Do you struggle with keeping your basketball shoes clean after every game? It’s frustrating. No one wants their favorite shoes to get dirty and worn out so quickly.
But don't worry!
We’ve some proven techniques that will keep your sneakers “brand new.”
To keep your basketball shoes clean, you will need to do regular maintenance and weekly cleaning. It’s also recommended to do a deep cleaning at least or wash the shoes in the washing machine.
In addition to this, you can follow some tips to prevent your shoes from getting dirty.
Keep reading, as we’re discussing some more simple ways to keep your basketball shoes clean in this guide.
Let’s start!
Key Takeaways
- Clean basketball shoes perform better and last longer.
- Regular maintenance like wiping and brushing keeps shoes fresh.
- Deep cleaning monthly removes stubborn dirt and odors.
- Avoid using a washing machine unless your shoes are machine washable.
- Keep dirt away from your shoes by avoiding mud, using shoe protectors, and wearing shoe covers.
How To Keep Your Basketball Shoes Clean? (4 Ways)
Keeping your basketball shoes clean is important. Why? Well, such shoes look great and last longer. The good news is you can keep your basketball shoes clean by doing just four things.
Way #01: Standard Maintenance
The best way to keep your basketball shoes neat and tidy is regular maintenance. Here’s what to do:
Wipe After Each Use
Every time you finish playing, you should wipe your basketball shoes. For this, take a damp cloth and clean off the dirt and dust from your shoes.
Here, we suggest focusing on the soles because that’s where most of the dirt is. In our experience, wiping down the soles stops grime from building up.
Brush Off Dirt
For any loose dirt, you can use a soft-bristled or an old toothbrush. Just gently brush the outsoles and the grooves. This step keeps the dirt from getting stuck and damaging the shoe.
Spot Cleaning
If you see a small stain, don’t worry! Take a damp cloth or sponge with a bit of mild detergent. Gently rub the stained area and then wipe it with a clean damp cloth.
That’s all about the standard cleaning. Now, let’s take a look at what you should do weekly to keep your basketball shoes neat.
Way #02: Weekly Cleaning
We’ve found that weekly cleaning can also keep your basketball shoes in top shape. What we suggest to people is to fix a day and then clean their sneakers on the same day every time.
You can pick a day based on your schedule (whatever you feel comfortable with).
After you do this, follow these steps:
- Remove Laces and Insoles: Start by taking out the laces and insoles. Why? Well, to clean them separately. In our experience, this helps prevent them from holding onto odors and dirt.
- Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix a small amount of mild detergent with warm (or lukewarm) water. Stay away from harsh chemicals because they can damage your shoes.
- Clean the Shoes: Now, dip a soft-bristled brush or sponge into the cleaning solution. Gently scrub the surface of the shoes, especially the dirty areas.
- Rinse and Dry: After cleaning, wipe off the solution with a damp cloth. Then, pat the shoes dry with a towel and let them air dry at room temperature.
Most people forget to clean laces and insoles. We highly suggest you keep both neat and tidy as well. For this, do the following:
- Wash the laces using the same cleaning solution. If you don’t have enough solution, put them in a laundry bag and toss them in the washing machine.
- Next, clean the insoles with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Finally, let them air dry completely before putting them back in your shoes.
Way #03: Deep Cleaning (Monthly)
If you want to keep your basketball shoes clean, we highly recommend you do a deep cleaning once every month. Doing this will remove stubborn dirt and odors (which are hard to get rid of).
We’ve done deep cleaning in over a dozen different ways, and are here with the easiest one. Don’t worry; we’ve got great results every time.
Here are the steps:
Remove Laces and Insoles
First, take out the laces and insoles of your basketball sneakers. You need to clean them separately to make sure every part of your shoe gets a deep clean.
Remember that the laces can hold onto a lot of dirt and sweat. Similarly, the insoles can get pretty smelly. Therefore, it’s crucial you focus on both as well.
In this first step, do this:
- Put the laces in a small bag if you want to wash them in the machine.
- For the insoles, choose scrubbing. Use mild detergent and warm water.
Important note: Let them air dry completely before putting them back in your shoes.
