Do you clean your athletic shoes? Surprisingly, most people do not. You may not realize that by taking five minutes to clean your favorite jogging shoes every week, you may add another year of life to them. Whether your sneakers cost you $20, $40, $60, or more, you should be taking care of them. Cleaning them will not only add life to them, but they’ll also look new. Remember that feeling you had when you bought your new sports shoes? You were excited, joyful, and anxious to wear them. So why not take the steps to make them last as long as they were meant to?
First, let me tell you what NOT to do. I worked in a shoe department for 4 years, and I’ve seen people make these mistakes. Do not put your shoes into the washer and/or dryer. Athletic shoes were not meant to be submersed in water. Have you ever stepped into a puddle with your sneakers on? It’s not a good feeling for you or your shoes. If they are leather, water and dry heat will make them old and they’ll start to crack. If they aren’t, you may have just completely ruined them. So stay away from using your washer and/or dryer as a method to clean your tennis shoes. Next, do not use bleach on your athletics. Again, it’s harsh on the material. You may think, I’ll just dab on the spots where it’s needed. In time, this will discolor your shoes and they’ll be ruined. There are specially formulated products you should be using instead of bleach. Next, as with bleach, do not use any other cleaning product not meant for shoes. Yes, Windex does work. But the chemicals in your window cleaner will ruin your shoes in the long run. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t use it to clean your good leather coat, don’t use it to clean your shoes either.
These are the steps you should follow. First, buy the cleaning product right for you. I recommend KIWI shoe products. For athletic shoes, there are many different products available. There is a heavy duty cleaner for those of you who run in the morning or play sports often. There is a fast acting cleaner for those of you who just wear casual athletics for the “every day”. There’s another kind of sport shoe cleaner that is fast acting and made of gel. There are scuff removers, conditioners, restorers, and waterproofers. And each product has instructions for use on the back of it for those of you who’ve never cleaned your shoes and have no idea how.
The next step is taking the time to clean your sneakers. As I stated earlier, five minutes may give your shoes another year of life. I recommend cleaning your shoes as needed, or adding it to your “chore” list to do once a week. It’s important to take the time to thoroughly clean them. My “program” for shoe cleaning is as follows:
1. Assess the problem. Do your shoes have just a little dirt on them or are they caked with mud? Do they smell? Do they have grass stains? Are there scuffs present? Are there watermarks? Asking these questions will give you an idea of what product you want to use.
2. Gather the right products. As an example, it’s been raining here in Ohio, so my white athletic shoes are muddy, have watermarks, and some scuffs. So I’m going to use an all-purpose cleaner and conditioner, a whitener, and a waterproofer. I’ll also use a freshener since my shoes have gotten wet and may smell. It’s good to buy the extra cleaning products such as a brush or a sponge, but I’ve found using a clean, dry, soft cloth works just as well. And for tough stains, a used, worn down toothbrush will work.
3. Time to clean. The first task is to remove the mud. Use a cloth to get rid of any excess, dried mud on the shoes. Then squeeze the all-purpose cleaner and conditioner on the shoes. This type of cleaner may be used on “distressed leathers, patents, imitation leathers, and plastic surfaces”, according to KIWI. Since my shoes have gotten wet and have been taking a “beating” from this Ohio weather, I’ve chosen to use this product. It makes leather shiny, and protects against cracking, water spotting and salt stains. After squeezing it onto my shoes, I use my old toothbrush to break up the dirt. Using circular strokes around the entire shoe works the cleaner/conditioner into the leather and removes the mud. This may be done twice. Once the leather is clean, dry with a soft cloth. Next, in consistent, circular motions, use the whitener on the shoes. This will conceal any scuff marks and put some life back into the shoes making them look new. Lastly, after the whitener has dried on the shoes, spray an even coat of waterproofer on the shoes. The all-purpose cleaner and conditioner makes shoes water repellant, but not waterproof, so do not skip this step. The waterproofer will prevent stiffening of shoes while repelling water, and makes shoes soft after application. A water repellant will work to protect from light wetness only. Also keep in mind, waterproofers and water repellants are only as good as the shoe is made. Meaning, if your shoes are not waterproof or water resistant, don’t expect the sprays to work miracles and make them that way. The sprays should be used for extra protection, but not Total protection.
And you’re finished until next week or next time your shoes need attention. Visit KIWI and take a look at some of the products available to you. Not just for your athletic shoes, but also your dress shoes, casual shoes, nubuck or suede shoes, etc. Taking the time out to care for your athletic shoes will restore them to new life. Make up your own shoe cleaning program today!
