7 shoe maintenance and care tips to make your shoes last longer
October 30, 2020
Whether you are buying a trail running shoe or a tennis shoe, you will spend a lot of time researching the best one, so it makes sense to spend just a little time making sure you take care of your shoes so they last as long as possible.
If you have ever wondered exactly how you can extend the life of your running shoe or store your tennis shoes long term, then hopefully you’ll find all you need here.
These are our top 7 shoe maintenance and care tips to make your favourite shoes last longer.
1. Take your shoes off with care
After a long hard run, it is tempting to kick those running shoes off and take a well-earned rest on the sofa. But by taking a few seconds to untie and loosen your laces you can avoid forcing your shoe off by using your other foot.
Kicking your shoes off places a lot of pressure on both the heel collar and laces. Over time it will cause your shoes to lose the fit that their carefully contoured shape gives them.
2. Store your shoes away from heat or direct sunlight
Try to remember not to leave your shoes under the radiator or on the parcel shelf at the back of your car.
When you are storing your shoes, it is best to avoid heat or direct sunlight. This is because these environments will dry up, shrink and harden the midsole of your shoe, which will reduce the durability and the level of comfort offered by the cushioning.
Excessive exposure to heat will also damage the glue of your shoes and cause them to come apart.
3. Give your shoes space
If your sports shoes are stacked in a confined space, with boots or heavy shoes weighing down on them, their uppers will weaken.
Your shoes’ uppers are designed to be pliable for maximum performance. Having constant weight on top of them will wear them down.
4. Give your shoes a rest
Depending on your training routine, it can help to have a second pair of sports shoes.
This is because it takes about 48 hours for the foam in your shoe to decompress after a gruelling workout. Allowing the foam to return to its best condition for ultimate performance will extend the life of your shoes.
5. How to dry your wet running or tennis shoes
The best way to dry wet running shoes quickly is to remove the inner sole and stuff them with newspaper. This avoids the common problem smells that you get when wet shoes are left to air-dry on their own.
In addition to helping you dry your shoes quickly, newspaper that is stuffed tightly into them will help retain their shape.
For the best results, remove the newspaper after 10 minutes and replace it with a fresh batch. The paper soaks up the most water when it is first placed in your shoes and a fresh batch will have greater absorbency.
6. How to wash your sports shoes
Washing machines and tumble-dryers will clean and dry your shoes quickly, but they will also damage them just as fast.
Never put your shoes in the dryer because they are not designed to withstand this type of heat.
You should also avoid the washing machine too, although a cold cycle will probably not do too much harm.
The best way to clean your sports shoes is to use baby wipes or to apply a little soap on a dish brush for some gentle scrubbing.
7. Only wear your shoes for the sport they are designed for
Our final tip for extending the life of your sports shoes is to only use them only for the activity they have been carefully designed to enhance.
If you are wearing your running shoes around town all day, the extra miles will soon clock up and their longevity will be reduced.
Similarly, running shoes are only for running, not for tennis or cross-training. Your running shoes are ergonomically designed for linear, heel-to-toe movement. They are not suited to other types of exercise. For example, the side-to-side motion that bootcamp-style workouts require will place a lot of strain on your shoes, and result in undue wear and tear.