Running shoes, trekking shoes, cycling shoes, tennis shoes and all kinds of sneakers: keeping sports shoes clean can be a small but real undertaking. And so we asked an expert – the German engineer Marc Peikert, Global Product Specialist GORE-TEX Outdoor Footwear, the man who invented the Surround system which makes the shoe more ventilated and the foot drier – the tips for cleaning sports shoes and eliminating bad odorswithout irreparably deteriorating the quality of the shoe.
5 tips for keeping sports shoes clean
1. Never in the washing machine
Never wash sports shoes in the washing machine. Our findings tell us that Italian mothers (and not only) often wash their shoes in the washing machine to make the upper less scented and the colors bright again. Nothing could be more wrong. Not only does the washing machine risk having some problems with the drum but over time the high temperature of the water irreparably ruins the midsole.
2. For mountain boots only water
All mountain shoes must absolutely be washed by hand. Only water. Chemical additives should never be used (as are also sold to disinfect ski jackets and trousers, for example) or any type of soap. In fact, many do not know that the skin of the feet is generally much more sensitive than that of the rest of the body. When using chemical products, despite abundant rinsing, they sometimes pass through the socks during use, causing redness and burning.
3. For any shoe, always wear socks (even in summer)
Always wear socks! Many, especially in summer, use sports shoes as if they were flip-flops or boat shoes, to be worn without any socks. There is nothing worse. Indeed, the worst is felt by the close relatives, friends and colleagues of the person who wears them, who inevitably has an addicted nose and no longer perceives the smell which is clearly present. Don’t let them tell you but get there yourself! The best sock? The light one in merino wool because it creates a microenvironment at a temperature equal to that of the body and is very breathable.
4. Change socks every time
This advice may also seem obvious. Not for all. If you run every day, change your socks every day! Using the same dirty socks every day multiplies the intensity of the smell until it permanently permeates the shoe.
5. Dry the inside with newspaper
It is not trivial at all and is actually decidedly useful and functional. After use, get into the habit of putting newspaper, preferably newspaper, inside your shoes until the day you wear them again. It will absorb the moisture left by the foot and slow down the proliferation of bacteria which then produce unpleasant odors.
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2023-11-10 09:24:06
#tips #keeping #sports #shoes #clean
