Five steps to clean your running shoes, keep your favorite pair in good condition by washing them after a muddy spring run

Getting out on a muddy trail in the spring can be a lot of fun, but it wreaks havoc on your shoes. It’s important to take care of your favourite pair if you want them to last, so cleaning them properly after a messy run is a crucial part of your shoe-care routine. Here we give you five easy steps to cleaning your running shoes to make sure they go the distance.

Step 1: remove laces and insoles

Remove the shoelaces and insoles and place them in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase. These can be tossed in your laundry machine on the gentle cycle, then air-dried later (insoles should never be put in the dryer).

Step 2: get rid of dirt, grass, and caked-on mud

Once your shoes have dried, wipe away the dirt, grass and caked-on mud. Ideally, you should use a brush with stiff bristles on the outsoles, but something with soft bristles (like a toothbrush) on the uppers. If you have some particularly stubborn dirt caked into the nooks and crannies of your outsoles, you can use a hose to rinse and scrub until the bottoms of your shoes are clean.

Step 3: add soap and water

To clean the uppers, mix some mild detergent (preferably one that’s meant for technical fabrics) with water and gently scrub them with a toothbrush to remove the dirt and grime.

Step 4: Rinse with warm water

Once that’s done, rinse your shoes thoroughly with warm water, using a washcloth to gently remove soap, suds and any remaining dirt.

Step 5: air dry

Once you’ve removed all of the dirt and soap residue, allow your shoes to air dry at room temperature. Don’t place them outside in the sun to dry faster, because the heat can distort their shape, and never put them in the dryer, which will damage them. Ideally, you should leave them in a place with a mild temperature and low humidity, and if you want them to dry faster, you can use a fan or stuff them with paper towels, replacing the towels whenever they become damp.

Following these steps and keeping your shoes clean will help them last longer, so you can get more miles out of them before they need to be replaced.

posted Friday March 11th
by Brittany Hambleton