Sneakers should be washed regularly, because these shoes because of foot sweat often reproduces pathogenic bacteria. As a result, sneakers can get fungus, there may be an unpleasant smell. Regular washing of the shoes will ensure a beautiful appearance of the sneakers, absence of fungus and germs, repulsive odor.
We have prepared recommendations on how to properly wash your sneakers on a regular basis and how to further care for them. Follow these steps to ensure that your shoes for a long time their original appearance.
Proper mode for washing your sneakers
Optimal modes for washing your sneakers are gentle. Suitable “Hand wash”, “Delicate wash. If your machine has a “Sport Shoes” mode, use it. Reel speed should be minimal. This will spin your sneakers more slowly, and the risk of damaging them is reduced.
In the absence of a suitable mode, washing should take a minimum of time. Do not use a wringer: shoes must dry naturally. Also, the spin runs the risk of breaking the machine.
Gels and liquid powders are adequate for washing sneakers. These products wash out just fine, no matter how hot the water gets. No stains or streaks are left on your sneakers after using them, unlike standard dry powders.
A suitable temperature for washing your sneakers is between 30 and 40 °C. If the temperature is too high, the synthetics and glue can get damaged, and if it’s too low, the dirt won’t wash off.
Sneakers with membranes can also be washed in a machine, but to wash them, use detergents designed specifically for membranes. Compounds with wax, oil and grease should not be used, as they reduce the vapor permeability of membranes. To restore their properties, buy separate impregnations: you can find them in sports and shoe stores.
Do not machine wash the following types of sneakers:
- Shoes with decorative stones, rhinestones: if these elements come off during washing, they will clog the drain;
- Illuminated sneakers: such shoes are not well exposed to water;
- Sneakers with foam stickers, with reflectors: such elements can easily come off during the wash.
The types of sneakers listed above are best cleaned by hand, using dry cleaning methods.
Preparatory steps
If you still have the label of your sneakers, look closely at the information on the label. The manufacturer will tell you how you can wash your shoes, at what temperature, whether machine washing is acceptable.
Before washing your sneakers, you need to do the following steps:
- Unlaced shoes, remove removable insoles, if any;
- Rinse your sneakers under running water;
- Make sure there is no sand, pebbles inside the shoes. All you need to do is run a steam over a garbage can. Grass, sand, and other dirt can easily be removed with a damp cloth. If stains have appeared on the shoes, before washing, apply a special product to the surface of the sneakers to remove such dirt;
- Place your sneakers in a special laundry bag. As a result, during the spinning of the drum, shoes will not hit each other and the walls of the machine. Laces and removable insoles can also be placed in the same bag;
- Up to 2 pairs per wash. If there are too many sneakers in the drum, shoes can get damaged while rubbing against the walls of the machine. A drum that is too clogged also runs the risk of damaging the appliance.
Do not put pairs of sneakers that differ in color in the drum. Add 2-3 terry cloths and the same amount of tennis balls to the drum. This will balance the drum, provide additional friction and improve the washing quality of the sneakers.
Before washing raggy sneakers, make sure that they are not prone to shedding. To do this, wipe the surface of the shoe with a moistened cloth. If it has stained the color of your sneakers, you need to wash them carefully and by hand.
If white sneakers are incompletely washed, use an unwanted toothbrush. Moisten it in a soapy solution and go over the spots of dirt.
Hand wash sneakers
When washing by hand do not soak the sneakers, as well as use harsh detergents. Otherwise, the shoes risk to unravel, deform.
The water should be slightly warm. Wipe shoes, laces and insoles. You can use a soapy solution, and for synthetic shoes suitable laundry soap.
Then thoroughly rinse your sneakers under running water from the tap.
Leather sneakers should be washed by hand, as machine washing risks deforming them.
Features and advice
If your shoes are made of leather or suede, then machine washing is prohibited. Wash these shoes by hand only. You can use room temperature water and a little soap. Do not use products with abrasive elements in the composition.
Suede trainers should only be washed in dry condition using a brush with a hard pile. One side of the brush is designed to remove dirt, and the other side is designed to provide lint.
After you’ve washed and dried your shoes, spray them with products designed specifically for suede and leather. These can help prevent your sneakers from drying out or becoming too wet.
Use alcohol or benzine to remove stubborn dirt. A solution of soda or dishwashing liquid will help with grease stains. However, the first time you wash your shoes, you must test them: apply the solution to a small area on the sneakers and check the reaction of the material.
How to dry sneakers
Place the washed sneakers in a well-ventilated room. Shoes must dry at room temperature. To speed this process, stuff it with crumpled paper or place the sneakers on a shoe dryer.
Do not keep shoes near heat sources such as space heaters. The same applies to the hair dryer: it is forbidden to use this device to speed up drying. Do not place sneakers in direct sunlight. Due to the elevated temperature, the shoe material and adhesive composition will be destroyed.
What to do if your sneakers start to smell
Special shoe deodorant can quickly remove unpleasant odors. You can also use hydrogen peroxide to lightly moisten the inside of your sneakers.
Standard washing in a machine or by hand will also ensure the elimination of extraneous odors, especially if it is carried out regularly.