Prepare Cleaning Solution
Next, make your cleaning solution. For deep cleaning, we suggest mixing a small amount of mild detergent with warm water. You want to avoid using harsh chemicals because they can damage your shoes.
In our experience, the mild detergent is gentle but effective at keeping shoes clean.
Here, we want you to make sure the water is warm, not hot, to protect the shoe material.
Scrub the Shoes Thoroughly
Now, it’s time to scrub the basketball shoes. Dip a soft-bristled brush or sponge into the cleaning solution. Then, you can gently scrub the entire surface of your shoes.
Tip: Focus on the areas that are really dirty or stained. Moreover, use a toothbrush for the tight spots, like the seams and grooves.
Rinse and Dry
After scrubbing, you need to rinse off the cleaning solution. We always prefer using a damp cloth for this.
Make sure you remove all the soap to avoid any residue. Once you’ve wiped them clean, pat the shoes dry with a towel. Then, let the air dry completely.
The reason we suggest doing all of this is that any residue can damage your shoes.
Clean Laces and Insoles
Finally, clean the laces and insoles of your basketball shoes. You can do two things for laces:
- Wash the laces in the same cleaning solution
- Put them in a laundry bag and toss them in the washing machine.
For the insoles, just use a damp cloth with mild detergent.
Way #04: Using a Washing Machine (Not Recommended for All Shoes)
Sometimes, using a washing machine can be a quick way to clean your basketball shoes. But, you need to be careful because not all shoes can handle it. One a few basketball shoes are machine-washable. But how to know?
Well, for this, you should look at the shoe label. Such types of details are mentioned there. If you don’t have the label, don’t get worried. Just search about your basketball sneakers online and find out everything about them.
If the label says no, stick to hand cleaning to avoid damaging your shoes. But if your sneakers are machine washable, then follow these steps:
Materials Needed
|
Item |
Purpose |
|
Pillowcase or laundry bag |
To protect your shoes during the wash cycle |
|
Mild detergent |
For cleaning the shoes |
Prepare the Shoes
Before you start washing, take out the laces and insoles from your shoes. This prevents them from getting tangled or damaged in the machine. You can wash the laces of your basketball shoes separately. Similarly, the insoles can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
Place in Laundry Bag
In this step, we recommend putting your shoes in a pillowcase or laundry bag. This helps protect them during the wash cycle. How? Well, it keeps them from getting thrown around too much (which can cause damage).
Make sure the bag is securely closed before placing it in the washing machine.
Wash on Gentle Cycle
Now, set your washing machine to a gentle cycle with cold water. Then, use a small amount of mild detergent.
The gentle cycle is important because it cleans your shoes without being too rough on them.
You may also be wondering why we suggested cold water. Well, the cold water helps prevent any shrinkage or damage to the material.
Air Dry
Once the wash cycle is done, take your shoes out of the washing machine. After this, the first thing you should do is to let them air dry completely.
Here, we advise you to avoid using a dryer at any cost. Note that the heat can damage your shoes and cause them to lose their shape. Instead, place them in a well-ventilated area and let them dry naturally.
So, now you know how to keep your basketball shoes clean. But what if they also start to smell bad? We’ve received a lot of messages about this. People tell us that the shoes look clean but they smell really bad. Continue reading to know what you should do in this situation.
If you have high tops, then we’ve written a separate guide on How to Clean High Tops Basketball Shoes?
What to Do if Basketball Shoes Start to Smell Bad?
If your basketball shoes start to smell bad, you should try to find out the causes and then fix them. Don’t worry; we know every reason behind the bad smell. Another great news is the solutions are super easy to do.
Deal With Sweat and Moisture
One of the main reasons your basketball shoes start to smell is sweat and moisture. When you play, your feet sweat. When it happens, the moisture gets trapped in your shoes. This creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which ultimately leads to bad odors.
To fix this, we suggest letting your shoes air out after every play. It’s simple. What we do is take out the insoles and let everything dry completely. If you want, you can also sprinkle a little baking soda inside the shoes. We’ve found that doing this absorbs bad odors.
Focus on Air Circulation
If you keep your basketball shoes in a closed gym bag or locker, they might start to smell because there’s no air circulation. Remember that shoes need to breathe.
When you store your basketball shoes in a closed space, the moisture from sweat gets trapped. As a result, the smell starts to build up.
