Wrestling is a kind of heavy sport.
After each match, your shoes get odor, and the inside gets dirty. Before the next match, you must have to clean your shoes.
Smelly wrestling shoes or moisture inside the shoes can be harmful to your feet. In Particular, bacteria can easily grow inside dirty shoes. You should clean the shoes regularly to keep yourself protected.
So, how to wash wrestling shoes at home?
Well, you can follow different ways to wash your shoes when it is too dirty to use. It depends on the condition of the shoes. If there is too much odor and you can feel the moisture inside, you should wash it entirely. Otherwise, you can just clean the top or sanitize your shoes.
Check out the methods we have shared to keep your wrestling shoes clean and ready for each match.
4 Easy Ways to Clean Your Wrestling Shoes
Table of Contents
Can you wash wrestling shoes without doing any damage?
Yes, that is possible by following the right method. There are mainly two ways to clean your wrestling shoes. You can either wash your shoes or disinfect your shoes.
Depending on the shoe’s condition, choose which way you want to follow.
Wash Your Wrestling Shoes with Baking Soda
After finishing a few matches, you can give your shoes a hand wash. Take one glass of water and 3 teaspoons of baking soda. Mix the baking soda with water and give it a gentle stir. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water.
Take an old toothbrush so that you can apply the mixture to your shoes. Start from the outer soles. Apply the mixture on the outer soles and give it a gentle rub. Keep rubbing the brush on the sole unless the cream almost vanishes. Wait for 5 minutes and then clean off the mixture with a damp washcloth. Apply a few drops of water on the soles to make them cleaner.
Check the shoes properly if there is any stain and rub the area with the cloth. However, you can’t clean the inside of the shoes following this method.
Clean Your Shoes with Warm Water
Doesn’t have too much dirt on the wrestling shoes? You don’t need to apply any soap or other cleaning chemicals to the shoes. Only warm water is enough to clean the shoes. The benefit of warm water is, it cleanses the shoes and kills germs.
For the top, take a washcloth and dip it in warm water. Start rubbing the cloth. Start from the top and finish on the outer soles. Now pour warm water directly on the top.
In the next step, remove the insole from the shoes. Take the washcloth and pour a few drops of warm water on it. Start rubbing the interior. Pour another few drops of water on the cloth if it feels dry. Cover the entire shoes.
Now let the shoes dry out with natural air. If you are in a hurry or don’t want to keep the shoes wet for longer, dry out the shoes with a hairdryer. Set the temperature of the hairdryer at moderate settings and apply warm air until there are no visible water drops.
Also Read: How to Find Perfect Lifting Shoes for Flat Feet.
Machine Wash the Shoes
Does the shoe manufacturer recommend cleaning the particular shoes with machine wash? Then it is easy to get the work done. Usually, the wrestling shoes made of textile or fabric upper and rubber sole – are machine washable.
We recommend washing the shoes separately rather than mixing them with other things in the washing machine. Put the shoes inside a shoe washing bag and pull the zip. Take 2 teaspoons of detergent powder or detergent liquid in the drawer.
Start the washing machine at the recommended cycle by the shoe manufacturer. Wait for the cleaning process. After a while, it will be done. Bring the shoes out and let them dry under natural air. Apply a hot hairdryer if needed.
Disinfect Your Shoes
Even if the care label tells the shoe are washable, don’t do it daily. To kill the odor and germs inside, it actually needs to apply disinfecting shoes. Remember that shoe disinfecting sprays are not the same as regular ones.
Buy a good-quality shoe disinfecting spray that works. Try to pick the spray that is recommended for sports shoes.
Once you finish a match, the shoes will be messy and wet. Let the shoes dry out the sweat inside. Now take the spray and apply it inside the shoes carefully. Make sure they cover all the areas inside. It will kill the germs, and there won’t be any odor.
Read Also: How to Choose A Perfect Shoes for Varicose Veins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wash wrestling shoes after each match?
Ans: You can wash the shoes daily if it is recommended in the manufacturer’s instructions. But washing daily is not a good idea in terms of the shoe’s longevity.
How to clean wrestling shoes if it is not washable?
Ans: If the shoes are not washable, we recommend disinfecting the shoes after each match. Also, wipe the shoe with a damp cloth for excess dirt or odor.
What is the Best Way to Wash Wrestling Shoes?
Ans: Machine wash is the best way to deep clean the wrestling shoes. However, it is only possible if the materials used in the shoes are washable. Otherwise, consider cleaning the shoes in other ways.
Does washing wrestling shoes damage them?
Ans: Yes, excessive wash can damage the wrestling shoes. Wash them only when the shoes have too much odor and stains.
Final Words
Now you know how to wash wrestling shoes. It shouldn’t be a difficult task anymore. Whichever method you follow from the above list, make sure you have read the manufacturer’s instructions. And for machine wash, always put the shoes in a shoe washing bag.