Sooner or later, amateurs and professionals in running disciplines face the question of whether it is necessary to clean the shoes by hand in the old fashioned way or, using modern technology, to tidy up the sneakers in the washing machine.
So can the sneakers be washed or not?
Running shoe manufacturers recommend that you only wash by hand. Shoe items are deformed after washing in a machine.
Household appliances run the risk of failure. Knowledge about washing in a typewriter will help preserve sports shoes and preserve elements of technology. The answer to the question posed about the possibility of washing not by hand is positive.
The essence of the problem
Sports shoes are washed as they get dirty. Approaches to solving the problem of how to wash are different for runners on asphalt or rough terrain. Lovers of daily jogging in the park pay attention to the smell that appears after training.
Athletes running through dense forests, hills with a difference in heights, after class, change into spare sneakers. But in any case, runners have to solve the problem of putting their shoes in order.
Basic washing rules
Steps for washing by hand:
- Unlace.
- Pour water into a bowl and keep the soles in the water.
- Wash off soaked dirt, remove the rest with a cloth or brush.
- Add detergent to a basin with warm water up to 40 degrees and let the boots soak for 10 minutes.
- Gently wipe off dirt, do not clean the fabric surface strongly, so as not to damage.
- Rinse in clean water to remove traces of soap.
- Do not put off washing after returning home, but get down to business immediately.
Machine wash procedure:
- Pull out the insoles and laces. Wash them separately.
- Pay special attention to cleaning the insoles, as they are in contact with the feet. Daily washing is a hygienic prevention.
- Put prepared sneakers in a shoe bag along with a worn towel, which will soften the impact on the drum of the machine.
- Set the correct mode (delicate wash or "manual mode"). Disable spinning and drying.
- After the end of the program, immediately remove and dry your shoes, avoiding batteries and open flames.
Features of washing some sneakers
Sneakers with a membrane, contrary to established stereotypes, can be washed. According to the developers of Gore-Tex, the microscopic pores of the membrane will not be damaged by the powder particles.
Models with foam or rubber soles, rags or leatherette, glued or stitched, with stickers and nets, are perfectly washed if the rules are followed.
How to properly wash sneakers in a washing machine
If you follow the recommendations, the shoes will become faithful assistants in running training. Achieving high results in running is not the least played by properly selected sneakers and further careful care.
Washing in a machine with liquid detergents will preserve the quality of the material and leave the breathability unchanged. It is necessary to inspect and clean from dirt, observe the temperature regime and dry slowly.
Preparing shoes for washing
- Check for defects. A signal that the shoes are deformed are protruding threads or foam rubber, a peeling sole. Such products can be washed by hand.
- Pull out the laces and insoles.
- Remove dirt from the sole protector, pull out stuck stones and leaves. If the dirt has eaten into the material, then leave the sneaker with old stains in soapy water for a while.
- Then place in a special bag. The bag equipped with foam rubber around the perimeter will protect the boots from rubbing during washing and retain their original appearance.
- Instead of a bag, we take an unnecessary non-fading pillowcase made of dense material that will not tear. If the bag is self-made, the fabric requirements are the same.
- Be sure to close the bag, pillowcase, or sew up the hole before washing. You can use bath rugs or terry towels with your sneakers.
- Inventive people wash their shoes in jeans with one shoe in each leg. For this method, trousers are suitable that do not fade in the process.
- Colored and white sneakers should be dealt with separately.
Selecting a mode for washing
- Install a shoe program;
- In her absence, choose a mode for delicate things;
- Check that the temperature is no more than 40 degrees;
- Disable spin and dry modes.
Choosing a detergent
Suitable liquid products:
- specially designed for sports shoes;
- for membrane clothing;
- for delicate washing (the composition of the product must be free from aggressive components and abrasive);
- any liquid gels.
- Calgon can be added to protect the color from white bloom. This descaler will not allow foreign particles to clog into the pores of the membrane tissue.
- Soak shoes of bright colors in a weak vinegar solution for half an hour before washing. After complete drying, load into the machine. This vinegar trick will keep your sneakers bright and vibrant.
- Bleach when washing white shoes will give your sneakers a snow-white cleanliness.
- In the absence of the opportunity to purchase liquid products, laundry soap will help perfectly, which needs to be grated and the shavings are poured into the powder compartment.
The best options are:
- Domal Sport Fein Fashion. Perfectly washes membrane clothes and shoes and preserves the quality of things. Sold as a balm.
- Nikwax Tech Wash. After washing, the shoes look like new without a hint of dirt. During the cleaning process, the membrane is impregnated, which remains breathable and water-repellent. Perfectly reanimates things previously washed with ordinary powder. Washes away all clogged microscopic powder particles from the pores of the membrane. Sold as a liquid. The same company has an aerosol impregnation.
- Perwoll Sport & Active. A popular detergent for sportswear and footwear. Suitable for membrane products. Available in gel form.
- Burti "Sport & Outdoor". The product cleans all types of dirt and is safe for sports membrane items. Available in gel form.
It is important to know for proper drying:
- After completing the cycle, the shoes should be removed immediately. The machine spinning and drying mode leads to equipment breakdown and damage to boots. Drying should take place in natural conditions: away from heating appliances and direct sun.
- Fill the sneakers tightly with dry white paper and change as it gets wet. It is not recommended to take a newspaper or colored paper for this purpose, as the inside of the material is colored. Use napkins or toilet paper instead of paper.
- Drying takes place in a ventilated room at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees.
- To dry out your sneakers faster, they should be placed with the soles up. Sports shoes with a membrane will take longer to dry.
- Dried shoes are treated with a water-repellent spray and antibacterial deodorants.
What shoes cannot be washed
- Leather. Even well-stitched leather sneakers will deteriorate and will not hold their shape.
- Suede.
- Worn out with damage, defects, holes, sticking out foam rubber. Torn-off particles of shoes can get into the filter or pump, damaging household appliances, and the shoes themselves will finally deteriorate.
- With rhinestones, reflectors, patches, logos, metal and decorative inserts. These elements can fly off during washing.
- Low-quality shoes of dubious origin: not sewn, but glued with cheap glue.
For the safety and durability of the machine, you should not wash many pairs of sneakers at the same time.
Washing your favorite running shoes won't take long with the washing machine. The main thing to remember about the rule of three Ps is to prepare, wash and dry. If you take good care of your shoes, every running workout will bring joy and small wins.
