For the most part, recreational basketball players will shoot most of their shots outside. This is a reference to rubber, concrete, or asphalt courts. That also means that your pricey hoops shoes will ultimately break down and look messy if you don’t properly and regularly take care of them. Today, we’ll be discussing just how to put an end to it. So, how should basketball sneakers be cleaned correctly?

I’ll go over my own seven-step process, which I’ve been doing for the past five to six years on almost all of my shoes. It is efficient, simple, and fast. Nothing justifies making things more challenging than they already are.

Step How to wash basketball shoes

If at all feasible, take out the insoles and laces. By doing this, these components won’t come free or tangle in the laundry. Try sweeping the dirt that is entrenched away. To make cleaning as simple as possible, simply leave the dirt on the shoes that you are unable to totally remove.

Stow your shoes in a separate laundry bag meant for fragile objects. Choose a quick wash cycle without spinning. Less time in the washing machine means less exposure to potential knocks and extra water, both of which can cause harm to the shoes. Pour in the Sanytol Disinfectant Stain Remover at a moderate temperature. In addition to eliminating the toughest stains, this disinfectant component will enable you to conclude the washing process, which is incomplete without adequate disinfection.

Remember that when we play sports, our feet perspire a lot. This perspiration feeds any bacteria that could be present in the shoes, which is why foul odors in the shoes and on our feet sometimes arise. Allow the shoes to air dry fully. Drying should ideally be done in the open air, in the sun. It is advisable to wash the laces in the same bag as your laundry, or separately if you choose to wash the sports shoes.

1. SETTING UP

Alright, so if your shoes are a little rough or dirty and you’ve been playing outside, it’s a good idea to get rid of any trapped stones that got in between the outsole’s traction pattern grooves.

This will ensure that your traction on the court is not impaired. You may be surprised to learn that playing in worn-out shoes with a lot of debris trapped in the soles can somewhat diminish your traction. The biggest difference I saw was that my traction pattern was so garbage-filled that I was literally sliding around when I wore the shoes I had been using on a concrete court to an indoor gym.

Using a toothpick or a needle, or other pointed object, extract each stone or other intruder from your outsole separately. Of course, if your laces are obviously dirty, yellow, or broken in any other way, you’ll also need to remove them first.

Since most modern basketball shoes come with an insole, take extra care when removing it.

2. Scrub away

Alright, let’s go forward—we’re going someplace. This stage is for hard-surfaced footwear, such as leather, nubuck, or contemporary plastic mesh (which often incorporates TPU). Use a shoe brush or a more aggressive toothbrush to get rid of any remaining dirt from the shoe’s surface. For the time being, use a dry brush rather than a cleaning solution.

This is especially true if you just got back from playing outside since it’s easier to remove the dirt because it’s still moist and fresh.

You don’t need to be too careful at this point because the harder materials will need to be scraped away with some effort, especially if the dirt has been there for a while.

DON’T carry out this step if the upper of your shoe is comprised of a knit material, canvas, suede, softer mesh, or classic mesh. Using a brush to aggressively clean these materials may, first, attract dirt and allow it to seep into the fabric, and second, over time, cause damage to the shoe. More careful upkeep is needed for these materials.

3. Cleaning

Now let’s move on to the process itself. It’s likely that the shoe won’t seem clean even after the excess dirt has been removed. This will enable us to remove stains, grime, and other imperfections from the fabric that are more deeply ingrained and call for a special cleaning solution.

Nowadays, people clean their shoes with dozens of different solution combinations. I have a couple pairs of white TPU/mesh shoes that are really difficult to keep clean since the top is extremely absorbent and difficult to wipe.

Regardless of the material, I’ve tested a lot of different combinations and can say with confidence that the best thing to use to clean your shoes is a simple mild laundry detergent. most of the time.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a “special” sneaker cleaning solution like that from Reshoevn8r, which works but isn’t the most economical choice, laundry detergent will work just fine.

