How to take care of your running shoes. Basic rules for daily care. How to dry sneakers after washing

When buying new shoes, everyone wants them to last a long time, while maintaining their pleasant appearance. But in practice, after a while you notice that your new sneakers lose their appeal and you have to resort to various tricks to return them to their original form. To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to care for sneakers, which methods will help you with this, and which will only aggravate the situation.

Immediately after purchase

Immediately after buying shoes, it is desirable to give it additional protection. To do this, apply a protective water-repellent agent. It is most often sold as a spray. This spray repels water and dirt. If you step into the water, your sneakers will stay dry and clean. With this tool, your shoes will look clean and your feet will be dry.

The tool you need to choose depending on the material from which your pair of sneakers is made. After the first treatment after purchase, it is necessary to periodically treat your shoes with this product. Especially when it's raining or snowing outside.

Important! Spray should be dry and previously cleaned of dirt and dust shoes.

Shoe cleaning

Such a matter cannot be neglected, since the more dust and dirt accumulates, the more difficult it is to wipe it off later. To take care of your sneakers properly at home, take note of these tips:

In most cases, you can get by with a soft cloth, water, and regular soap. This method is quite suitable for leather and rubber products.
Shoes made of suede and nubuck are more capricious in care, dry cleaning is preferable for them. If sneakers made of nubuck or suede are not very dirty, then you can get by with a special brush for cleaning these materials. To clean such capricious materials, it is better to use special tools. A stubborn stain can be removed with an eraser.
For textile sneakers, a dry brush is suitable. If it was not at hand, an old toothbrush may well replace it.
Nylon sneakers can be wiped with a damp cloth.
Sneakers made of artificial material are washed with soap and cold water.
Most sneakers are decorated with a white sole, which requires special attention and care. Otherwise, it will not be white for long. Here the surest remedy is an old toothbrush and soapy water. You can also try rubbing it with toothpaste.
Laces that have lost their whiteness can simply be washed with a washing powder with a bleaching effect. If they are very dirty and did not return to their original appearance the first time, do not be discouraged, washing can be repeated. Another good option is to rub generously with laundry soap, leave for 30-60 minutes, then wash by hand.

Can you wash sneakers in a washing machine?

If your shoes are heavily soiled, then in some cases they can be washed in an automatic machine. But you can only wash high-quality shoes and you need to follow certain rules:

detergent - liquid;
mode - “sports shoes” or “delicate”, no spin;
be sure to put the shoes in a special laundry bag or at least a pillowcase.

Important! You can additionally throw 1-2 oversized items into the drum, for example, towels. So washing sneakers will be much softer and more delicate both for the shoes themselves and for your equipment.

Washing in the machine can damage your shoes, they can become deformed or the material from which they are made can lose their properties, especially leather. So before you take care of your sneakers in this way, check the manufacturer's recommendations for your preferred cleaning method. Another nuance is the manufacturer: the better and better the model, the less the risk of spoiling it.

Important! It is strongly not recommended to wash shoes made of suede and nubuck. But the laces and insoles - on the contrary, it is better to wash more often.

Drying shoes:

To dry your sneakers, you just need to leave them in a well-ventilated area for a day.
Remove the tongue as much as possible, fill the laces only after complete drying.
Inside it is desirable to stuff old newspapers or paper. This helps to keep the shape of the product and dry it faster from the inside. But you can’t put them on a battery or on another heating device. Everything here is fraught with big troubles. And the sole can deteriorate, and the skin can crack. So no batteries, hair dryers and sunlight.

What else needs to be considered in the question of how to care for sneakers?

When cleaning shoes, do not use strong chemicals such as Domestos.
Do not use nail polish remover - this way you can get rid of not only dust and dirt, but also paint.
Be sure to wear socks, even if it's hot. If this is not done, then soon your sneakers will acquire a scent that will be difficult to get rid of.
Use a spoon to avoid wrinkling your heels when putting on your shoes.
Do not store socks in sneakers, especially worn ones.
Make it a habit to wash and clean your shoes as soon as they get dirty. If you pull with cleaning, then the dirt is deeply absorbed into the material and it is difficult to remove it.
Use special shoe deodorants. In addition to the aroma, they have antibacterial properties and take care of the health of your feet.
Do not wear the same pair of shoes for several days in a row. Even in dry weather, moisture accumulates inside the shoes and you need to give the shoes time to dry.

Important! To protect sneakers from deformation, you need to use wooden form holders - blocks. You can also store them stuffed with paper or old newspapers. In addition to keeping them in shape, these measures will also absorb excess moisture.

Now, as inexpensive labels continue to leave Russia, and remaining stores raise prices for new collections, it's time to cut costs and rethink your wardrobe. Often, in order to prolong the life of a cashmere coat or a silk top, it is enough just to properly store and wash your favorite item.

