Sexy Shoe Tips, Trends, and Talk
Choosing ShoesHow to Clean Sneakers or Athletic Shoes
Whether we're talking about sneakers to go running in or rhinestone studded athletic shoes for a chic walk around town, these are some of my favorite types of shoes because they're comfortable! You can look good and feel good in athletic shoes. It's a win win situation. To take care of these wonderfully comfortable shoes, here are some tips.
Preparing your Athletic Shoes
Before getting down to actually cleaning your sneakers, make sure to remove the shoe laces and inserts. You can wash the shoe laces separately by throwing them in with a load of laundry. Or you can replace them with a shiny new pair of shoe laces since they're not very expensive. The inserts just need to be aired out separately from the shoes. If they're particularly smelly, apply baking soda or foot powder to them to soak up the moisture and bacteria. Rinse the shells of the shoes (sans laces and inserts) with water.
Cleaning your Athletic Shoes
There are two options for the cleaning of your athletic shoes: washing machine and hand washing. Some sneakers will hold up just fine if you run them through the gentle cycle of the washing machine. This is also the much more convenient shoe cleaning method!
If you'd rather guarantee the longevity of your shoes with hand washing, take a soft brush and a cleaning solution of dish detergent diluted with water. Scrub the insides and outsides of the shoes completely. If there are scuff marks remaining, try using a white nylon-backed scrub pad. When you're satisfied, rinse the sneakers thoroughly with water.
Drying your Athletic Shoes
Do NOT put your sneakers in the dryer. This will cause them to lose their shape, which is particularly important for athletic shoe support. Instead, fill the shoes with plain, white paper (not newspaper) to soak up the moisture and let them air dry. You might try putting your sneakers near a heating vent, but not too close because you don't want them to melt!
Once they're completely dry, if they need it, you could use black or white shoe polish (or whatever the appropriate color is) to give your athletic shoes a bit more oomph and sparkle.
