How often do you wash your running shoes?

I never wash my trainers..the more they stink the more manly i feel. Explode? Is that a serious question?

they are washable?

I wash mine infrequently. My method is running through puddles and low water crossings and setting them on the porch to dry. No explosions yet.

what are you serious? wrote:

Explode? Is that a serious question?

Nah, people are just always saying "NEVER dry your running shoes--OR ELSE!" Curious what actually happens. They probably just end up breaking down faster or something. In any event, I don't DARE find out the hard way.

fashionista wrote:

I wash mine infrequently. My method is running through puddles and low water crossings and setting them on the porch to dry. No explosions yet.

Same here.

Though once my Mizuno Inspires got to smelling so bad I HAD to do something. I covered them really good in Arm and Hammer, put them in a plastic bag with the rest of the box of A&H poured in, tied it off and let them set for a day.

It helped for about a week.

i usually wash my sneaks once before trashing them. dump them in a bucket of Clorox + Water (1:5 ratio) and let them soak overnight.

Then air-dry ( you could stick em in the drier but the clanging sound bothers my wife too much).

Just stick them along the base of your fridge where there's a subtle emission of heat from the compressor that dries it out quickly w/o damaging them.

I spray mine off with the hose and let them air dry, but never put them in the washer or dryer.

After long runs in the summer my shoes are literally soaked with sweat. I wash my shoes 3-4 times a week in summer, otherwise, I couldn't bring them in the house. They smell like ammonia or worse. I tie the laces so they don't wrap around anything, wash in cold water, normal cycle, spray Shout on the stains, and set out in the sun or a window to dry. It doesn't hurt the shoe. Shoes are designed to run in the rain, so water isn't going to hurt them. On the other hand, clothes dryers get really hot. A dryer could melt the glue or warp the shoe, so I haven't done that in 20 years. I suppose the heat could explode an air bag in a Nike shoe.

never?

Never. I don't throw them away either, I just let the old running shoe gnomes take care of them.

Never wash mine, so far hasn't really been a problem.

You wash your running shoes?!

This is a timely thread, for me at least. I've always worn out my shoes before they needed washing, but the last few months of muddy trail runs and hot workouts have mine smelling pretty bad. I should be able to get ~200 more miles out of the mid and outer soles, so I think a ride in the washing machine is in order.

Most shoes are 100% synthetic, so they should be fine in the gentle cycle.

Wash them? Sometimes I wash dirty spikes and flats. Old dirty trainers I just chuck.

What, I'm going to be ashamed of dirty trainers?

And how dirty can they be? It's not like I'm running through manure piles.

Ahhhhh!

PUT THEM IN THE DISHWASHER ON "ENERGY SAVER" AND TAKE THEM OUT AFTER THE WASH CYCLE. Don't let them stay in when it starts the Dry cycle.

It cleans them better than the washer, it is easy on the shoe, and it is quick as hell.

Stuff them with newspaper and you can run in them again in 3 hours.

Same goes for baseball caps.

I just Febreeze the heck out of em if they get really nasty. For mud I just let it try and then you can knock it off, no need for washing.

You should never wash your running shoes. Once you submerge shoes in water, they become extremely vulnerable to mechanical damage/changes. Therefore, if you put them in the washer, they will get pulled around by the current and become messed up. If you want to clean your trainers, I suggest a stiff brush and a wet towel. For smell, try the different odor killers that are out there.

I have a de-humidifier in my basement. I stick my shoes behind them and in the morning all of the moisture has been sucked out. The shoes should NOT be put in the dryer

I wash mine probably three or four times during their lifetime. Come out looking like new.