How often do you wash your running shoes?

real men dont need running shoes.

other than smell, i can't really think of a good reason to wash your trainers and smell can be dealt with in many other ways than in the washer. but i never wash mine. if the smell i usually just shove a dryer sheet into them.

I wash my running shoes either by hand 2 times a month with a bristle brush on by rubbing them with my hands or on the washing machine 2-3 times a month with cool water... never use hot water because it takes off some of the color and designs on the shoe, but also take off the shoe laces and hand wash those with warm water ; after washing the shoes and the shoelaces I just hang them so that they can air dry if you put them in the dryer nothing really happens the only thing that happens is that the inside of the shoes takes off and you have to put them back on but for better lasting shoes always air dry them

Jcasarreal38632 wrote:

I wash my running shoes either by hand 2 times a month with a bristle brush on by rubbing them with my hands or on the washing machine 2-3 times a month with cool water... never use hot water because it takes off some of the color and designs on the shoe, but also take off the shoe laces and hand wash those with warm water ; after washing the shoes and the shoelaces I just hang them so that they can air dry if you put them in the dryer nothing really happens the only thing that happens is that the inside of the shoes takes off and you have to put them back on but for better lasting shoes always air dry them

This thread is over 10 years old... And it's about washing shoes...

Never. It's much easier to wash my feet and socks. In many developed countries people don't wear shoes indoors. It may have something to do with not getting smelly feet.

Too late wrote:

Jcasarreal38632 wrote:

I wash my running shoes either by hand 2 times a month with a bristle brush on by rubbing them with my hands or on the washing machine 2-3 times a month with cool water... never use hot water because it takes off some of the color and designs on the shoe, but also take off the shoe laces and hand wash those with warm water ; after washing the shoes and the shoelaces I just hang them so that they can air dry if you put them in the dryer nothing really happens the only thing that happens is that the inside of the shoes takes off and you have to put them back on but for better lasting shoes always air dry them

This thread is over 10 years old... And it's about washing shoes...

Where did this guy find this?

Runner since 1979. I have not once washed a running shoe.

Maybe, if they're really wet for some reason, I'll stuff them with newspaper for a bit. Come to think of it, I haven't had a newspaper or done that in probably 20 years. Never mind.

fisky wrote:

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.

Since 2007, I've modified this technique a bit. I double knot the laces tightly, wash the shoes by themselves in cold water. I spray stains with Shout and brush off any mud or dirt and rinse them off before putting them in the washer. I use a liquid detergent. I do NOT put the shoes in hot water or in the dryer because heat can melt the glue that holds parts of the shoe together.

I remove the inserts and wash them with the shoes. I dry them by setting them in the sun or on a window sill. I've been doing this for... thinking... maybe 30 years?... never had a problem except the laces coming untied and wrapping around the ringer. Now I double knot the shoes very tightly and don't wash them with other clothes.

Think about it. You run in the rain, through puddles and even through creeks in off-road races. Running shoes are designed to handle getting wet.

FFF wrote:

Come to think of it, I haven't had a newspaper or done that in probably 20 years. Never mind.

That's OK. Nobody has read this thread in over 11 years.

Ancient Chinese Secret wrote:

So how often, on average, do you wash your running (I'm talking trainers here) shoes? And what's your method? I do the ten minute delicate cycle, followed by a stern fan-induced drying to. Anyone ever put your running shoes in the dryer? If so, what happened? Will they really explode?

I wash my Teva sandals in the shower.

Ancient Chinese Secret wrote:

So how often, on average, do you wash your running (I'm talking trainers here) shoes? And what's your method? I do the ten minute delicate cycle, followed by a stern fan-induced drying to. Anyone ever put your running shoes in the dryer? If so, what happened? Will they really explode?

As I'm running daily my running shoes become very smelly that's the reason I'm washing them two times in a month. As for the washing methods concern I read blog post that is

Although title of the post showing that post is about work boots. But they have discussed it in a beautiful way.

They have mentioned way of washing boots with household items, in the washing machines or some other techniques.

U R forgiven wrote:

FFF wrote:

Come to think of it, I haven't had a newspaper or done that in probably 20 years. Never mind.

That's OK. Nobody has read this thread in over 11 years.

You don't know that.

Nobody commented on it for 11 years but that's it.

Wearing good quality socks absorbs all the sweat and washing them mitigates the issue so my shoes don't need washing. If they get muddy I just let them dry and brush off the dirt.

Never. No need to ever do that. If you run through some serious mud and want to spray them off with the hose (or rinse them in the tub if you don't have a hose), and then let them air dry, fine, but to actually wash them in a washing machine or in any way use detergent on them? Nope. Never.

You can take out the laces and put them in the washing machine while washing your towel collection. Then let them air dry.

They don't last long enough to wash.

If dirty I hand wash down in utility sink. I use ski boot dryers, since I have them, whenever they are wet. I sometimes throw an old dryer sheet in them between uses.

I machine wash them on the cold cycle about every two weeks. I detest dirty, smelly 👟 . Let ‘‘em air dry 24 hours.

fisky wrote:

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.

I answered this question 14 years ago! I've made a couple of changes. I no longer just double know the shoes because even double knotted, they've gotten untied and wrapped around the agitator.

I now put my shoes in a delicates bag, the inserts in another bag, and wash them separately. If they're badly stained, I'll spray them before washing with Shout. If they're smelly, I'll add a half cup of white vinegar or a quarter cup of OdoBan to the wash. Of course, I wash the mud off before I put them in the washing machine.

A delicates bag is like a buck at Dollar Tree, but if you don't have one, completely remove the laces and hand wash them. The laces can tie up your clothes in knots or even stop the agitator.