Last Updated on December 14, 2023 by

Most people who wear basketball shoes are big and strong men. After sweating, these men often carelessly throw their basketball shoes away and the better ones will air them on the windowsill. Over time, basketball shoes not only become dirty but also emit a foul odor. How to deal with this situation? Of course, the first thing is to develop the habit of cleaning frequently. For different materials of basketball shoes, you can use a damp cloth to wipe or a brush to clean. To remove the odor of the shoes, the best method is to pay attention to the way of wearing and air them frequently, and you can also put activated charcoal in the shoes to deodorize. Let’s take a look at a detailed introduction below.

How to Clean Basketball Shoes

In terms of cleaning, there should be different methods for different materials.

For the non-dragon parts of the shoe’s sole and sides, you can spray a little collar cleaner and then gently brush it with a soft toothbrush after ten seconds, but the brushing time should not be too long. After brushing, you should immediately rinse off the foam with warm or cold water, minimizing the time for the chemical to erode the shoe. After cleaning, you should immediately use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water. If the shoes you are cleaning have a visible air cushion, after the above procedures, you should first wipe the water around the air cushion to avoid the glue dissolving due to a long exposure to water. If possible, use a toothpick to remove small stones stuck in the shoe’s sole pattern during walking, because holding foreign objects for a long time will cause the sole pattern to deform and to some extent affect the braking performance of the shoe.

The cleaning method of the shoe surface depends on what the main material of the shoe surface is. The basic cleaning method is to dampen a cloth with a little water and then gently wipe the shoe surface, paying attention to whether the dirt on the shoe surface is “hard injury.” If there is a hard injury of cracks on the shoe surface, skip the injured area, as brushing too hard may cause more harm to the shoe. After wiping, use a dry cloth to absorb the remaining moisture and air the shoes in a cool and ventilated place.

Maintenance of Basketball Shoes

Finally, in terms of wearing shoes, try to avoid using them in abnormal environments, that is, reduce the number of times they are used on hot asphalt roads in rain, snow, and intense sun exposure. In the unavoidable case of normal wear and tear, the frequency of changing shoes should be increased, allowing the shoes to have a rest after use and restoring them to a relatively “healthy” state before the next use. Once the shoes are dirty, they should be cleaned up as soon as possible to avoid staining and discoloration due to a long time of exposure, and cleaning will become more difficult if not done in a timely manner.

Environment for Placing Basketball Shoes

1. Shoes should be placed in a relatively dry and ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight, because a humid environment can cause the shoes to rot and intense sun exposure can cause some materials to deteriorate and discolor. However, the place for shoes should not be too dry, which can cause cracking of the leather. In a humid environment, the shoes will rot and intense sun exposure can cause some materials to deteriorate and discolor.

2. When storing shoes, the soft paper should be placed inside the shoes. The purpose of this is that the paper can absorb residual moisture inside the shoes and maintain their dryness, and it is also helpful in maintaining the shape of the shoes and avoiding them from collapsing after use.

3. It is particularly necessary to mention that for collection preservation, it is best to buy some shrink wrap and completely wrap a pair of shoes like in a shoe store, in order to maximize isolation from the air and prevent long-term oxidation of the shoes by the air. For example, the sole of the Max Air or Jordan 11th and 16th generation will gradually turn yellow over a few years, and using shrink wrap to maintain the original color is a good option.

How to prevent and remove odors from basketball shoes

Before the basketball shoes start to smell, it is important to develop good habits of wearing them. For example, don’t wear basketball shoes barefoot, and choose socks carefully when wearing them. It is best to choose socks that are breathable and have good moisture-wicking capabilities, not nylon socks, which can help keep the basketball shoes clean, and dry, and prevent odors. Additionally, when not wearing basketball shoes, make sure to loosen the laces and pull out the tongue to increase the ventilation space and allow the bad air to escape. Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area, avoiding closed spaces. Also, avoid exposing the shoes to direct sunlight, which can cause deformation.

Many times, even though we take good care of our basketball shoes, they still may develop odors, especially after intense physical activity. In this case, remove the shoes and put a piece of activated carbon inside, allowing it to absorb the bad air and keep the shoes dry. You can also wrap used tea bags in paper towels and put them in the shoes.

In short, taking care of basketball shoes is a process that requires effort and attention.