To prevent this, simply store your shoes in a well-ventilated area. If possible, place them in a spot where they can get some fresh air.
Here are our top five places to store your shoes:
- Entryway Shoe Rack
- Balcony or Porch
- Mudroom
- Bedroom Closet with Ventilation
- Garage Shelf
Get Rid of Bacteria and Fungi
Did you know bacteria and fungi love warm, moist environments? They do. That’s why your basketball shoes are the perfect home for them. Unfortunately, these tiny organisms are the main culprits behind that stinky shoe smell.
To combat this, you can do these:
- Use antibacterial sprays
- Sprinkle antibacterial powders designed for shoes.
- Use dryer sheets
- Apply sneaker deodorizers inside your shoes.
These products help kill bacteria and fungi, keeping your shoes fresh and odor-free.
How Do I Prevent My Basketball Shoes from Getting Dirty?
Cleaning your basketball shoes is not enough. You should also try to prevent them from getting dirty. We’ve recommended this to a lot of people and all of them later told us that their shoes look new even after years.
To prevent your basketball shoes from getting dirty, do this:
Avoid Mud and Wet Surfaces
To keep your basketball shoes clean, you should avoid playing on muddy or wet surfaces. Mud and water can cause a lot of dirt buildup. So, playing there can make your shoes wear out quickly.
If you can't avoid wet areas, we suggest wiping your shoes as soon as possible after playing. This simple habit can help keep your shoes in good shape.
Remember the rule: The cleaner the playing surface, the cleaner your shoes will stay.
Use Shoe Protectors
Another great way to protect your basketball shoes is by using shoe protectors. Applying a water and stain repellent spray can keep dirt and moisture away.
You can find these sprays at most shoe stores or online. Just spray a light coat over your shoes and let them dry completely before wearing them.
Use Shoe Covers
Using shoe covers is another effective way to keep your basketball shoes clean. You can wear these covers when you’re walking to the gym or playing on dirty surfaces. They act as a barrier, protecting your shoes from dirt and moisture.
After you're done playing, just take off the covers and your shoes will still be clean.
Another reason we love shoe covers is that they are easy to use. So, they are a great investment for keeping your shoes in top condition.
Store Properly
You should always store your shoes in a dry place. This helps prevent mold and mildew from forming. The best spots are:
- Closet
- Shoe cabinet
- Under-bed storage
- Storage bench
- Shelf in the garage.
We also like to use shoe trees. In our opinion, shoe trees help absorb moisture as well.
Rotate Shoes
If you have more than one pair of basketball shoes, try rotating between them. This gives each pair a chance to dry out completely between uses. We’ve found doing it useful because it helps reduce wear and tear.
Moreover, rotating your shoes also helps prevent odor buildup. How? Well, it gives each pair time to air out.
Plus, it can make each pair last longer since they’re not being used all the time.
So, if you can, invest in a second pair of basketball shoes.
Wear Socks
Always wear clean, moisture-wicking socks with your basketball shoes. Socks help absorb sweat and reduce odor buildup inside your shoes.
In our experience, moisture-wicking socks are especially good because they draw sweat away from your feet. We’ve also noticed that using a fresh pair of socks before each game or practice can also help keep your shoes cleaner.
Avoid Wearing for Casual Use
One of the best ways to keep your basketball shoes clean is to reserve them for basketball only. Wearing them casually increases their exposure to dirt, mud, and everyday wear and tear.
By keeping your basketball shoes just for the court, you reduce the chances of them getting dirty.
Clean Court
Playing on a clean court can make a big difference in keeping your shoes top-notch. Before you start playing, take a quick look around the court. If you see any dirt, leaves, or debris, take a moment to clean it up.
A clean court means less dirt will get on your shoes while you play. Plus, it’s safer to play on a clean surface!
Immediate Cleaning
After playing, it’s a good idea to clean your shoes right away. The longer dirt and sweat sit on your shoes, the harder it is to clean them. You can use a damp cloth to wipe off any dirt and dust as soon as you can.
If you have more time, you can follow the full cleaning routine to keep the shoes in top shape.
That’s all. These tips are enough to prevent your basketball shoes from getting dirty ever again!