The Village is launching a new column in which every week we will ask experts how to care for a particular piece of clothing. The new issue contains ten tips on how to care for sneakers from Tatiana Bodanova, product manager for the Reebok Classic footwear category.

Each of us has heard more than once that any shoes should be treated with protective equipment before going out. Unfortunately, sometimes this is not so easy to do with sneakers: the outer surface of the model can be made from several materials at once - leather, nubuck, textiles - each of which requires special care. Surely there are real aesthetes who will scrupulously rub wax into the rubber sole and oil the suede inserts - we will limit ourselves to the general advice: a universal water-repellent spray will never hurt. In any case, any new pair, even before the first “publication”, should be treated with a special spray that protects shoes from moisture and dust (this product is easy to find in any shoe store).

The same pair of sneakers should not be worn for several days in a row: even in dry weather, moisture accumulates inside, which must be disposed of. The best option is to alternate at least two pairs to allow each to dry thoroughly, rest and come back to full combat readiness.

Washing sneakers is a thankless task: as a rule, after a couple of days, street dirt returns. However, this occupation cannot be neglected, since pieces of earth can be absorbed into the material and then it will be almost impossible to return the original appearance of the shoes. In most cases, you will need a soft cloth, running water, and a regular bar of soap for washing. The exception is suede and nubuck: dry cleaning is preferable for them. If sneakers made of suede and nubuck are slightly dirty, you can limit yourself to a shoe brush. You can remove an already ingrained stain from a suede surface with a special eraser that looks like a hard sponge. Such an eraser gently erases the topmost layer of the material, and at the same time removes dirt. Recently, in almost any store that sells sneakers, there are products that are designed to clean shoes from different materials. So, for example, Reebok stores have special products for cleaning sneakers, but you can find universal products in other stores, just consult the seller.

White outsole needs special attention, which adorns the vast majority of everyday sneakers today. We want her to always remain clean and radiant, but the circumstances over and over again are not in our favor. The surest remedy is a toothbrush and soapy water. The procedure requires some effort and skill, but the result may even exceed your expectations.

Many claim that they are accustomed to washing sneakers in a washing machine. It is unlikely that they can be called true connoisseurs of sports shoes, and such advice automatically falls into the category of particularly harmful. Washing in the machine can damage both the construction of the shoe and the material of the upper, especially if it is leather. Shoes can even "sit down". But the laces and insoles, on the contrary, are recommended to be washed regularly, and if necessary, replaced with new ones.

In order for the sneakers to dry well after washing, just leave them for a day in a ventilated area. Inside, you can stuff parchment paper or yesterday's newspapers: this will help the shoes retain their original shape and speed up the drying process. But it’s better not to try to put sneakers on or under the battery, if you don’t want to get a curled sole and cracked skin at the exit.

Many of us take care of our running shoes as a matter of course and little attention. However, if handled incorrectly, you can noticeably shorten the life of your running shoes, and in some cases even ruin them. We have a separate article about how much sneakers should “run”, in the same article we will talk about how to properly care for running shoes.

Each of us is familiar with this picture: you run home, and the cool colors of your favorite sneakers are securely hidden under a layer of dust and dirt. What to do? Leave everything as it is, wash your sneakers in the washing machine or call for help with a brush and a rag? We will show you how to properly care for your sneakers so that they serve you as long as possible.

Trail shoes do not need to be washed.

The following lines will definitely delight trail shoe wearers. Cleaning shoes designed for trail running and dirt is just a waste of time, because after each new run, dirt will again stick to them. Cleaning doesn't make much sense. The exception, of course, is the situation when, under a layer of dirt, it becomes impossible to distinguish the sneakers themselves, and instead of the original 250 grams, they weigh three times as much. But even in this case, you should not burden yourself with cleaning too much. In order for the sneakers to be usable again, it is enough to simply remove the stubborn dirt under a powerful jet of water.

The owners of asphalt sneakers find themselves in a completely different situation. Despite the fact that they also do not have to be cleaned, most of us would like to be with the whole parade at least at the competition, so that we would not be ashamed to look at the photos later. What's the best way to clean your running shoes without ruining them and spending too much time cleaning up?

Forget about the washing machine

We'll put it straight and straight - put clothes in the washing machine, not running shoes. Most running shoes are not meant to be washed, and in the process you can permanently ruin even a new pair of running shoes.

The problem is not in water and not in the cleaning agent (and it doesn’t even matter whether it is a powder or a gel), but in the mechanical damage that occurs from hitting shoes on the drum of a washing machine. During washing, both the shock-absorbing layer and the top of the sneakers get. In modern sneakers, it is often seamless and consists of many glued parts. As a result, after washing, you will get sneakers with deformed shock-absorbing material, which will have an extremely negative impact on their durability, and they can also wrinkle or simply stick out.