Alright, so you’re going to want to mix some warm water with a few drops of detergent and whisk until it starts to bubble.

If the leather, nubuck, or synthetic overlay material is too stiff, use a soft or firm surface brush. The rough side of a sponge, a shoe brush, or a toothbrush can all be used. Using a homemade solution, give it a quick swipe with the shoe, preferably in a circular motion. Applying some pressure and focusing on the harder-to-clean parts is OK.

I always clean the top part first, and then I remove the midsole until it’s entirely white using a firm sponge.

4. Rinsing out extra soap

I wouldn’t advise soaking your shoes in water or running them under a faucet when you’re ready to get rid of any remaining soap. This will mostly rely on the structure and material quality, but if you value your purchase, I would suggest avoiding it altogether.

Better still, until the shoe is in flawless condition, use a damp sponge or towel to carefully remove any excess soap that your detergent may have produced. I don’t know what it is about me and sponges, but after soaking a soft sponge in warm water, I also like to gently tap the spots where detergent is still visible.

5. Tidying Up

Make sure you’re not stopping there once the shoe has been cleaned and taken care of. It is all wet right now, so the first thing you need to do is remove as much excess water as you can.

This will extend the shoe’s lifespan because moist shoes may eventually cause the seams to come free and the softer materials to stiffen and break more easily. something that truly disgusts us.

Instead, use a dry cloth or plain paper towel, if you don’t have one, to gently blot out the water throughout the whole shoe. Although there is no magic you can do to get the shoe dry, you can make sure you’re not endangering its dependability.

6. Leaving the shoe to dry

Another important thing to remember is not to overdry your footwear. AVOID blow drying them and keeping them in the sun or other heated place. The shoe will get damaged if you do any of those things. For a few weeks or months, you won’t notice it the first few times, but you’ll be confused as to why it wore out so rapidly. The shoe should be left at room temperature, preferably out of direct sunlight, or, if you have one, in an actual shoe bag. Wait till they are totally dry.

7. THE INSOLE AND LACES 

Now that we have finished the shoe part, let’s examine the laces. They may be cleaned with the same solution of warm water and laundry detergent. Usually, I transfer it into a bowl, submerge the laces, and massage them together with my palms. By creating a bubble with the detergent, this cleans the laces efficiently.

If the laces are a bit trickier to get rid of, soaking them in the solution for a few hours and then giving them a good scrub can help liquefy the gunk.

It has the same insole. Before discarding any residual detergent, use the same solution to remove it with a sponge or piece of cloth after cleaning.

Cleaning the insole every time you clean the shoe is not recommended because it is still composed of a more fragile material and is more prone to harm. Every two to three shoe cleanings or anytime the smell is really bothersome, I usually clean my insole.

We advise you to carefully follow these instructions to preserve your sports shoes if you are constantly hesitant to wash them in the washing machine. Keep in mind that your shoes need to be cleaned and disinfected before being arranged and stored. As a result, we will lessen the possibility that microorganisms will be contracted via direct contact with the soil on the street.

FAQs

How can fresh, odorless basketball sneakers be made?

Establishing proper shoe-wearing practices is essential before the basketball shoes begin to smell. For example, always wear socks with basketball shoes; never go barefoot with them. It is better to choose socks that are permeable and have strong moisture-wicking qualities rather than nylon socks, which can keep the basketball shoes dry, clean, and odor-free. When basketball shoes are not in use, be sure to pull out the tongue and loosen the laces to improve ventilation and let stale air escape. Keep the shoes in a location with good ventilation and stay away from confined places. Additionally, avoid placing the shoes in direct sunlight as this might cause deterioration.

Odors may still come through in our well-maintained basketball sneakers, especially after a strenuous workout. In this case, take off the shoes and insert a piece of activated carbon. By doing this, the carbon will be able to hold onto any old air and keep the shoes dry. After wrapping discarded tea bags in paper towels, you may also cram them inside the shoes.

