Trail running is a popular outdoor sport that many people enjoy doing. The only downside to the sport is the fact that trail runners need to clean their shoes after each use. This can be difficult for some people who do not know how to clean their shoes properly and leaves them with an odor problem. Fortunately, this blog post will teach you to step by step how to efficiently clean your trail running shoes without having any problems.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need to Clean Your Shoes
- Mild detergent or clothing-safe soap
- A soft scrub brush or toothbrush
- A sponge
- Paper towels
- A bucket of warm water
Make sure that your shoes are dry before you begin.
Cleaning Running Shoe Outsoles
Use the soft scrub brush or toothbrush to remove any buildup that may be on your shoes. You can use a mild detergent, but make sure it is safe for clothing before you apply it to your shoe.
Use paper towels to wipe away excess dirt and debris from your outsoles.
Cleaning Running Shoe Uppers
You will want to use a bucket of warm water with a mild detergent or clothing-safe soap and your sponge. Take off the laces from your shoes before you begin cleaning them using the method above. Dip your sponge into the bucket, wring it out so that it is not dripping, and gently scrub your shoe to remove any dirt or debris.
Wipe away excess water with the paper towels before you put them back on so that they are not too wet.
Cleaning Running Shoe Insoles
Gently scrub away any dirt with the cleaner using small circular motions until your insoles are clean.
Wipe away excess water with the paper towels before you put them back in your shoes so that they do not become too wet.
Drying Methods
- Letting Shoes Air Dry: Hang up your shoes to air dry after cleaning them using this method above. You can also use a shoe dryer on low heat, but make sure that it is not too hot.
- Hanging Dry Method: This is a more efficient way of drying off your shoes because it allows for airflow around all areas of your shoe which helps dry them faster. Put a towel on the floor and place your shoes onto it with the insoles facing up. Make sure they are placed far enough apart from one another so that there is room for airflow between them. Leave your shoes in this position overnight or until they have dried completely before using them again to prevent any odor problems from occurring.
- Shoe Dryer Method: Place a towel on the floor and place your shoes onto it with the insoles facing up. Make sure they are placed far enough apart from one another so that there is room for airflow between them. Plugin your dryer and set it to low heat before turning it on. Direct air over all areas of your shoe using the dryer until they are completely dry.
Make sure that you are not holding down any buttons when drying off your shoes because it can damage them if held for too long or used on high heat settings.
Helpful Hints
- Make sure you clean your shoes after each use. If dirt and debris is not removed from the outsoles of your shoe, it can wear down their life expectancy much faster than normal. Do not expose them to direct sunlight for too long because this will cause damage as well. Make sure that they are completely dry before you begin using them again to prevent any odor problems from occurring.
- If your shoes still have a smell after cleaning them, use baking soda inside of the insoles and then leave it in there for at least an hour. After that time period has passed, take out the insoles and wipe away excess powder with a damp cloth before putting them back in.
- If you have a water-resistant shoe, make sure that the area around your laces is dried off completely before using them again because this area tends to absorb moisture and cause odor problems if it is not dried properly.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Your trail Shoes:
Using too much water or scrubbing the outsoles of your shoe with a lot of force may cause damage to them. Using chemicals that are not meant for use on shoes can also lead to chemical burns and other problems, so make sure you stay away from using these if possible. If you do choose to use cleaning products that are not designed for use on shoes, make sure you try them out in an inconspicuous area first to make sure that they will not damage your shoes.
Do not leave your shoelaces untied when washing or drying off your shoe because this can cause the laces themselves to become stretched and damaged over time due to excess tension during these processes which will shorten their life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What if my shoes still have a bad smell after cleaning them?
A. If your shoes still emit an odor even after you clean them, try using baking soda inside of the insoles and then leaving it in there for at least an hour. After that time period has passed, take out the insoles and wipe away excess powder with a damp cloth before putting them back in.
Q. What should I do if my shoes are water-resistant?
A. If you have a water-resistant shoe, make sure that the area around your laces is dried off completely before using them again because this area tends to absorb moisture and cause odor problems if it is not dried properly.
Q. What should I avoid when cleaning my trail shoes?
A: Do not leave your shoelaces untied when washing or drying off your shoe because this can cause the laces themselves to become stretched and damaged over time due to excess tension during these processes which will shorten their life. You also want to make sure you avoid using too much water or scrubbing the outsoles of your shoe with a lot of force because this can cause damage to them.
Finally, do not use chemicals that are not meant for shoes because it could lead to chemical burns and other problems. If you choose to use cleaning products that aren’t designed for shoes make sure you try them out in an inconspicuous area first to make sure they will not damage your shoes.