Brush in your hand

Which cleaning method should I choose as an alternative? If you don't care too much about how your sneakers look, then you can simply go for a run in the morning dew, which will wash some of the dirt off your sneakers. For a more thorough cleaning, you will need a soft brush or cloth.

Warm (but never hot) water, liquid soap, and a soft brush are the most effective ways to clean your sneakers. Because running shoes are made from synthetic materials, you won't
it will be difficult to quickly and easily wash even light-colored sneakers. Just be careful not to scratch or rub the delicate material by brushing too hard.

When cleaning your sneakers, don't forget about the inside of the shoe and the foam insoles as they accumulate dust and, most importantly, actively absorbed sweat, which can cause an unpleasant odor.

How to dry sneakers?

After you have cleaned your sneakers, you need to dry them properly. Throwing sneakers in the dryer or turning on the drying function in the washing machine is the easiest way that suggests itself, but even in this case, we strongly do not recommend using such units. Such drying will have a very bad effect on the materials from which the sneakers are made, and significantly reduce their durability.

It is best to dry your sneakers in a ventilated place near a heat source. Stuffing old newspapers or other absorbent material into your sneakers will speed up the drying process considerably. You should also not put your sneakers on a hot battery or heater and leave them near open flames (fireplace, stove, etc.)

What about water repellency?

The second most asked question immediately after drying is whether it is necessary to use water-repellent sprays on sneakers. Most running shoes are made from very delicate breathable materials, so saturating them with anything usually has no effect. Of course, you won't ruin your sneakers, but it's better if you save the water-repellent treatment for mountain or trekking boots, where it will work much more efficiently.

Membrane shoes

A separate category includes sneakers made of waterproof membrane material (most often it is Gore-Tex), but they also do not need to be impregnated with anything. The membrane works on a mechanical principle and should repel water by itself without the need for additional processing. Caring for these sneakers is no different from caring for regular textile running shoes, but you will need to pay even more attention to the inside of the sneakers and at least once a month lightly rinse it with water and brush it.

Regular care of the inside of the shoe is essential to ensure that the micropores that provide the breathability of the membrane are not clogged with sweat and dust and can work at constant efficiency.

Regardless of the season of the year, the topic of sneaker care does not exhaust itself and, as usual, there are those who need good advice and we are ready to provide it. One of the summer evenings, having gathered at a round table and ordered various “liquid” and “solid” goodies for ourselves, we decided to compile a small guide on how how to take care of your sneakers how to clean them and the like. About everything, but briefly and “to the point” you can read further.

The best option is to clean the sneakers with a special tool, there are a lot of them on sale. We wrote about one of these in this article.

3. How to protect the body of sneakers from deformation?

Use wooden mold holders. Of course, plastic and more affordable counterparts do the trick, but wood mold holders tend to be larger, properly constructed, and do a great job of pulling the shoe from the inside out, acting like iron for the leather case. At the same time, the advantages of wood include the function of “pulling” moisture from the skin, and soaking sneakers with a pleasant woody aroma (especially if the mold holder is made of cedar).

4. How to whiten old white laces?

Very simple - with the help of powder for white. With very strong pollution, you need to be patient and, if necessary, wash 2-3 times, otherwise this method shows itself perfectly in practice.

5. How to clean suede, nubuck sneakers?

With the right tool, cleaning agent, and understanding of the “what to do?” principle, you can easily clean suede or nubuck sneakers from dust, salt stains, grease and other contaminants. We told about all the nuances of such cleaning in the material dedicated to suede shoes.

6. How to clean the mesh on sneakers and, in fact, mesh sneakers?

As we all know, light-colored (often white) sneakers that have mesh inserts or are made entirely of it (such as Flyknit, Primeknit, Mesh) are not an easy task, but there is a way to do it and we will talk about it later. tell.

First, before cleaning, you should get a tool: soft brushes, napkins, rags, or something else that you personally use. It is important to understand here that when cleaning the mesh, you can use only those brushes that will not harm the sensitive material of the shoe body. Coarse pile on the brushes can damage it, and it will be impossible to get rid of scratches.

Secondly - the right cleaning products. In this matter, it is worth giving preference to trusted companies, such as Jason Markk. You can also use Tarrago Shampoo (especially for the body of Flyknit models), Tarrago SuperGel (for hand washing sneakers) and so on.

Remember, cleaning is always more difficult than preventing pollution. Therefore, try to protect your shoes even before the moment when cleaning products are needed. For protective purposes, the use of Tarrago Nano Protector, a dirt- and water-repellent spray, is suitable. It is applied in 2-3 layers with a break of 30 minutes. Of course, you will not notice a water-repellent effect on mesh sneakers, but we don’t need it, it is important that the sneakers will not absorb dirty moisture into the fabric. Thanks to this, later, sneakers will be much easier to clean.