Sometimes it’s not obvious when you need to buy yourself new workout shoes – especially if you’ve lost track of how long you’ve had the previous pair. You shouldn’t ignore the signs that it’s time to replace your shoes, but you can extend their life.
Whether you’ve already purchased new shoes or you’re considering dry cleaning services, we’ve generated some tips on what you need to know about taking good care of your athletic shoes, and how to know when you need to get new ones.
Use disinfectant spray
If you exercise a lot, we recommend spraying disinfectant spray into your sneakers to kill any microbes that may cross contaminate the outside environment to the inside of the shoe.
Wear your shoes ONLY for their specified purpose
Save your running shoes for only running, like dancing shoes for only dancing. Keeping them on to run errands and play at the park will cause them to break down faster and lose their shine. Most of the shoes are created for purpose, especially when we are talking about athletic shoes. So, let’s respect the manufacturers and their work.
Don’t wash your shoes in your washing machine
Your shoes will take a major beating in the washing machine. If you walked in the rain, or if you got stuck on a trail running in the middle of a rainstorm, hose your shoes off and gently brush off the dirt or mud with a brush. Allow them to air dry, with the insoles removed.
Don’t put your shoes in the dryer
If you wash the shoes manually, utilize a gentle soap and cold water and skip the dryer. Remember that the heat from the dryer destroys your shoes.
Use dry cleaning services
The search for “nearest dry cleaners’ ‘ or “dry cleaning” itself is often the best option, because the staff working at dry cleaning services is professional and usually with years of experience with various types of fabrics. They know exactly what types of detergents to use and how exactly to treat your athletic shoes. O’Dry Cleaners is one of them, available in more than 50 spots around the greater LA area.
Use some cleaning tips from the dry cleaning service staff
Every sneaker is made differently, so you should consult the shoe manufacturer instructions before deciding how to wash your shoes or if you have already asked for the nearest dry cleaners’ help, consult the staff for some tips for exactly that pair of shoes they have already dealt with.
Most manufacturers of athletic shoes caution against putting them in the washing machine and suggest using dry cleaning or gentle cleaning agents when you do clean them. Consult their websites as well.
Allow your shoes to fully dry before wearing them again
Don’t throw your wet shoes in your gym bag or on the back seat of your car. Take your shoes out when you get home and let them air dry. Let the insoles in your workout shoes dry separately and stuff newspaper or dry paper towels in your shoes to absorb moisture.
Alternate several pairs of shoes
You probably have more than 1 pair of athletic shoes in your closet. Take advantage of those shoes and extend the life of them! Wear a different pair each time you run or workout, to allow the shoes to fully dry and rest after a workout. If you feel that it may rain, choose the black ones.
Track your mileage in the shoes
Follow the time period when you bought your shoes and, of course, follow your health. As time goes by, shoes break down with weight and sweat overtime and can’t support your feet and your body in the way they were made as they age. Keeping track of the date of purchase of your shoes and the mileage that you put in while wearing the shoes will be your best bet in ensuring that your feet and bones are well supported.
The rate at which shoes break down over time definitely varies, so keeping track of mileage and the day you bought it is important so you can rate which are best for you. Typically, you can get about 200-400 miles out of your running shoes, but this will vary depending on you, your running patterns, running/weather conditions, your sweat patterns and how well you take care of your shoes.