distance.
Which looks very ugly.
Now, most of the shoes have white soles for which it is very important to keep our shoe soles clean.
Tip: Always soak the brush in surf water and rub it on the shoe sole so that the dirt on the sole does not dry out.
Step 2: Wipe the out-soles with a dry cloth:
When the rubbing around the sole is completed, after that take a dry cloth, soak it in hot water and clean the shoe sole gently with the cloth.
Step 3: Clean the upper part:
The next step is to clean the shoe cloth area, now soak the brush in hot water and start cleaning the shoe cloth area with the brush.
If the eyelets and tongue areas of the shoes are a bit dirty then soak the brush in surf water and rub it on the parts so that the dirt will be easily removed.
Tip: do not rub the shoe cloth areas hard with the brush, the shoe color will be damaged quickly. Instead, soak the brush in the hot water and rub gently on the shoe to remove dirt from the shoe cloth area.
Step 4: Wipe out the excess water with a dry cloth:
After cleaning the shoes thoroughly with a brush, now gently wipe the surface of the shoes with a dry cloth.
The dry cloth will absorb the excess water in the shoes.
Step 5: Clean the shoe laces and insoles:
Follow exactly the same rules to clean shoesoles and laces, Soak the brush well in surf water and clean the shoe soles and laces thoroughly.
After washing the sole and laces of the shoe, wash them with clean water and let them dry near the shoes.
Step 6: Dry the shoes naturally:
Honestly, I don’t want you to suffer like me so I’m sharing with you an easy way to dry shoes,
First you wrap the newspapers inside your washed shoes and leave them at room normal temperature to dry overnight.
This allows the newspaper to absorb the water in your shoes and You can also keep both the color and the sole of your shoes safe by using this method.
(Warning: There are many ways to dry wet shoes, such as keeping them in the sunlight, drying them in a washing machine, or drying them with a dryer. But these above methods can be very harmful to your shoe color and shoe sole, sunlight will make your shoe color pale and washing machine will erode your shoe sole.)
#FAQS
Can i put my running shoes in the washing machine?
Using washing machine to clean dirty running shoes isn’t a problem but If you let the shoes to dry in the washing machine then their is a problem. What happened there is the heat used to dry things can damage the fabric and the adhesive of the shoe.
So use the washing machine smartly. There are a few things you should consider before inserting your shoes in the washing machine.
1. Take the insoles out.
2. Use laundry mesh bag
3. Use normal laundry detergent.
4. Use cold water only.
5. Wash your shoes on a “gentle” or “delicate” mode of the washing machine.
6. Don’t put the shoes in the dryer mode of the washing machine.
7. Let them dry naturally under a shed.
Tip: You can use newspaper to dry shoes more faster. Just wrap the old newspapers and insert them into the shoe. Don’t keep the shoes under the sunlight.
How do you clean really dirty sneakers?
To answer this question i made this article. This is complete article on how to clean dirty running shoes. You can use these methods to clean dirt, mudd from sneakers, boots, athletic shoes etc.
How do you clean muddy running shoes?
Imagine you are running down a beautiful street on a beautiful morning and an inspirational song is playing on the headphones that fit your ears. Just then a beautiful woman is coming towards you from the opposite side of the road. She also came here to exercise. Your very inspired eyes are staring at her face calmly.
And suddenly your feet move to a muddy place. You noticed that your white Adidas Ultrabust shoes quickly turned into dark and muddy shoes. You’ve sadly returned home after half-exercising and wondering how you can easily clean dirty running shoes.
I can imagine what is the present condition of you and your running shoes because it is based on my own life story.
But without worrying i used a few simple methods with which i could clean my muddy adidas Ultraboost completely. Today I’m sharing the tips with you.
1. Select a airy or opened area for the operation.
2. Let the mud to dry.
3. Slap the shoes together or against a hard surface to remove the dried mud.
4. Wipe the shoe surface with a sponge or paper towel.
5. Remove the shoelaces or insoles. (if possible)
6. Scrub your shoes with a toothbrush using detergent mixtured water.
7. Let the shoes dry in a well-ventilated area.
If your shoes are smelling after all the works then sprinkle some baking soda into your dry shoes or you can follow 5 other Effortless Ways To Remove Bad Smell From Your Shoes, wait for 2 hours. The baking powder will absorb the odor completely.
The idea I’ve got from: Wikihow
How do you get stains out of running shoes?
Removing stains from running shoe isn’t a big problem, you can easily remove them using these methods mentioned here. If the stains are hard and present on white shoe then it can be hard job.
But there is no problem when we are with you. I’ve already shared an article on “how to unyellow your white shoes“.
Can i wash dirty sports shoes with dish soap?
The quick answer is no, you should not use dishwashing soaps to wash dirty sports shoes because the dishwashing soaps or gel are made from various chemicals. They could be harmful to the fabric and the adhesion power of your shoes overtime.
Instead of them you can use normal detergent power or 6 Best Shoe Cleaning Shampoos to clean dirty running shoes.
How to clean sports shoes without water?
It is a very interesting question. How you can clean your dirty sports shoes without using water. If someone heard it for the first time then he/she will say it an impossible task.
But there are actually some products available in the market which can actually clean your shoes without taking help of water.
1. Shoe Cleaner Spray
2. Vinegar and Baking soda mixture
3. White eraser magic
4. Shoe deodorant spray.
How To Clean Your Dirty Sports Shoes?
Here I’m sharing a video of Global Triathion Network, which is focused on cleaning running shoes completely. In this video you can learn the steps which is mentioned in this article.
The Bottom Line
This is the complete in-depth post about “How to clean dirty running shoes easily“.
In this post i have shared a solution that will help you to wash your sports shoes in a right way. The process will take only 5 minutes for each shoe.
Do you already know this process of cleaning running shoes? Let me know in the comment section.
Now it’s your turn to apply the rules to clean dirty running shoes.
If you liked this information don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for visiting. Ta Da!