The most important piece of equipment for us runners are undoubtedly our running shoes. They support our musculoskeletal system by shocks and stresses during running cushioning, thereby minimizing the risk of injuries or wear and tear. With proper care, running shoes usually last between 500 and 800 kilometers. Therefore, it is crucial to clean your running shoes regelmäßig and properly.
Why Clean Running Shoes at all?
In no time, running shoes become dirty, brown, and dusty, and no longer look as appealing as they did initially. By regular care you not only give your running shoes not only their fresh, radiant appearance back but also help them important properties like cushioning and breathability longerto maintain, as dirt, dust, and grime can impair them in the long run.
But also for hygienic reasons, you should your running shoes regularly clean, as bacteria and fungi like to settle in our shoes,bacteria and fungi like to settle and unpleasant odors can arise. Here's how you can your running shoes properly clean and care for them, so that you can enjoy them for as long as you have them, we show you here.
Washing Running Shoes in the Washing Machine?
Generally, if you want to give your running shoes a long life, you should treat them as gently as possible, as they are made from very special, but sensitive materials and for this reason, should not be washed in the washing machine . The washing cycle in the machine can damage the materials and harm the cushioning foam.
Due to the constant rotations, the shoes have to endure many harsh impacts, which causes the upper material to suffer and cracks to form in the rubber and foam elements, especially during spinning. Furthermore, prolonged soaking in soapy water and high temperatures can cause the running shoe to deform. The heat can dissolve the glue that holds the different elements of the shoe together.
However, if it absolutely must be done, you should wash your running shoes on a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30° Celsius and select a low spin speed. With our shoe cleaning bag you largely protect your running shoes from the stresses they are exposed to in the washing machine.
However, be sure to use a mild detergent and under no circumstances add fabric softener. Because that unnecessarily stresses the materials and shortens the lifespan of your shoe. Running shoes have absolutely no business in the tumble dryer. It's best to clean them by hand and air dry them.
How to Properly Clean your Running Shoes
To properly clean your running shoes, you will need the following:
- A mild laundry or dish detergent or fabric-friendly soap
- A soft brush – ideally a shoe brush – or a soft toothbrush
- A sponge or cloth
- Paper towels (e.g., kitchen roll)
- A bucket with lukewarm water
Procedure
Remove your laces and the insole to wash them separately. Remove coarse dirt with a brush, light dirt with a damp cloth.
Fill a bucket – or a large bowl – with lukewarm water and add 15-30 ml of mild soap, delicate laundry detergent, or dish soap.
Under no circumstances should you use bleach or other aggressive cleaning agents, as these will damage the materials.
Clean the outsole of your running shoes with a soft brush dipped in warm soapy water and rinse off the residue with a wet sponge or cloth.
Now clean the upper. If the upper is made of fabric, mesh, or canvas, gently scrub it with a wet, soapy sponge and do not submerge the shoes in water.
Clean the insoles with soapy water. First, thoroughly scrub the surface with a soft brush and remove remaining dirt and soap residue with a wet sponge or cloth. The insoles should not be soaked, as the foam can deform due to moisture.
You can wash the laces at low temperature in the washing machine or clean them by hand with soap and a brush.
Once all parts of the running shoes are cleaned, they should dry in a well-ventilated room. Under no circumstances should you dry them on the heater or in direct sunlight, as the materials will thereby be damaged and the shoes deform. To absorb moisture, stuff paper towels or newspaper into the shoes.
To prevent odors, germs, and fungi, use shoe deodorant, disinfectant, or a powder for athlete's foot treatment.
