Instructions on How to Wash Tennis Shoes at Home Effectively

Tennis shoes are indispensable equipment for tennis players. After each match, shoes are often dirty with dust, sweat, even grass or mud. Regular cleaning of tennis shoes not only helps keep shoes clean and fragrant, but also helps prolong the life of the shoes, avoiding damage, yellowing or unpleasant odors. However, not everyone knows how to wash tennis shoes properly. In this article, Shondo will provide you with detailed instructions and tips to help you clean tennis shoes most effectively.

1. Why Should You Wash Tennis Shoes Regularly?

Regular cleaning of tennis shoes brings you many benefits:

Keep your shoes clean and fresh: Foot sweat and dirt accumulate in your shoes after each use, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow, causing unpleasant odors. Washing your shoes regularly will help remove bacteria and dirt, keeping your shoes clean and fresh.

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Tennis shoes need to be cleaned regularly to remove dirt, sweat and bacteria[/caption]

Extend the life of your shoes: Dust and dirt that accumulates on your shoes over time can wear out, tear or damage shoe components. Regularly cleaning your shoes will help remove these harmful agents, protect your shoes from damage and prolong their life.

Preventing skin diseases: The damp, dirty environment inside shoes is a favorable condition for fungi and bacteria to grow, causing skin diseases such as athlete's foot and dermatitis. Washing shoes regularly will help eliminate bacteria and mold, protecting the health of your feet.

Increase tennis performance: Clean, breathable tennis shoes will help you feel more comfortable and confident when playing. This also contributes to improving your tennis performance.

2. How often should I wash my tennis shoes?

The frequency of washing tennis shoes depends on many factors such as training intensity, training environment, shoe material...

• If you practice regularly (3-4 sessions/week): You should wash your shoes 1-2 times/week.
• If you practice less (1-2 sessions/week): You can wash your shoes once a week or once every 2 weeks.
• If you exercise in a humid, dusty environment: Wash your shoes more often.
• For tennis shoes made of leather: Do not wash too often, only wipe with a damp cloth when necessary.

[caption id="attachment_5769" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Shoe washing time depends on many different factors[/caption]

3. How to hand wash tennis shoes at home

Step 1: Prepare Tools:

• Warm water basin
• Soft bristle brush (an old toothbrush is ideal)
• Soft, absorbent towel
• Special shoe detergent or mild soap
• Baking soda (optional, helps deodorize effectively)

Step 2: Disassemble the Parts:

• Remove the laces and insoles from the shoes.
• Remove dirt and dust from the surface of the shoe with a brush.

Step 3: Mix Shoe Cleaning Solution:

• Pour warm water into the basin, dissolve specialized shoe detergent or mild soap.
• You can add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda to the solution to increase the deodorizing effect.

[caption id="attachment_5766" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Mix mild soap with warm water, you can add baking soda to deodorize[/caption]

Step 4: Proceed to Washing Shoes:

• Dip the brush into the shoe cleaning solution, gently scrub the shoe surface, focusing on dirty areas such as the toe, heel, sole...
• Wash shoelaces and insoles separately by soaking in detergent solution and scrubbing gently.

Step 5: Rinse and Dry:

• Rinse shoes with clean water several times until all soap suds are gone.
• Use a soft cloth to absorb excess water from the shoes, especially the inside.
• Dry shoes in a cool place, away from direct sunlight to avoid fading and deformation of the shoes.
• Stuff newspaper or toilet paper inside shoes to keep their shape and absorb moisture, helping them dry faster.

>>> Learn more: Top 6 effective ways to wash shoes with baking soda at home.

4. How to wash tennis shoes in the machine at home

Step 1: Preparation:

• Remove shoe laces and insoles.
• Remove dirt and dust from shoes with a brush.
• Put shoes in a specialized laundry bag or wrap shoes in an old towel to minimize impact during washing.

Step 2: Set Washing Mode:

• Use delicate or shoe wash cycle (if available).
• Select cold or warm water mode (no more than 30 degrees Celsius).
• Do not use hot water as it may damage the shoe material.
• Turn off the spin mode to avoid deforming the shoes.

[caption id="attachment_5767" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Machine made tennis shoes are always comfortable for the wearer[/caption]

Step 3: Drying:

• Take shoes out of laundry bag, dry in cool place, avoid direct sunlight.
• Stuff newspaper or toilet paper inside shoes to keep their shape and absorb moisture, helping them dry faster.

5. Notes when washing tennis shoes

• Do not use harsh detergents: Harsh detergents can fade and damage the shoe material.

[caption id="attachment_5768" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Using strong detergents can damage shoes[/caption]

• Do not wash shoes in hot water: Hot water can shrink and deform shoes.
• Do not expose shoes to direct sunlight: Sunlight can fade and damage shoes quickly.
• Do not dry shoes in a dryer: High temperatures from the dryer can deform and damage shoes.
• Clean shoes regularly: Cleaning shoes regularly helps remove bacteria, mold and odors, preserving shoes better.

Cleaning and maintaining tennis shoes properly is extremely important to keep them clean, durable and long-lasting. Hopefully this article has provided you with useful information on how to wash tennis shoes effectively. Apply these tips to protect your beloved shoes and enjoy great tennis matches!