You almost certainly own athletic shoes at home, whether you participate in sports or not. It becomes inevitable as a result of their usage. Even while manufacturers advise against often washing athletic shoes in the washing machine, it’s still a good idea to wash them according to these guidelines:

How Can Basketball Shoes Made of White Be Cleaned?

If you own white basketball shoes, you should take different care of them than you would other sneakers. Because sometimes, even with your best efforts, you have to deal with stains that are tough to remove. But don’t worry at all.

To quickly remove the stains, just adhere to the instructions provided below.

To your cleaning solution of softened warm water, add a few drops of dish soap and a little amount of white toothpaste. Next, apply the resultant solution to your sneakers with a gentle, damp cloth. Using this combination will keep your white sneakers looking brand new and leave them perfectly clean.

Take note

It’s critical to make every effort to wipe up spills on shoes as quickly as possible. If not, the stain won’t go away and will remain in place for a long time.

Is It Alright to Wash Basketball Shoes?

Usually, you may wash basketball sneakers, but only in clean water. The material of the shoe will determine how much water to use. Generally speaking, suede or leather shoes shouldn’t be cleaned. If you’d like, read this article on cleaning white leather shoes after that. To avoid harming them, make sure the soap is oil-free if you want to use it.

Furthermore, because synthetic sneakers can quickly degrade if cleaned too regularly, we advise waiting to clean them until they are extremely soiled. Spots that gather dirt should be cleaned before moving on to other areas of the room. Rubber soles can become unstable and slippery in the water, therefore it’s best to avoid submerging them.

How Should Mesh Shoes Be Cleaned?

Step 1: Ensure that they are totally dry. Mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle (about 1-2 cups of vinegar for every half-gallon).

Step 2: To help get rid of any dirt, spray the liquid on the mesh sneakers.

Step 3: Next, use a dishbrush or toothbrush to gently scrape.

Step 4: Use tap water to thoroughly rinse.

Step 5: Before putting the shoe back on, let it air dry completely.

To clean the soles of basketball shoes, use the following actions

1) Start by cleaning the basketball sole with a solution of water and dish soap. After that, the sole has to sit in the cleaner for 20 minutes.

2) Lightly wipe the bottoms of both shoes with a cloth or sponge free of any rough textures.

3) Rinse with a moist cloth to get rid of any soap residue.

4) Let your shoes, preferably outside, air dry for a full twelve hours.

How Should the Insides of Basketball Shoes Be Cleaned?

To start, you may clean your grimy basketball shoes by placing baking soda inside of them and leaving them overnight.

Secondly, throw away the baking soda and give your basketball shoes a thorough cleaning with soap in the morning. 

Allow the shoes to air dry after giving them a good rinse.

How Are Shoes for Basketball Dried?

Ideally, you should let your shoes air dry at room temperature. After getting your shoes wet, pat them dry with a towel or piece of newspaper. Take the shoes outside to air dry after that. Before going back inside, shake off any last bits of dampness from the shoe surfaces and the spaces between the laces. Assume for the moment that you have access to a low-temperature infrared heater or any other heater. Next, move on and use it for drying as well.

How Can Shoes Get Rid of Moisture?

Shoes get wet because of the wetness of the surroundings. Humidity may leak into your shoes if you store them adjacent to windows or other surfaces that collect water. If shoes are still moist, it would be best to let them air dry away from windows to prevent them from absorbing further humidity. Your shoes will dry out more quickly if you place paper inside of them while you wear them. You may take the paper out once it has absorbed the water. It also helps to increase the airflow surrounding the foot, facilitating its natural evaporation process and preventing dryness.

Conclusion

As they allow us to stroll about the court with optimum comfort and performance, basketball shoes are among the most essential items of basketball equipment. This is because shoes need to be properly cared for in order to be in good shape and last you a longer period of time.

So, if you are concerned about your basketball shoes, adhere to the simple guidelines mentioned above. If you adhere to the aforementioned easy steps, you may maintain the excellent condition of your shoes.