Nothing drives crazy like when my brand new running shoes get dirty the first time I run in them. Can I wash my shoes, and if so, what’s the best way to do it? Seeing my new kicks get scuffed up always stings for a second or two, but I’ve always reminded myself that they’re tools of the trade, and as such, they’re bound to get dirty—usually sooner than later. That said, I can understand wanting to keep them looking fresh—and lasting—for as long as possible. The short answer is yes, you can clean your running shoes, but it’s important to keep a few key things in mind. I asked Golden Harper, co-founder of Altra Running and lifelong running shoe geek (his family owned a specialty running store from the time he was a young boy) for his top tips on keeping your kicks clean. “Running shoes should definitely be washed, maybe just not in the way you’re thinking,” Harper explains. “Washing your shoes carefully and gently can actually help your shoes to last longer. 

Too often, dried mud or dirt in the shoe can cause the upper materials to tear, or even cause delaminations of the upper from the midsole or outsole.” RELATED: How To Care For Your Running Apparel 1. Don’t wash your shoes too often. “Washing shoes inappropriately too often, or too long, can result in the shoe breaking down early,” Harper says. “Also, leaving a pair of newly cleaned shoes out in the hot sun or putting them in the dryer can cause the shoe to shrink, fit differently and never fit the same.” 2. Minimize exposure to water. “First rinse the shoes off, then spray them with shoe cleaner, Spray-n-Wash, 409 or some other cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes,” Harper explains. “At this point, take a scrub brush to them under running water—I will admit I usually do this in the shower!—and after you’ve got them nice and clean, stuff them and let them sit out in the open air or stick a fan on them. This approach will get the shoes much more clean than using the washing machine and minimizes their exposure which should help them to last longer.”

3. Be careful if you throw your shoes in the washing machine. “I have to admit I did this just a couple of days ago after an incredibly muddy run. It was the lazy way out. If you do this, just be OK with the fact that your shoes may not last as long. If you insist on using the washing machine, I recommend using the shortest gentle cycle and throwing them in with a few towels and some sport detergent or liquid detergent.” nike shoes black india(Drying tip: Never put them in the dryer. white nike shoes toddlersInstead, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry for several hours before wearing them. coach shoes online ukThe newspaper will absorb a lot of the water, so pull the paper out after a few hours and let them continue to sit away from the sun or any other heat source until they’re completely dry.)where to buy nike cheetah shoes

4. Clean your insoles! “Remember that bacteria on the insoles is the main cause of bad smelling shoes,” Harper says, “so make sure to remove the insoles and scrub them a bit before throwing them in.” Take Golden’s advice to heart and keep your kicks running clean for a long time! Have a question for Mario you want answered? Due to flammability this product must ship ground. should i buy my running shoes a half size largerShipping times may increase. best running shoes for it band syndromeCan not ship internationally.How to Get the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 is the first performance vehicle for Nike’s latest technological breakthrough, adaptive lacing. The shoe translates deep research in digital, electrical and mechanical engineering into a product designed for movement.

The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 in Black/White-Blue Lagoon will be available at the Nike Soho store and the NIKE+ ClubHouse at 45 Grand in New York — where consumers can learn about and trial the product — from December 1 at a retail price of $720.00. and the NIKE+ APP. Additionally, a small group of NIKE+ APP users will have limited early access on November 28. These users will be notified through the NIKE+ APP “Reserved for You” system, and offered the opportunity to purchase the shoe. Additional pairs of the HyperAdapt 1.0 in both the Black/White-Blue Lagoon and Metallic Silver/Black-White color ways will be available via the Draw in the United States March 9. If you are selected via the online process, your pair in your chosen size will be available for purchase and pick up in store at select locations in NYC, Miami, Chicago, LA, SF and Portland on 3.11. Follow @NikeNYC, @NikeMiami, @NikeChicago, @NikeLA, @NikeSF and @NikePortland for instructions on how to enter the draw in your chosen city.

Before throwing out a perfectly good pair of shoes plagued by a few minor scuffs, consider these six surprising ways to polish out those abrasions. You can stretch out the lifespan of your favorite kicks, save money from having to replace them, and save time, since these quick fixes take no more than 10 minutes to do. Plus, there's no need for shoe polish -- just a few common household items and a little elbow grease. Keep reading for our shoe-cleaning tips.For canvas-covered footwear, apply a little toothpaste on a cloth, and gently polish off the marks. Wipe of paste with a clean damp cloth and air dry.If toothpaste doesn't work, mix together two tablespoons of baking soda and warm water. Using a cloth, apply a small amount of the paste to the mark and scrub. Add more paste as needed. Finally, wipe the paste off with a clean damp cloth and dry.Safe on most fabrics except for silky lustrous material like satin, mix a few drops of detergent with warm water, and using a cloth, scrub the scuff stains.

Then, using a clean cloth, dab to dry.Apply a little nail polish remover to a cotton ball to polish out the scuff marks. Then, apply baby powder or petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, to protect the shoe's material. This method works well for several types of textiles, from patent leather to tennis shoes.For vinyl shoes, rub a regular pencil eraser over small or lightly scuffed areas. For suede, use a brush to sweep off any dirt that might be trapped on the fabric. (Brush in one direction rather than back and forth.) Then, gently rub off marks with an eraser.For patent leather, a little dab of petroleum jelly will make shoes good as new. Simply apply to a cloth and rub the scuffed area. Then, wipe with a clean damp cloth. Do you know other ways to clean shoe scuffs? Let us know in the comments below! For other ways to care for your shoes, also check out these stories: Sandpaper As Sole Scuffer Newspaper As Shoe Deodorizer How To Care For Your Shoes Have something to say?