How to wash gym shoes
Learn how to wash gym shoes and always keep them forever clean. Properly cleaning your gym shoe will maintain that pretty look which it had from the first day that you purchased it from the shop. Everyone hates the unpleasant sweat smell from within a gym shoes. However, with the proper cleaning techniques, you won’t be confronted with such smells anymore. Cleaning gym shoes is very easy. We’ll guide you throughout the whole process. Thus, there is just no need to panic about this little task. As you unfold our writing, you’ll learn what it takes to hand wash gym shoes, wash gym shoes using a washing machine at the correct setting, and eventually air dry them to look very new and sparkling.
How to wash gym shoes
Steps to follow
Remove the insoles 12 hours before washing time
It is highly advised to remove the insoles of your gym shoe 12 hours before properly washing the shoe. Another way to go about this is by removing them the night before the day that you plan to wash the shoes. After removing these insoles, remember to put them into lukewarm water which you’ve mixed with baking soda or one of the best liquid laundry detergents. If you are wondering which detergent is good for washing your gym shoes, check our Reviews of the best liquid laundry detergents. This is because insoles generally contain a lot of sweat and bad odor which if not properly washed, they’ll hardly be clean.
Deodorize the insoles and preferably hand wash them
When the insoles of your gym shoes must have made a number of hours within deodorize water, you’ll need to wash them. Because of their complex nature, it is advisable to hand was them. After hand washing, you can still drop them into the washing machine depending on your taste of cleanliness. In washing these insoles, you can use a damn cloth or a soft brush to gently scrub all the dirt and stains out. Don’t be surprise to find some left over excess detergent on the insoles after wash. You’ll simply need to use a soft and wet sponge to remove it. Strong odors within your insoles can be removed with detergents and baking soda. Should in case, this fails because the odor seems too stubborn, don’t panic. Strongest insole odors can be removed in a 2:1 ratio mixture of vinegar and water.
Hand wipe off any excess dirt on the shoe before the proper cleaning process
If you are planning to use a washing machine to clean your shoe, you must take this point serious. For sure you do not want to stuff your machine with lots of dirt as this can spoil it. In addition, this step will make sure that the machine properly cleans the remaining dirt with much ease. It’s not wise to carry your gym shoes with much clustered dirt and drop it into the washing machine. If the shoe is too dusty, bang the pairs against each other to reduce this dust. Soak a piece of cloth in water and try to diminish the remaining dirt before putting it in the washing machine for a proper and thorough wash.
Remove the shoe lace
Dirt generally accumulates around the eyelets of your gym shoes. Hence, washing them without first removing the lace is a big mistake. This is one of the best tips on how to wash gym shoes. Once the lace has been removed, the shoe stands a better chance of being thoroughly cleaned. In short, there will be no hiding place for dirt anymore. This tip applies for those who want to hand wash their gym shoes as well as those who desire to use a washing machine.
Put your gym shoe lace in a mesh bag
This is another pretty nice tip on how to wash gym shoes using a washing machine. It has to do with putting your gym shoe lace into a mesh bag so as to prevent it from tangling up. This will also prevent them from looking old and fade. Through this strategy, you”ll be able to use your gym shoe lace for long.
Use a stain remover to treat all stubborn stains before washing
No body appreciates to wash his/her gym shoe and still find a group of stubborn stains. That’s why we’ll advise you to always start by treating every stain that looks serious on your gym shoe with one of the best laundry products like Shout. Such will deal with even the stubbornness stains. And you’ll get back your shoe in a shining state. Always remember to treat these stains before hand washing or dropping the shoe inside the washing machine.
Check if your gym shoe is machine washable
This is another great tip to consider when learning how to wash gym shoes. Failure to do this might lead to heavy consequences. If your gym shoe is not machine washable, you’ll ruin it by dropping it into the washing machine. Always carefully check on the material which was used to fabricate your gym shoe in order to make sure that it is water friendly. Gym shoe made from leather should be hand cleaned.
Hand wash your gym shoes
If your gym shoes is not machine washable, you’ll obviously have to wash them by hands. It could also be that you just purchased a pair of super expensive gym shoes which you do not want to take the risk of messing it up in anyway. If this is the case, you’ll be doing well to embrace the hand washing option. When it has to do with hand washing, you’ll need to slightly warm water and mix it with one of the best liquid laundry detergents for this task. Use a soft shoe brush or damn cloth to gently scrub the outsole, insole, and midsole of the shoes. If you still find some stubborn stains, use a toothbrush to clean it out. When you are through, use a dry towel to wipe out all the leftover detergent. Also wipe out the maximum amount of water you can.
Use a washing machine
Most gym shoes are wash machine friendly. Hence, they can easily be washed with the machine to always remain clean. We’ll advise you here to drop your shoes into the washer together with other linens or old towels that you won’t mind the dirt from your shoe contacting them. By doing this, you’ll be making the washing environment more friendly and suitable for the proper cleanup of your shoe. This will greatly reduce the amount of clucking which you were to hear if you had to wash only your shoes in the whole washer.
Pour some liquid detergent into the washer. We recommend liquid because the powder type is more likely to remain within your shoes. Be careful not to overdose the liquid laundry detergent. Make sure that you put only the appropriate amount. Always remember that it is not by overdosing that the shoe is cleaned. Rather you’ll be creating too much foam. and detergent residue in your shoes. Still in the same light of providing tips on how to wash gym shoes, we’ll recommend that you choose the gentle cycle and use cold water rather than hot water for cleaning up the shoes. Cold water will prevent your gym shoes from shrinking.
Use the dryer with care
It is advisable to air dry your shoes but if you insist on using the dryer, you’ll need to take greater care. Remember that extreme heat can cause the material of your gym shoes to degrade. It can also cause soles to warp, as well as ruin a pair of gym shoes in the twinkle of an eye. Air dry your laces or wrap them if you don’t want them to get tangled inside the dryer. In addition, it is wise to wrap your shoes in a towel when drying it through the heat of a drying machine. Always bring down the drying temperature to a low heat slow cycle. Regularly check on your shoes throughout the drying process and make sure that the lace is not warping. It’s far better to air dry the laces if you are serious about carefully preserving them to last.
Air dry your shoes
Just as we previously mentioned, this is the safest method which we actually recommend. Once the washing is over, quickly remove your shoes in order to prevent it from becoming moldy. When you’ve removed your shoes from the dryer, keep them in an open air space to dry naturally. You can choose to allow it outside to dry overnight. For more accelerated results, you can put them in front of a fan or an air vent. Always avoid putting your gym shoes under direct and heavy sunlight. This can make them shrink and become less fitting. It should also be noted that sunlight can bleach colors and hurt certain shoe fabrics.
To avoid heavy sunlight destruction, you can put them under a chair or a table. Just make sure that the sun is not too intense on it. If you are worried about the shape of your shoes, ball up a news paper or a cotton towel and insert in each shoe. This will not only maintain its size but also help in soaking out water from within the shoes for a proper dry up. When the shoe is dry, you’ll need to put back its lace in place as well as its insoles. Once this is done, you are good to step out for the next gym session.
