Cleaning your shoes

[mrSHEiK124]

Does anyone here bother cleaning their shoes? I bought a pair of Reebok Classics a couple of weeks ago, and they already look like crap. Cleaned them up as best as I could, and then I realized that the pair of Classics I've had for more than a year looks just as clean, if not CLEANER. Either I suck at the shoe cleaning, or these just got super dirty, super fast. WTF, is it even worth it, do people tend to give a crap about what your shoes look like?

 

[FoBoT]

no
they are shoes, they are supposed to get dirty

that keeps the dirt off my feet

good job shoes! :thumbsup:

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
no
they are shoes, they are supposed to get dirty

that keeps the dirt off my feet

good job shoes! :thumbsup:

 

[krunchykrome]

Throw them in the washer and dryer. That seems to work well.

 

[LS20]

yup, i clean new shoes for about 4 to 5 months before they get to the point where its not worth it anymore

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Throw them in the washer and dryer. That seems to work well.

I remember my mom doing that with my shoes when I was a kid, it always made them stink.

 

[Reggae4k]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or Costco/Sams Club equivilant!

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Throw them in the washer and dryer. That seems to work well.

I remember my mom doing that with my shoes when I was a kid, it always made them stink.

Yea, they'll probably stink for a day or so, but a little febreeze and some airing out should do the trick.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Throw them in the washer and dryer. That seems to work well.

I remember my mom doing that with my shoes when I was a kid, it always made them stink.

Yea, they'll probably stink for a day or so, but a little febreeze and some airing out should do the trick.

I've got an awesome idea, I'll try that out on the old pair and if all goes well, the new pair will get the same treatment. I hate having little black marks all over white shoes; the only other pair I have is black, I've had it twice as long as the old Classics, and they still look black! Maybe I need to stop buying white shoes.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Reggae4k
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or Costco/Sams Club equivilant!

the magic eraser truly is magic
i never tried it on shoes, but it'll clean anything off a wall

 

[mikej007]

You know what works really well on the outside of shoes? I thought it was BS too when my friend told me until I tried it...

Shaving cream and a toothbrush. I swear, it works really well on sneakers. Just spray some on, and work it into a lather with the brush. Then use a towel and wipe it off.

Use menthol for that minty fresh clean...

 

[lokiju]

I'll usually throw an older beat up pair into the washer once ever 2 years or so.

The washer will beat them up though and it's a bad idea to put them in a dryer as the heat and tumbling will destroy them pretty quickly.

One easy trick for drying them that works very well is to take them from the washer and place them at the base of your fridge, thats where a fridge exhaust from and the steady warm air will dry them fully over night.

 

[LS20]

i bought a can of sneaker cleaner... what comes out is the same smell and consistency of shaving cream... so i totally believe above poster. probably check the active ingredient list (if available) ot confirm

 

[Injury]

Take a bit of dawn (or similar dish detergent) and an old soft toothbrush to them. Wipe clean.

Easy on the water, none if you can avoid it.

Don't use fabric detergent unless you are cleaning something like a pair of chucks, that actually are fabric, rather than synthetic material or leather.

If you're going to use the washer route, you should probably take out the insoles and either replace them or wash them seperately, as they tend to be mold farms when some decent moisture gets in there.

 

[Lola]

i care what my white leather tennis shoes look like.
i have found the best way to clean them is with good old cheap tooth paste. Not the gel kind, etc, but the regular crest, etc.
Take a bit of it and put it on an old tooth brush. The abrasive in the toothpaste is strong enough to get rid of the dirt but mild enough to not ravage the shoes.
Wash it off with a bit of water on a washcloth afterwards. It works.

 

[Mutilator]

If you're going to wash them in the washer then take the inserts out, throw them in a pillow case - then throw the shoes themselves into the pillow case - wash them with some towels or something. Let them airdry afterwards, don't dry them in the drier because it can damage them by either melting the rubber or causing the glue to come loose.