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SNEAKER MAINTENANCE 101

Do you love your sneakers as much as I do? Do you carelessly toss them in a bag or your car trunk after a good workout or do you wipe them clean and store them neatly between wearings?
How long have you been wearing your sneakers? Do they need a wash?
Here are a few tips for ridding your favorite trainers of odors and dirt and overall sneaker cleanliness.

MASK ODOR
Stinky sneaker odor can be easily banished with the help of deodorant inserts made by companies like Odor Eaters or Dr. Scholl. For an immediate fix, you might also try sprinkling a little talcum powder or baking soda inside the sneaker and sifting it around the lining of the shoe to absorb odor and moisture. I usually do this whenever I wear my sneakers in hot weather months. If these two remedies fail to perform, a good old fashioned spin cycle may do the trick.

WASHING
You can clean rubber soles with a warm soapy cloth. Rinse and blot dry. This is highly effective with the exception of maybe a few remaining odd scuffs. I have seen a sneaker dye product on the market made with sponge applicators available in several colors. This product is supposed to be good for camouflaging scuffs and stains.
I have been told that all NIKE sneakers, regardless of the fabrication, are engineered to be machine washable. I'm not sure about deliberate engineering but I have personally tried this method with much success and can highly recommend it's merits. Nylon sneaker seam to hold up best followed only by canvas. Dark colors usually come clean easily. Leather sneakers and the like seam to clean up nicely but the rubber tends to separate from the leather after a few washings. Cleaning leather sneakers with a warm soapy cloth should remove most superficial gunk. You can easily wash the laces in the machine with your other laundry. The clean laces alone will refresh the sneaker's look and glow,
I suggest washing sneakers separate from your clothing.
Use the cold water settings and add 1/2 the recommended amount of regular detergent. If the sneakers are solid white canvas or nylon, I have found that a splash of bleach is helpful for whitening. If your sneakers are old or delicate, hand washing in a sink with detergent and cold water works too.

DRYING
If possible, remove the sneaker inserts for quicker drying. Do not use a commercial dryer as the heat could damage the soles and linings. Stuff freshly washed sneakers with rags or shoe trees to maintain shape during drying. If you choose to use rags you might want to refresh with dry rags once they soak through. Try to place your newly clean and wet sneakers in the sunlight or in a warm and dry place until they are completely dry. Sneakers should not remain damp for too long as this is a good bacterial breeding ground.

Make sure your sneakers are completely dry before wearing.
Enjoy.

Learn more about this author, Hallie Sara Sirota.
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