About The Time I Took My Mizuno’s in the Shower with Me, Or: How To Clean Your Gym Shoes

June 14, 2012

Last week I decided my gym shoes were in need of a cleaning. So naturally, I took them in the shower with me. As I stood there, gently massaging them with some Johnson’s baby shampoo and a soft bristle toothbrush, I thought to myself:

a. “Holy cross country, I am mad OCD.”

and b. “I should probably write about this.”

Granted, as a runner and a very active person, I put a great deal of thought and money into my shoes (my brand of choice is Mizuno, in case you were wondering). It’s therefore important to make sure I’m supporting my sneaks as much as they’re supporting me.

I think a lot of you would be more apt to do the same, if only you knew how exactly to go about it. Here, then, is a helpful guide.

– First things first: consult the care guide for your particular shoes (if you have/can locate one).

– Unless you have been expressly instructed by that care guide, do NOT put your shoes into the washing machine. These shoe things are constructed using lots of science-y, research-ness, and throwing them in the wash can drastically accelerate the rate at which all that goodness breaks down.

– Begin by removing the laces and all inserts from your shoes.

– Run the laces through the washing machine, and then allow them to air dry.

– Then, using a soft soap (like ehm, baby shampoo…), some warm water, and a very gentle brush, clean the shoes, inside and out, along with the inserts. Pay attention to how hard you scrub at places where any fabrics might tear or fray.

You can do this in a way that’s easiest for you; wet the shoes and then squeeze some soap on them and massage, or fill a bucket with warm soapy water, submerge, then scrub, etc.

– Rinse the shoes and inserts well, making sure to get any remaining soap out of the shoe fibers.

– Strategically squeeze any excess moisture of the shoes.

– Stuff the shoes with paper towel or hand towels to help them retain their shape.

– Place them (preferably upside down) in a well- ventilated area. Place a towel underneath them to absorb the moisture. Even if your shoes can withstand the washer, do NOT put them in the dryer. The heat will kill the glue that holds your shoes together. If you need them dry in a hurry, try putting them out in the sunshine, or in front of a fan.

– Allow the shoes, inserts, and laces to dry completely before re-inserting and re-lacing.

– Make sure to properly air your shoes out after each use (read: don’t keep them in your hot car all the time). Remove the insoles, and allow them to breathe. You can also add some baking soda to absorb any odors.

Weeeeeeee!!!

Image credits: unknown, Mizuno, Katie Runs This, Jason Markk, Nike 

9 Comments

  1. Georgina on June 14, 2012 at 8:24 am

    So. Necessary. Actually, I should just scrap my old pair as they should have been replaced about 100 workouts ago. I always love your posts – they’re informative and seem to remind me of little details I need to stay on top of 🙂

    • Annie on June 15, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      So happy you feel that way about my posts! The little details do matter. Maybe time for a new pair?? haha

  2. Dawn {The Alternative Wife} on June 14, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    OMG I seriously love you. Amazing. You’re my new hero. Hope you’re ok with that. 🙂 xoxo

    • Annie on June 15, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      Can’t tell you how happy that comment made me, and the feelings are most definitely mutual!! 🙂

  3. lchasse on June 15, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    This is great. I always noticed after washing my running shoes they would just never be the same again. I push mine (probably too far) just because I hate to break in a new pair.

    • Annie on June 17, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      I think the key is in being gentle with the scrubbing and washing, and also stuffing them while they dry. But I do understand– there is a very delicate chemistry that happens between foot and shoe that we’d hate to disturb 😉

  4. Melissah from Scrapbook on June 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    I am loving those Tiffany blue nikes!

    Melissah

  5. Lauren Weldon on April 25, 2013 at 9:23 am

    Remembered this post from months ago and man, it came in handy after a weekend in the country! Yucky, yucky Nike Free’s are soon to be shiny & clean!

    • livesimplybyannie on April 25, 2013 at 9:53 am

      Love this! So happy you remembered it!

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9 Comments

  1. Georgina on June 14, 2012 at 8:24 am

    So. Necessary. Actually, I should just scrap my old pair as they should have been replaced about 100 workouts ago. I always love your posts – they’re informative and seem to remind me of little details I need to stay on top of 🙂

    • Annie on June 15, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      So happy you feel that way about my posts! The little details do matter. Maybe time for a new pair?? haha

  2. Dawn {The Alternative Wife} on June 14, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    OMG I seriously love you. Amazing. You’re my new hero. Hope you’re ok with that. 🙂 xoxo

    • Annie on June 15, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      Can’t tell you how happy that comment made me, and the feelings are most definitely mutual!! 🙂

  3. lchasse on June 15, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    This is great. I always noticed after washing my running shoes they would just never be the same again. I push mine (probably too far) just because I hate to break in a new pair.

    • Annie on June 17, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      I think the key is in being gentle with the scrubbing and washing, and also stuffing them while they dry. But I do understand– there is a very delicate chemistry that happens between foot and shoe that we’d hate to disturb 😉

  4. Melissah from Scrapbook on June 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    I am loving those Tiffany blue nikes!

    Melissah

  5. Lauren Weldon on April 25, 2013 at 9:23 am

    Remembered this post from months ago and man, it came in handy after a weekend in the country! Yucky, yucky Nike Free’s are soon to be shiny & clean!

    • livesimplybyannie on April 25, 2013 at 9:53 am

      Love this! So happy you remembered it!

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